Probate and Executors

[jhowe60]

I've leased a pub from the executors of a will, but think that something dodgy is going on because they gave me the lease prior to being granted probate. I've been in the pub for 5 months but only recently found out that probate wasn't given to them till June this year.
I've been asked to pay VAT on the rent and on all the transactions I have had with them and paid everything into an Executors bank account. They won't supply me with VAT invoices and will not honour the promise to make repairs to the building, plus the accounts they gave me did not refelct the actual business. I have been told recently that the VAT number and responsibilty died with the passing of the owner. Any advice on what to do and where I stand please.

 

[David Griffiths]

Did you use a solicitor when taking out the lease? It's standard practice to request a copy of the election to charge tax on the property.

 

[jhowe60]

No I didn't the person that died was a family friend and it would have meant extra cost. I have since taken legal advice but not got all that far with it, the executors of the will just ignore everything I, or the solicitor sends them. He believes that the lease isn't worth the paper it's written on and it's a copy and paste document.