diff --git a/core/scripts/tests/common.lua b/core/scripts/tests/common.lua
index 93f2e8c05..32d6e1825 100755
--- a/core/scripts/tests/common.lua
+++ b/core/scripts/tests/common.lua
@@ -1074,6 +1074,7 @@ function test_lighthouse()
     local u = unit.create(f, r, 1)
     local b = building.create(r, "lighthouse")
     b.size = 100
+    b.working = true
     u.building = b
     u:set_skill("perception", 9)
     u:add_item("money", 1000)
diff --git a/src/bind_building.c b/src/bind_building.c
index 9ecc72a3f..49348c18a 100644
--- a/src/bind_building.c
+++ b/src/bind_building.c
@@ -56,6 +56,23 @@ static int tolua_building_get_objects(lua_State * L)
   return 1;
 }
 
+static int tolua_building_set_working(lua_State * L)
+{
+    building *self = (building *) tolua_tousertype(L, 1, 0);
+    bool flag = !!lua_toboolean(L, 2);
+    if (flag) self->flags |= BLD_WORKING;
+    else self->flags &= ~BLD_WORKING;
+    return 1;
+}
+
+static int tolua_building_get_working(lua_State * L)
+{
+    building *self = (building *) tolua_tousertype(L, 1, 0);
+    bool flag = (self->flags&BLD_WORKING)!=0;
+    lua_pushboolean(L, flag);
+    return 1;
+}
+
 static int tolua_building_get_region(lua_State * L)
 {
   building *self = (building *) tolua_tousertype(L, 1, 0);
@@ -242,7 +259,8 @@ void tolua_building_open(lua_State * L)
       .property("type", &building_gettype)
         .def_readwrite("size", &building::size)
 #endif
-        tolua_variable(L, TOLUA_CAST "objects", tolua_building_get_objects, 0);
+      tolua_variable(L, TOLUA_CAST "objects", tolua_building_get_objects, 0);
+      tolua_variable(L, TOLUA_CAST "working", tolua_building_get_working, tolua_building_set_working);
 
     }
     tolua_endmodule(L);
diff --git a/src/kernel/build.c b/src/kernel/build.c
index 6fb17c859..0763cbe16 100644
--- a/src/kernel/build.c
+++ b/src/kernel/build.c
@@ -769,7 +769,7 @@ build_building(unit * u, const building_type * btype, int id, int want, order *
     /* build a new building */
     b = new_building(btype, r, lang);
     b->type = btype;
-    fset(b, BLD_MAINTAINED);
+    fset(b, BLD_MAINTAINED|BLD_WORKING);
 
     /* Die Einheit befindet sich automatisch im Inneren der neuen Burg. */
     if (u->number && leave(u, false)) {
diff --git a/src/kernel/building.c b/src/kernel/building.c
index f56c49fb7..2aa1a0b1a 100644
--- a/src/kernel/building.c
+++ b/src/kernel/building.c
@@ -486,7 +486,6 @@ building *new_building(const struct building_type * btype, region * r,
     init_lighthouse = true;
   }
 
-  b->flags = BLD_WORKING | BLD_MAINTAINED;
   b->no = newcontainerid();
   bhash(b);
 
diff --git a/src/kernel/jsonconf.c b/src/kernel/jsonconf.c
index f888ab88e..a73936afd 100644
--- a/src/kernel/jsonconf.c
+++ b/src/kernel/jsonconf.c
@@ -80,6 +80,63 @@ static void json_requirements(cJSON *json, requirement **matp) {
     *matp = mat;
 }
 
+static void json_maintenance_i(cJSON *json, maintenance *mt) {
+    cJSON *child;
+    for (child = json->child; child; child = child->next) {
+        switch (child->type) {
+        case cJSON_Number:
+            if (strcmp(child->string, "amount") == 0) {
+                mt->number = child->valueint;
+            }
+            else {
+                log_error_n("maintenance contains unknown attribute %s", child->string);
+            }
+            break;
+        case cJSON_String:
+            if (strcmp(child->string, "type") == 0) {
+                mt->rtype = rt_get_or_create(child->valuestring);
+            }
+            else {
+                log_error_n("maintenance contains unknown attribute %s", child->string);
+            }
+            break;
+        case cJSON_Array:
+            if (strcmp(child->string, "flags") == 0) {
+                const char * flags[] = { "variable", "required", 0 };
+                mt->flags = json_flags(child, flags);
+            }
+            else {
+                log_error_n("maintenance contains unknown attribute %s", child->string);
+            }
+        default:
+            log_error_n("maintenance contains unknown attribute %s", child->string);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+static void json_maintenance(cJSON *json, maintenance **mtp) {
+    cJSON *child;
+    maintenance *mt;
+    int i, size = 1;
+
+    if (json->type == cJSON_Array) {
+        size = cJSON_GetArraySize(json);
+    }
+    else if (json->type != cJSON_Object) {
+        log_error_n("maintenance is not a json object or array (%d)", json->type);
+        return;
+    }
+    *mtp = mt = (struct maintenance *) calloc(sizeof(struct maintenance), size + 1);
+    if (json->type == cJSON_Array) {
+        for (i = 0, child = json->child; child; child = child->next, ++i) {
+            if (child->type == cJSON_Object) {
+                json_maintenance_i(child, mt+i);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    json_maintenance_i(json, mt);
+}
+
 static void json_construction(cJSON *json, construction **consp) {
     cJSON *child;
     if (json->type==cJSON_Array) {
@@ -159,14 +216,20 @@ static void json_building(cJSON *json, building_type *bt) {
     for (child=json->child;child;child=child->next) {
         switch(child->type) {
         case cJSON_Array:
-            if (strcmp(child->string, "construction")==0) {
+            if (strcmp(child->string, "construction") == 0) {
                 json_construction(child, &bt->construction);
             }
+            else if (strcmp(child->string, "maintenance") == 0) {
+                json_maintenance(child, &bt->maintenance);
+            }
             break;
         case cJSON_Object:
             if (strcmp(child->string, "construction")==0) {
                 json_construction(child, &bt->construction);
             }
+            else if (strcmp(child->string, "maintenance") == 0) {
+                json_maintenance(child, &bt->maintenance);
+            }
             break;
         case cJSON_String:
             if (strcmp(child->string, "name")==0) {
diff --git a/src/kernel/jsonconf.test.c b/src/kernel/jsonconf.test.c
index f128acf4a..932b88ac0 100644
--- a/src/kernel/jsonconf.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/jsonconf.test.c
@@ -200,7 +200,11 @@ static void test_spells(CuTest * tc)
 
 static void test_buildings(CuTest * tc)
 {
-    const char * data = "{\"buildings\": { \"house\" : { "
+    const char * data = "{\"buildings\": { "
+        "\"house\" : { "
+        "\"maintenance\" : "
+        "{ \"type\" : \"iron\", \"amount\" : 1, \"flags\" : [ \"required\", \"variable\" ] }"
+        ","
         "\"construction\" : {"
         "\"maxsize\" : 20,"
         "\"reqsize\" : 10,"
@@ -208,7 +212,13 @@ static void test_buildings(CuTest * tc)
         "\"materials\" : {"
         "\"stone\" : 2,"
         "\"iron\" : 1"
-        "}}}}}";
+        "}}},"
+        "\"shed\" : {"
+        "\"maintenance\" : ["
+        "{ \"type\" : \"iron\", \"amount\" : 1 },"
+        "{ \"type\" : \"stone\", \"amount\" : 2 }"
+        "]}"
+        "}}";
 
     cJSON *json = cJSON_Parse(data);
     const building_type *bt;
@@ -220,8 +230,24 @@ static void test_buildings(CuTest * tc)
     json_config(json);
 
     CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, buildingtypes);
+    bt = bt_find("shed");
+    CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, bt);
+    CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, bt->maintenance);
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, (void *)get_resourcetype(R_IRON), (void *)bt->maintenance[0].rtype);
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, (void *)get_resourcetype(R_STONE), (void *)bt->maintenance[1].rtype);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 1, bt->maintenance[0].number);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 2, bt->maintenance[1].number);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0, bt->maintenance[2].number);
+
     bt = bt_find("house");
     CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, bt);
+
+    CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, bt->maintenance);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 1, bt->maintenance[0].number);
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, (void *)get_resourcetype(R_IRON), (void *)bt->maintenance[0].rtype);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, MTF_VARIABLE|MTF_VITAL, bt->maintenance[0].flags);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0, bt->maintenance[1].number);
+
     CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, bt->construction);
     CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, bt->construction->materials);
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 2, bt->construction->materials[0].number);
diff --git a/src/kernel/move.test.c b/src/kernel/move.test.c
index 5e1d0ecae..100d4fc30 100644
--- a/src/kernel/move.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/move.test.c
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ static void test_ship_allowed_with_harbor(CuTest * tc)
   ship * sh;
   terrain_type * ttype;
   building_type * btype;
+  building * b;
 
   test_cleanup();
   test_create_world();
@@ -53,7 +54,8 @@ static void test_ship_allowed_with_harbor(CuTest * tc)
   r = test_create_region(0, 0, ttype);
   sh = test_create_ship(0, 0);
 
-  test_create_building(r, btype);
+  b = test_create_building(r, btype);
+  b->flags |= BLD_WORKING;
   CuAssertIntEquals(tc, SA_HARBOUR, check_ship_allowed(sh, r));
 }
 
@@ -73,9 +75,9 @@ static void test_building_type_exists(CuTest * tc)
   b = new_building(btype, r, default_locale);
 
   CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, b);
-  CuAssertTrue(tc, !buildingtype_exists(r, NULL, true));
-  CuAssertTrue(tc, buildingtype_exists(r, btype, true));
-  CuAssertTrue(tc, !buildingtype_exists(r, btype2, true));
+  CuAssertTrue(tc, !buildingtype_exists(r, NULL, false));
+  CuAssertTrue(tc, buildingtype_exists(r, btype, false));
+  CuAssertTrue(tc, !buildingtype_exists(r, btype2, false));
 }
 
 CuSuite *get_move_suite(void)
diff --git a/tests/init.lua b/tests/init.lua
index e54c2229f..2d10882db 100644
--- a/tests/init.lua
+++ b/tests/init.lua
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ require "tests.settings"
 require "tests.config"
 require "tests.locale"
 require "tests.regions"
-require "tests.ships"
 require "tests.study"
-require "tests.movement"
 require "tests.castles"
 require "tests.spells"
+require "tests.movement"
+require "tests.ships"
diff --git a/tests/ships.lua b/tests/ships.lua
index 4dae533b2..d7c223c7f 100644
--- a/tests/ships.lua
+++ b/tests/ships.lua
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ function setup()
             }
         },
         "buildings" : {
-            "harbour" : {}
+            "harbour" : { "maintenance" : { "type" : "money", "amount" : 250, "flags" : [ "required" ] } }
         },
         "terrains" : {
             "ocean": { "flags" : [ "sea", "sail" ] },
@@ -90,7 +90,27 @@ function test_sail_to_forbidden_shore()
   assert_equal(ocean, u.region)
 end
 
-function test_sail_into_harbour()
+function test_sail_into_good_harbour()
+  local ocean = region.create(1, 0, "ocean")
+  local shore = region.create(0, 0, "glacier")
+  local f = faction.create("noreply@eressea.de", "human", "de")
+  local b = building.create(shore, "harbour")
+  local u
+
+  u = unit.create(f, shore, 1)
+  u:add_item("money", 250) -- building maintenance fee
+  u.building = b
+
+  u = unit.create(f, ocean, 1)
+  u.ship = ship.create(ocean, "boat")
+  u:set_skill("sailing", 10)
+  u:add_order("NACH W")
+  process_orders()
+
+  assert_equal(shore, u.region, "working harbour should let the ship land")
+end
+
+function test_sail_into_bad_harbour()
   local ocean = region.create(1, 0, "ocean")
   local shore = region.create(0, 0, "glacier")
   local f = faction.create("noreply@eressea.de", "human", "de")
@@ -103,5 +123,5 @@ function test_sail_into_harbour()
   assert_not_nil(b)
   process_orders()
 
-  assert_equal(shore, u.region)
+  assert_equal(ocean, u.region, "harbour without owner should stop ship")
 end