I recently took possession of my rental property at the end of the tenancy. As it had been rented for several years, I took a few weeks to deep clean, repair, and redecorate.
During this time, a number of letters came through for a person who had never lived there before me, and was not one of my tenants. My assumption is that my tenants had a “guest” at some point who stayed long enough to register their postal address there.
Most of the letters are from a mobile phone company, which I mark “Not known at this address, return to sender”. However, one letter is from a debt collector (I reverse searched the PO Box return address) who I would expect to be skeptical of a returned letter marked as such.
Should I be concerned about this? I have new tenants moving in next month and certainly don’t want them being hassled by debt collectors turning up at their door looking for this mystery person.
This is not an uncommon scenario and you should just ask the tenants to let you know straight away if “return to sender” doesnt work. Its not a big issue for the tenants and one they may have already faced elsewhere.
I had this problem when I moved in. All I had to do was show them my tenancy agreement that showed that whoever they were looking for was not registered here as a tenant. I was worried when I first saw the letter hand delivered because it gave the impression that they could force entry if no one was home a take possession of my items of any value but I found out that because it was for an unpaid mobile phone it’s classed as a civil debt and that no forced entry is allowed. So you can either contact the bailiff yourself providing evidence that the person has never occupied you home and that new tenants moving in have no connection either or just advise the tenants of what could happen.
I had debt collectors coming to my flat and filming our interchange
The guy who owned the flat before me had got himself into all sorts of trouble.
I put stickers all over the letters that came for him “No known at this address” - and “Please report to the police if this address is being used illegally.”
I traced the PO Box on the back of some and called the companies to say they weren’t here and the date I moved in. I’d sometimes write, too.
I also had police come to the door because he was still using the address!
It did take a couple of years for things to calm down. I feel sorry for him really.
I wasn’t worried about people claiming my stuff because it’s not worth anything!
My experience: letters from debt collectors addressed to a previous tenant came, they were for unpaid gas and electricity bills. This was quite alarming for the new tenant, and for me too, because they were insisting that as landlord, I was responsible, and threatening to come to my own home to take goods! Fortunately, the issue was resolved by showing them the tenancy agreement, which includes clauses about payment of bills. Phew!
debt collectors do not care who pays . They want their fee only. Thus tenancy agreements are vital . Always keep hold of them ,even if a tenancy turns periodic
