Overview

• The Reddit user said flats in Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad have become unaffordable and asked if buying or hiring a ₹15–30 lakh houseboat is legally permissible for permanent living.
• The post quickly went viral, with most respondents raising concerns about unclear permits, lack of official address proof, safety standards and delivery of essential services.
• Commenters suggested more conventional alternatives such as buying small homes on city outskirts, relocating to rural villages or travelling in caravans.
• The original poster noted that being aged out of the workforce could limit access to home loans through EMIs, making a floating home seem more attainable despite logistical barriers.
• The online debate underscores broader anxieties among India’s middle class over accessing affordable urban housing and the search for unconventional living arrangements.