Church threat to evict bridal shop in rent row
ONE of the West Midlands’ leading Asian bridal businesses faces being turfed out of its premises by the Catholic church.
The couple who run Asiana Bridal, closed for a year because of Covid, say they have two weeks to find the £5,335 owed in rent arrears.
If not, their lease on the Perry Barr, Birmingham, office – formerly part of St Teresa of the Child Jesus Church and still owned by the Catholic archdiocese – will be scrapped.
Agents working for the parish have also warned legal action will be taken to recover the money and legal cost incurred.
That, say bosses Rashpal and Sukhi Sanghera, would end the business they launched at the premises in 2009.
Asiana Bridal is well known in the Asian community for providing beauty care courses and make-overs for wedding guests.
Mr Sanghera, aged 59, said: “We just thought the church would be more understanding. We opened on Monday, but we have to create business, we have to get people through the door. We have to get people to sign up to our beauty care courses, we have to advertise. I just thought there would be more understanding. “This has taken its toll on my wife’s health. I’ve booked an appointment to see her GP.”
He alleges they have offered £2,000. The church had provided a rent reduction last year and the business owners received a £14,000 bailout from the government. Mr Sanghera said that has not been touched because he and his wife do not want to slip further in debt. They intend to give it back, he insists.
Through its agents, the church stated the couple have failed to provide accounts to prove the current financial situation.
Mr Sanghera said: “We’ve built this business from scratch and don’t want to lose it. We’re not refusing to pay the rent, we’re just asking for a bit of understanding about the situation we’re in. We are about to lose our livelihood.”
He added: “They want me to show them my accounts. Why should I?”
A letter from the agents carries a deadline of April 28 before legal action commences.
It states: “While they (the parish) appreciate that the pandemic has restricted trading, they are concerned that you have made no effort to clear any of the arrears for almost six months and that you now appear to be withholding any kind of rent payment until the parish offer another rent concession. They feel that they have been more than generous by arranging a rent reduction last year despite not receiving any financial assistance themselves.”
In a statement, the Archdiocese of Birmingham stated: “The Archdiocese is sympathetic to all those who are struggling with income as a result of the pandemic.
“The company was offered, and accepted, a significant rent reduction for two quarters last year, despite the parish itself not receiving any income. The parish has not received any rent since November and has requested details of the company’s reduced income in order to further discuss a potential rent reduction or payment plan.
“The door remains open for the company to continue this conversation.”