Messy Landlords divorcing, who do pay rent to?

pitkin2020

So basically my landlords have decided to divorce and have been doing so for nearly 2 years, during this time i've been paying MR the rent money but its just been decided (still not offically) that MRS will be given the property, they have both told me this.
Now this is where its getting messy as MRS has told me to stop paying the rent to MR and to now pay her but ive not had anything official from either solicitor or court etc as to whom i should actually continue to pay.  Obviously with MRS going to be the official landlady i dont want to !!!!!! her off but i also dont want MR to decide to try and get a CCJ against me for not paying the rent.  Im between a rock and hard place and in the wrong which ever way this goes.

Does anyone know legally where i stand?  My original tenancy agreement is from 2012 and was never updated after the 6 month period, it was also originally in agreement with MRS mum as it was her property which she gave to MR & MRS several years later.

Im basically being told opposite things from each party, both want to be paid.  Im at the point now i just want to with hold the moneys until someone can show me a legal document to say who i should bloody well pay for the next two months as its proposed to be finalised end of October now.

Any advice, cheers (one stressed out tenant)

Thrugelmir

Write a cheque payable to Mr and Mrs until there's something official in writing. 

[Deleted User]

pitkin2020 said:

So basically my landlords have decided to divorce and have been doing so for nearly 2 years, during this time i've been paying MR the rent money but its just been decided (still not offically) that MRS will be given the property, they have both told me this.
Now this is where its getting messy as MRS has told me to stop paying the rent to MR and to now pay her but ive not had anything official from either solicitor or court etc as to whom i should actually continue to pay.  Obviously with MRS going to be the official landlady i dont want to !!!!!! her off but i also dont want MR to decide to try and get a CCJ against me for not paying the rent.  Im between a rock and hard place and in the wrong which ever way this goes.

Does anyone know legally where i stand?  My original tenancy agreement is from 2012 and was never updated after the 6 month period, it was also originally in agreement with MRS mum as it was her property which she gave to MR & MRS several years later.

Im basically being told opposite things from each party, both want to be paid.  Im at the point now i just want to with hold the moneys until someone can show me a legal document to say who i should bloody well pay for the next two months as its proposed to be finalised end of October now.

Any advice, cheers (one stressed out tenant)

Right, so the mother/mother-in-las is named on the original tenancy agreement. What did you receive telling you there had been a change of landlord and who was named as the new landlord, both of them, just the wife or just the husband? 

Slithery

On the paperwork that you received when the property changed hands from the mother, who is stated as the new landlord?

Socajam

Make that you do not pay anything in cash - always a cheque or money order - also keep a copy

pitkin2020

ok so the tenancy is in both their names MR & MRS.  Originally i was paying into a joint account, then about 18 months ago MR text me and asked to pay into a new account, i wasn't aware they were separating at this time so didnt suspect anything, changed bank details.  A few onths after that MRS asked me to pay directly to her instead and explained they were seperating.
At this time i said i didnt want to be in the middle of this, MR copied me in to email with his solicitor where he stated i should continue to pay rent to him, so I did.

Ive now spoken to them both today and MR is saying the court order states he should receive the rent until everything is finalised and hes liable for all costs of the property etc.  Ive not seen this and he is waiting to confirm with his solicitor if he can send me this copy, which is still a draft not been stamped by the court,

Both have told the property is being handed to MRS once finalised but she now wants me to stop paying him

pitkin2020

Lover_of_Lycra said:

Right, so the mother/mother-in-las is named on the original tenancy agreement. What did you receive telling you there had been a change of landlord and who was named as the new landlord, both of them, just the wife or just the husband? 

sorry i got it wrong, i did get an updated tenanacy agreement from MR & MRS in 2014.  2008-2014 was the mother/ mother in law

Hannimal

Bloody hell. Can you move out? Sorry you're having to deal with that

pitkin2020

Hannimal said:

Bloody hell. Can you move out? Sorry you're having to deal with that

id love to but the cost of doing so isnt viable, were still trying to save for a mortgage and moving would eat into that plus the extra rental costs would kill our ability to save which is already hard enough.
Its a proper rock and hard place.  Obviously with MRS taking the property back i dont want to be on the wrong side of her, she could increase the rent, sell the property etc but then i dont want MR trying to put a CCJ on me for breach of tenancy,

MRS has said she'll put in writing what she has asked me to do i.e pay her not MR and assures me she has no intention to sell but would that legally be enough i dont know.  

AdrianC

So long as you can prove you've paid the rent to one of the jointly-named landlords on your tenancy, I can't see there being any comeback against you.

It's a dispute between them. And it's really NOT your problem.

ChewyyBacca

Hannimal said:

Bloody hell. Can you move out? Sorry you're having to deal with that

Well thats not a solution, moving out.  OP has been in the same property for 8 years, clearly they have made their life there. the situation, It is messy indeed.
OP wait for them to show you court docs. Take it in writing everything, where the rent should be.
If need be mark emails to both, after you had conversation with one or both, and re confirm in written what was discussed. If they are on the same page, great, if not, you can delay payment.