Two couples have won a High Court battle after telling a judge how their plans to live on luxury houseboats near Hampton Court palace were scuppered.
Oliver and Jennifer Small and Fiona Johnstone and Louis Sydney claimed that boatbuilder Myck Djurberg had "induced" them to buy houseboats by saying they had long-term mooring rights at Hampton Riviera marina in south-west London.
They accused Mr Djurberg of "serious misrepresentation".
The Smalls said they paid £1.25 million for their boat. The Johnstone-Sydneys said they had paid £550,000 towards an asking price of £850,000.
Both couples wanted compensation but Mr Djurberg disputed their claims.
He said he was owed money and complained about being the victim of a "vendetta".
Judge Murray Rosen has ruled in favour of the two couples after a High Court trial in London.
He said the Smalls should get £1.25 million damages and the Johnstone-Sydneys £550,000.
The judge had analysed evidence at a hearing in May and his ruling was published on Friday.
Judge Rosen said the disputes had "generated a great deal of emotion" and that there had been a "hail of arrows alleging impropriety on all sides".
The Smalls had "vacated" their boat more than two years ago and the vessel was unoccupied in temporary moorings, said the judge.
Mr Djurberg had repossessed the Johnstone-Sydneys' boat, he added.
