Divorced Landlords - dispute over rent

jjlandlord

ziziban wrote: »

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

End of discussion, then.
Just ignore Mr X.

ziziban

Thanks all for the help and advice.

I have today signed a written AST with Mrs X, and arranged to pay rent as instructed by her. She has included the original deposit on the tenancy agreement, and will worry about chasing her ex for that money herself.

Will also be posting a letter today to Mr X advising him of this, and that until I see court documents advising me otherwise I will consider Mrs X to be my landlord, and advise him to take up any claim against rent with her directly.

No doubt there will be more fireworks, but at least I now hopefully have security of tenure for at least 6 months whilst they sort themselves out (although it seems the finances have been "under negotiation" for 2 years already, so I doubt it will be a quick process).

Thanks again, will keep you posted if anything further develops!

fairy_lights

ziziban wrote: »

I have today signed a written AST with Mrs X, and arranged to pay rent as instructed by her. She has included the original deposit on the tenancy agreement, and will worry about chasing her ex for that money herself.

But she shouldn't need to chase Mr X for the deposit, because it's safely lodged in a deposit protection scheme...isn't it?


Edit: just seen in your previous post that it's not protected, why not?

thesaint

I think you have done the best thing.

ziziban wrote: »

No doubt there will be more fireworks, but at least I now hopefully have security of tenure for at least 6 months whilst they sort themselves out (although it seems the finances have been "under negotiation" for 2 years already, so I doubt it will be a quick process).

I don't think it will come to anything, but I don't think that a fraudulent tenancy agreement(I am not saying yours is) would be upheld if challenged.

ziziban

The deposit will now be protected, don't worry I have insisted on that. It wasn't protected at the time I moved in, even though I know it should have been. I let "them" get away with quite a few things because of the cheap rent, but now Mrs X is resolute in doing things by the book - which will of course benefit everybody.

Do agree that if the agreement was fraudulent it probably wouldn't stand up, but I think I've done all I reasonably can to ensure that it's genuine and she is the lawful landlord etc.

princeofpounds

Thanks for the update - we appreciate it. Hope it works out for you.

jjlandlord

fairy_lights wrote: »

But she shouldn't need to chase Mr X for the deposit, because it's safely lodged in a deposit protection scheme...isn't it?

A landlord can protect the deposit and keep holding the money.