Bridal Boutique Owner Sues Landlords for Over $640,000 Amid Claims of Ruined Dresses and Marriage Breakdown

A bridal boutique owner, who gained national recognition through television appearances on "Married at First Sight" and "Don't Tell the Bride," is suing her former landlords for over £500,000 (approximately $640,000 USD) due to alleged persistent leaks and dampness that she claims destroyed hundreds of wedding dresses and accessories.

Sharon Underwood, 57, proprietor of the award-winning Love Me Do Brides, asserts that water repeatedly infiltrated her flagship store in Kingston-upon-Thames over a 14-year period. Her legal team contends that this resulted in substantial losses, forcing her to discard damaged stock, donate items to charity, or sell them at heavily discounted prices, thereby costing the business hundreds of thousands of pounds in lost profits.

Underwood has initiated legal proceedings in the High Court against former landlords Muhammad and Areeb Azam. Her lawyers argue that the ongoing issues caused her "severe mental distress," contributing to the breakdown of her marriage and fostering feelings of "entrapment, embarrassment and despair."

The entrepreneur established her bridal business in 2004 and expanded to the Kingston location the following year. The business achieved national exposure through television shows and industry accolades. However, Underwood claims that from the outset, the Kingston store was plagued by problems, including a lack of drinking water and a storage room unusable due to a gas smell, followed by rising damp and recurring leaks.

According to Underwood's case, leaks originating from various parts of the building, including adjoining flats owned by the landlords, caused extensive damage. In one incident in 2014, water poured into a basement stock room, ruining dresses and accessories. Another incident in 2015 led to 79 items being lost and 155 sold at a reduced value, with the basement carpet described as "sopping."

Underwood's legal team contends that the landlords breached their obligations by failing to take reasonable steps to prevent the property from falling into disrepair, leading to water ingress. They argue that the landlords should have foreseen the damage to stock and business operations.

Conversely, the landlords are vigorously contesting the claim, denying responsibility for much of the alleged damage and questioning the accuracy of the claimed losses. Their defense, presented by barrister Ben Maltz, argues that the lease terms designated certain areas, including the basement, as the tenant's responsibility. They also dispute the connection between leaks from adjoining flats and the recurring issues in the shop, citing different causes and timings for reported leaks.

The landlords are also pursuing a counterclaim for over £38,000 in alleged unpaid rent and tenancy charges. The trial is ongoing.