This London couple spends $2,236 monthly on their 65-ft houseboat—see inside.

Maisy Dewey, a dual citizen of the U.S. and the U.K., always dreamed of residing in London.

Dewey's parents were American and British, respectively, and they lived in London before settling in New Jersey. She and her sisters would frequently visit their grandmother in England during school breaks and summer vacation.

For two years, in Philadelphia, lived the 25-year-old and her fiancé, Harrison Kent.

"The graphic designer shared with CNBC Make It that they wanted to be nearer to their families, but they had always assured their partner, "Whenever you desire to relocate to London, I'm ready," despite the fact that they had only visited the city once before."

Kent started researching schools for his master's in furniture design around the time of our conversation. In November 2022, he was accepted into his dream program, the Kingston University Masters of Product & Furniture Design in London. As a result, the couple decided to relocate to the UK.

"We knew that if we didn't act now, we would never have the opportunity to do it," Dewey remarks. "Having multiple passports is a great privilege, and I didn't want my 20s to pass without having lived in the U.K. full time."

Preparations for their transatlantic move began soon after.

In preparation for their August 2023 relocation, the two held yard sales every weekend from May to July, selling nearly all of their possessions and earning an estimated $3,000 to aid in their move.

Dewey remarks, "It was great that we had plenty of time to do it right because we knew about it in advance."

Finding their ideal London home while remaining in Philadelphia proved to be more challenging than anticipated. They would send out inquiries before going to sleep, only to find out upon waking that the properties had already been reserved.

Dewey and Kent opted for a short-term rental in London as they awaited their impending move, while continuing their search for a permanent residence.

The couple, after months of searching, believed they had found their ideal home. However, the listing agent informed them that it had been sold right before they could tour it.

The agent showed them a moored houseboat by the water after they mentioned that a waterfront property was beyond their budget.

Despite their initial doubts about residing on a boat, Dewey, Kent, and their 2-year-old Dalmatian, Kipper, remained open-minded.

""It was a total stroke of luck that we both realized it was nicer than we expected. It has recently been redone, so we were going to be the first people to live in it," Dewey says."

The boat has a living room, two bedrooms, a full bathroom, and a kitchen that is 65 feet long.

In November 2023, the couple signed a two-year lease at a monthly rate of approximately $2,200. The security deposit they paid was just over $2,500, as per CNBC Make It's review of the documents.

"Living on the boat has made me feel like I'm living in a children's picture book," Dewey says. "It adds such a fun element to life. I'm already such a huge homebody and this has really done me in."

Boat living comes with unique responsibilities, such as refilling the water tank with tap water from the dock. Despite these responsibilities, boat dwellers are content with the trade-off of having as much outdoor space as indoor space.

"I'll bring a little beach chair out on top of the boat and sit on top of the boat and read after work," she says. "Sometimes we'll have dinner up there."

The sense of community and camaraderie amongst residents of other boats in the area is another advantage of living in a houseboat.

""Our dock is home to the most friendly people in London, as we're always socializing with our neighbors and looking out for one another," she remarks."

Despite previously residing in a house in Philadelphia, Dewey claims that the houseboat provides a more spacious and secure living environment compared to any other place she has previously occupied.

""I've had my fair share of apartments that didn't feel right, but here, it feels like home for me and my family," she says."

For more than six months, the couple has resided on their houseboat and has no plans to disembark.

"We'll remain on the boat as long as possible," she declares. "If we have to, we'll abandon it with a loud bang!"

To become a successful and confident communicator, enroll in CNBC's online course, "Become an Effective Communicator: Master Public Speaking." Our program will teach you how to speak clearly and confidently, manage your nerves, choose the right words and body language, and make a great first impression. Sign up now and use code EARLYBIRD for a 30% discount through July 10, 2024.

Sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to receive expert advice on work, money, and life.