Sizing down for a floating home (Shepperton, Surrey)
16 Sep 2026Overview
“If there ever was an example of how you don’t need a large space for a home lift, then this houseboat is it.”– Richard Humphreys, Gartec Regional Sales Manager.
It’s not every day that the Gartec team gets asked to install a home platform lift on a houseboat on the River Thames, but what started out as an unusual enquiry ultimately became a great example of how a little creative thinking and close collaboration with a customer can turn an unconventional project into a workable solution.
Peter Jarvis hankered after living by the river, but after a search for a traditional bricks and mortar property in this location left him feeling uninspired, he decided that living on the river would be the ideal place to enjoy his retirement.
“I looked at buying an existing houseboat,” explains Peter. “But then I spoke to a boat builder and decided it would be better to build one from scratch. It was a first-time project for them to start without an existing structure and took around nine months for it to be constructed.”
Planning Ahead
The idea of having a lift inside his two-storey floating home came to Peter at a later stage, which meant some worthwhile tweaks to the design.
“I suffer with a breathing problem and I’m getting on a bit so I thought if it is not done now, I might regret it, and you wouldn’t be able to fit it where it is now at the mooring so it had to be done at the construction stage in the boatyard,” Peter added.
Finding a Solution
After considering and then discounting a vacuum lift because of the lack of ceiling height to accommodate the headroom required, Peter found Gartec via an internet search, with Richard making an initial site visit to scope out a workable and design-friendly solution for this unusual project.
“When I arrived, the boat was very much a blank canvas, which gave us plenty of scope to consider different options,” explains Richard.
“After looking at the layout and considering how the finished space would work, and spending some time looking at the available space and identified a location alongside the staircase. At the time, a bathroom was due to be constructed in this area, with the lift positioned against the main external wall of the boat. This would mean making some changes to the proposed bathroom layout, but this was relatively straightforward and, importantly, created a much more practical location for the lift.”
Due to the restricted headroom at the upper level, the smallest version of the Aritco HomeLift Access was chosen, complete with a half-height gate, which allowed the team to work within the available dimensions while still providing a practical means of accessing the upper floor.
The Result
“I’m pleased with the end result,”says Peter. “I was going to have a big American style fridge where the lift is, but I’d rather have the lift than the fridge! It has made a huge difference to my life. I’ve moved furniture in it and if I go shopping and there are heavy items, they go in the lift.
“When I thought about having a lift, I decided that even if I didn’t need it straight away in four or five years I would. Thinking ahead is what a lot of people should do as they get older.”
Lift Specification
Lift: Aritco HomeLift Access
Bespoke features: Half-height gate at upper landing to accommodate restricted headroom
Technical details: 900 × 1040mm platform, white (RAL 9016), two stops, positioned alongside the staircase with access between the houseboat’s two levels, oak vinyl flooring
Reasons for purchase: Futureproofing and easier access between floors
