Hi

Our tenants gave notice to quit in writing to me personally and should have left on 8 June.  However, they told the Estate Agents but not me  that they intended to move out end of June and the property was marketed with availability end of June.  Quite a surprise to me but I let it go after speaking with the Estate Agents.  At the beginning of June we found tenants to move in at the end of the month and I dropped a letter round to inform them.  As I did not hear from them on this subject I assumed all was ok and went round on the 24 June to organise their exit inspection.  They told me they wouldn't now move out until 1 August as their house purchase wasn't complete.  I was horrified as our new tenants had already given notice to quit their existing property.  On top of this they would have paid more rent on a 12 month contract.  I even offered them another place to stay rent free for one month, but they refused saying it would take time and money to move twice.  Shortly afterwards I got a letter from their solicitor saying I had to leave them in peace etc until the end of their tenancy and that I had to give written notice before inspecting the property.  The tenants had failed to mention to their solicitor that they had given me their notice to quit.  I had spoken to them initially but when they refused to budge I just put them in contact with the Estate Agents.  The solicitor's letter says they will not move out until 1 September at the end of the shorthold tenancy.  I am so annoyed and am extremely worried that they will not pay the last months (August) rent and leave me with loads of bills and a damaged property.  If I engage a solicitor it will cost me £300 plus with no guarantees on our wonky justice system that I will win.  They have been in residence for 4 years and their deposit is not protected.  Can I serve a notice myself without going through a solicitor?  I cannot see which one would apply in my case, they all seem to talk about rent arrears, which has never happened. 

Oh and that's another thing, do I reject any rent they now try to pay?  By accepting it (although how I will pay the mortgage otherwise I don't know) am I accepting their continuing tenancy?