A couple’s dream of living on a houseboat turned into a nightmare when their £45,000 home sank during a storm.
Keith Gray and Niall Senior gave up their city centre flat to live on the narrowboat in New Islington Marina, in Manchester.
The pair used their savings, originally meant for a house deposit, to buy the boat they found on Facebook Marketplace. But just a month after moving in, the boat sank with all their belongings inside.
Mr Gray said: “We lost everything. Someone sent a picture of it at a 45-degree angle. It literally went like the Titanic.”
The couple became interested in living on a narrowboat while renting an apartment overlooking New Islington Marina.
Mr Gray added: “We used to walk around the marina and got to know a few people who lived in a boat.
“With the current cost of living crisis and everything else, it’s horrible trying to rent somewhere because it’s so in demand.”
“The money we saved for a deposit, we just thought it would be a good step. We worked out our outgoings would go from £1,600 to £300.”
After finding a narrowboat on Facebook Marketplace, they used their savings to buy it and had it moved from Sussex to Manchester.
After getting used to their new home for a month, they went to stay with family over Christmas. But their joy turned to sadness on Boxing Day when they were told that their home had tipped over in bad weather.
Mr Gray came back to Manchester but could only watch as their boat sank.
He said: “People were filming it. I was embarrassed and humiliated. It was like experiencing every emotion at once. The worst possible thing that could happen has happened a month in. I couldn’t stop crying.
“Everything was damaged. All our possessions and treasured belongings were on the boat.”
Among the ruined items was recording equipment belonging to Mr Senior, who is a musician. Even though they had insurance, the couple say the company won’t pay because the boat was “not fit for purpose” and shouldn’t have been sold to them.
Mr Gray and Mr Senior have now set up a GoFundMe page, which has raised more than £1,200 to fix and refit the boat. People in the community have also offered to help.
The couple are currently staying on another boat at the marina after its owner offered to help them out.
Mr Gray said: “Everyone has come together to help. We are starting from scratch and trying to scrape whatever money together.”
“It’s everything, our money, our dream, all our possessions. We don’t really have the luxury of walking away. We are completely homeless. All we want to do is get a roof over our heads.
“I’m more determined now. It’s horrible but in a lot of ways what you lose in terms of belongings and money, you gain a lot – all that we have learned from the experience and the fact we have stayed tight together has made us stronger.”
You can donate to the GoFundMe here.
