Ditto. Do not pay the rent to the individual. The legal landlord can and probably will claim the rent is unpaid. (I would rather go to the electric company myself and pay the electric bill, and then deduct it from the rent. They won't like it, but at least you will be able to operate your business.)

The rent should be prorated for every day there is no power. You can't operate a business without power. That makes the premises legally unusable, or if housing, uninhabitable.

Personally, I would not pay anymore rent. This situation is only going to get much worse before it gets better. I would immediately find new space. There is so much empty retail space, especially in small strip malls, that finding an attractive and economic space should not be difficult. I do realize the down side of that of course.

Either that, or sit down with both of them and explain that regardless of their personal situations, they owe the tenants certain duties and if they don't act professionally and responsibly they will both end up with nothing but an empty rundown property with no real value in this market. Retail space without tenants and stable leases is virtually worthless.

Of course, the last idea may be too late if the property is anywhere near foreclosure. I personally would do a little research and find out exactly what is going on.