Boat owners in limbo after marina firm collapse

People living on narrowboats in Birmingham city centre have said they have been left in "limbo" after discovering the company running the marina had collapsed.

Many had paid thousands of pounds upfront for services including mooring fees and electricity at Sherborne Wharf.

Narrowboat charter company Sherborne Wharf Ltd, which operated boat trips, party hire and long-term moorings, told the BBC it had been forced out of business by a surprise rent demand from the Canal and River Trust.

The trust, which has not yet responded to that allegation, said earlier the company going into liquidation had been a surprise and it was working with the liquidators to find the "best way forward".

"We are a small family-run business, and we are genuinely sorry for the hardship and distress this is causing our customers," Sherborne Wharf Ltd said in a statement.

The group of owners told the BBC they did not know what the future held for their homes and that they faced being out of pocket by thousands.

Jennica Legarta, 30, and her boyfriend wanted to move in on a boat together to combat the rising cost of living.

"We are a young couple and we thought we would make it work on something that was not a conventional way of living," she said.

Last month, she said she paid £3,400 up front for the whole year to secure mooring and electricity for her boat.

"There was no prior warning or anything to inform people to make any plans going forward," she said.

"It's frustrating, I am angry about the whole situation, it's like the rug has been pulled from under my feet."

Paul Reynolds is disabled and has lived on the wharf since December 2007 with his pet chihuahua.

He said: "It was so handy for everywhere and so easy for work and I loved being here, we've got a good community of boaters."

He said he paid £4,000 for mooring and electricity for the year.

"We have heard that the electricity is going to be cut off in two weeks time," he said, although Eon told the BBC it was not "currently in the process of seeking to disconnect any power supplies".

Carl Lawrence, 28, a graduate from the University of Cambridge and former civil servant, moved to Sherborne Wharf in May last year.

"It has been an amazing time, all the people in the marina are friendly and easy to get along with."

He said on 16 March a member of their group chat said something was wrong and it was "a surprise and it was unclear what was going on".

"I feel let down," he said, but fortunately had already made plans to move at the start of May.

William Edwards, also 28 and a recent graduate from the University of Warwick, has been trying to get a job in Birmingham.

"We ended up on a 27ft cruiser boat for the last three-and-a-half years, because we were not doing great financially.

"We have received no word whatsoever regarding any refunds for the services that we paid for."

He said he was turning to family members for support.

Another owner, Simon Morgan, said he was resigned to losing the money he had paid.

Sherborne Wharf Ltd told the BBC it had been presented with a demand for additional rent relating to a previous seven years which it was claimed was owing.

In a statement it said the total owed was "a sum no small business could reasonably absorb" and the decision to cease trading had been a "direct consequence" of the financial demand.

The Canal and River Trust said it was "aware of the surprise announcement that Sherborne Wharf Ltd has gone into liquidation".

"While it is especially sad to see an established boating business in the heart of the canal network close, we are concerned for the boaters moored there, including those who may be left out of pocket because of mooring fees they've paid upfront to the mooring operator," it added in a statement.

It said the trust would be "working with the liquidators to find the best way forward for the site and the boaters moored there".

A spokesman from Eon said: "We're grateful for this issue being raised and we'll do what we can to help the residents.

"We've been unable to get in touch with Sherborne Wharf to discuss their account and we will need more information before we can explore further."

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.