Divorced Landlords - dispute over rent

princeofpounds

their advice was basically to tell the landlords

Which is fine, except that you don't appear to have multiple landlords. Only one.

ziziban

I did explain to the Shelter adviser that I believed I could identify Mrs X as the sole landlord, on the basis of all of my dealings being with her and her name being on the Title etc. However he still seemed to suggest that either one, or both of them could in actual fact be entitled to receive the rent from me - which I don't necessarily agree with .

Hence the conclusion I have drawn myself, based on all of the advice and information I have been given.

RAS

Hi

There are two issues getting mixed up here:

Assuming you are in England or Wales

1. The property is solely own by Mrs LL as per the deeds.

2. ALL property is an asset of the marriage, regardless of whose name is on the deeds with the starting point that each is entitled to 50%. Therefore Mr LL will probably be entitled to a portion of the rental income and a portion of the property value. This may well be why Mrs LL does not want paperwork that proves anything.

You are caught up between the two as they try to agree their financial settlement.

It may be that they also own the property down the street where Mr LL is living. and additional proeprty elsewhere.

It may be that Mrs LL has been advised that the portion of the assets granted to Mrs LL means that she has to buy out Mr LL and need sto raise a mortgage on the rental property; which she cannot afford IHV.

Messy.

kazwookie

I wouldn't be signing anything in a hurry.

Mrs x may have to buy Mrx out, and wants as much cash as possible.

You mention other flats in the block, what are the other renter doing?

ziziban

You're absolutely right with the 2 points you make.

And yes, they own multiple properties - the building I live in contains 5 flats, and I'm aware of at least 3 other buildings in the same road they own - along with the house Mr X lives in, and the one Mrs X lives in (well, she tells me that they own it) - and also property abroad etc.

I've no idea who "owns" all of these properties in terms of deeds, mortgages etc - although you rightly say that they are all assets of the marriage and therefore part of their current financial dispute.

Far from not wanting paperwork to prove anything, Mrs X is actively asking us all to sign new tenancy agreements which will put the rent income etc. into writing.

Messy...you're not wrong!!

ziziban

kazwookie - I haven't managed to speak to the others yet, but hope to knock on a few doors when I get in tonight and get their thoughts.

Mrs X has text me saying that she needs me to sign the agreement and sort out the new payments ASAP, and that I am the only tenant who has not done so (although like everything else, I've learned not to take what I am told at face value). I've not responded to her messages, as I don't want to be rushed - want to make sure I am in the right. Next rent isn't due until Friday anyway.

princeofpounds

I am the only tenant who has not done so

ugh I just hate it when they are rude and pushy despite the fact that this is ultimately their own problem in many ways.

ziziban

Exactly my thoughts!

Their relationship problems and overly complex financial dispute is not my issue, and I'd much rather not get dragged into it.

To be fair, Mr X seems to be the most reasonable in his dealings with us over this - yes he originally told us not to change anything, but in response to her messages he has simply told us to take advice and not be rushed into anything.

jjlandlord

ali_hire wrote: »

He's been communicating with her until now. Presumably he has somewhere to write to, but has never been officially notified in writing of it.

So he has an address, and cannot easily claim that he can withhold rent.

If, as per land registry, property is in Mrs X's name and tenancy is with Mrs X then I don't see the problem: OP should just ignore Mr X.

Even if it is in both names, if the tenancy is with Mrs X only I would still ignore Mr X.

ziziban

As confirmed above, I do not and never have had an address for Mrs X.

That said, don't really want to go down the withholding rent route anyway if I can help it, as ultimately I do need to maintain a relationship with whoever is currently or may in the future be my landlord.

Property is in Mrs X name and verbal agreement/tenancy was with Mrs X.

Mr X only involvement until all of this was that he was named on the bank account I paid in to, and was presumably married to Mrs X.