We call on the UK Government, the Canal & River Trust (CRT), and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate pricing practices within the UK marina sector, with particular focus on Aquavista, and to introduce fair regulation to protect residential and long-term boaters from exploitative cost increases.

Statement of Concern

Aquavista is currently the largest marina operator in the UK, managing over 30 marinas and more than 5,000 berths. The company operates within a market characterised by high barriers to entry, limited competition, and geographically constrained alternatives, particularly for boaters who rely on moorings as their primary residence.

In recent years, Aquavista has been acquired and operated by private equity investors, with publicly stated strategies highlighting:

• High occupancy rates
• Low customer turnover
• Stable and resilient revenue streams

These characteristics are not incidental.. they reflect a market where customers are effectively locked into location-based services with limited ability to switch providers.

For many individuals and families, marina berths are not discretionary leisure purchases, they are homes.

Despite this, the marina sector remains largely unregulated from a pricing and consumer protection perspective, creating conditions similar to those seen in unregulated rental housing markets.

 

Why This Matters

1. Landlord-Style Market Without Regulation

Marina operators: Control access to essential living space (moorings)

Operate within fixed geographic constraints (canals and waterways)
Benefit from limited supply and high switching costs

Yet, unlike landlords, they are not subject to:

• Rent stabilisation measures
• Tenant protections
• Housing affordability considerations

This creates a system where pricing power can be exercised without meaningful oversight.

 

2. Private Equity Incentives Driving Price Increases

Aquavista’s ownership by private equity firms introduces a clear incentive structure:

• Maximise revenue growth
• Increase yield per berth
• Monetise additional services (electricity, utilities, facilities)

Public investment communications explicitly describe marina customers as a “resilient” revenue base, reinforcing concerns that pricing strategies are driven by investor returns rather than fair access.

 

3. Lack of Competition and Consumer Mobility

The marina market is structurally constrained:

New marina development is difficult due to planning, environmental, and infrastructure barriers
Boaters often cannot relocate due to work, schooling, or scarcity of alternative berths
Waiting lists are common, further reducing bargaining power

This creates a quasi-monopolistic environment in many regions.

 

4. Layered and Non-Transparent Costs

Mooring fees are often only part of the total cost, with additional charges applied for:

• Electricity
• Pump-out services
• Parking
• Laundry and facilities

This mirrors concerns seen in the private rental sector around hidden or unavoidable additional costs, further increasing financial pressure on boaters.

 

Who This Petition Calls Upon

• UK Government (DEFRA / Housing)

To recognise residential boating as a housing issue, not solely a leisure activity, and introduce appropriate protections.

• Canal & River Trust (CRT)

To review its relationship with private marina operators and ensure that:

Use of public waterways aligns with fair access principles
Operators benefiting from CRT infrastructure adhere to responsible pricing standards

 

• Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)

To investigate:

Market concentration within the marina sector
Potential abuse of pricing power
Barriers to entry limiting fair competition

 

• Local Members of Parliament

Particularly in areas with high concentrations of Aquavista marinas (e.g. Midlands, London fringes, and major canal networks), to:

Represent constituents affected by rising mooring costs
Advocate for fair treatment of residential boaters

 

Proposed Solutions

We are not calling for the removal of private marina operators, but for fair oversight and accountability. Specifically:

 

1. Introduce Pricing Transparency Requirements

Clear breakdown of all mandatory and optional costs
Standardised pricing disclosures across marina operators

 

2. Establish Fair Pricing Guidelines

Link annual mooring increases to inflation or a regulated cap
Prevent excessive or disproportionate price rises

 

3. Recognise Residential Moorings as Housing

Extend relevant housing protections to long-term residential boaters
Consider policy alignment with rental sector safeguards

 

4. Strengthen Competition Oversight

CMA review of market concentration and barriers to entry
Encourage development of additional mooring capacity where feasible

 

5. CRT Oversight Framework

Introduce expectations or agreements for fair pricing among marina partners
Ensure public waterways are not enabling exploitative practices

 

Closing Statement

The UK’s waterways are a shared public asset, and for many, living on the water is not a luxury — it is a way of life and a form of housing.

Allowing essential mooring access to be shaped solely by private equity-driven pricing strategies, within a constrained and unregulated market, risks creating a system where boaters are priced out of their homes without protection or recourse.

We urge the Government, CRT, and CMA to act now to ensure that the marina sector remains fair, accessible, and accountable.