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Losing a landlord can create a lot of unexpected problems.

This renter recently found that out after learning their landlord had suddenly died while he was overseas.

One day, they received a text from the landlord’s phone with new bank details and instructions for paying the rent.

The only problem was the message came from a woman they had never met.

Now rent is due, but they have no way of knowing whether she actually has the legal right to collect it.

Read on to see what you think about this whole thing.

Help! My landlord died

Apparently, my landlord passed away while abroad, and his body isn’t even home yet.

We know he has an ex-wife but no kids.

Now we’ve gotten a text from his phone from a woman who didn’t really introduce herself and only informed us of new bank details to pay the rent to.

This feels verrryyyy dodgy.

He gets why she’s doing it, but he’s not sure if it’s legal or not.

I understand that she might be trying to avoid months of his accounts being frozen before she gets access, but I don’t even know who she is. And she spoke as if we were supposed to know her.

Anyway, Citizens Advice is saying they have a two-week wait time, and I’m just not sure what to do.

Of course, I find it weird that her first concern after her… I don’t know… loved one has passed on is to contact 30 of his tenants and try to get the rent paid into her account.

For all I know, she’s not even entitled to it and just stole his phone! Any advice would be brilliant, as rent is due and I don’t want to pay it into her account.

Wow! It sounds like he needs some professional advice.

Let’s see what the readers over at Reddit think.

According to this person, he needs to put rent money in a separate account.

Here’s a fellow landlord’s advice.

For this person, it’s about receiving legal paperwork.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about people who have to go to court to get their land back after their neighbor sells it.

And here’s a reader who suggests paying however he’s been paying.

The text is definitely suspicious!

Until someone provides official paperwork showing who now manages the property or the estate, he should keep paying rent the same way he’s always paid it. A text message from the landlord’s phone really doesn’t prove anything. Phone numbers can be spoofed, and anyone could claim they’re entitled to collect the rent.

The last thing this renter needs is to send money to the wrong person and then find out they still owe rent to the actual estate.

Hopefully, someone contacts him to clear this up soon.