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Opening ex tenants mail.
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docmaggiemay
Posts: 38 Forumite
I have a tenant who vanished frim tbe house I let, owing a large amount of rent. Mail is still arriving at the house including bills, bailiffs letters etc.
What's the legal position with me opening it?
What's the legal position with me opening it?
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Comments
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Pretty sure it would be illegal, as it is interfering with someone elses post. Best stick it back in post with "no longer at this address" on.0
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my understanding is you cant open mail without due concern. if you are the owner you are permitted to open the mail if you suspect it is dodgy such as bailiffs and threatening ones in order to reply and set out the position.0
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Not illegal. Interferring with post before delivery is, not once it's at its destination address, I belive.0
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Mail in transit belongs to the Queen and it is illegal to open it unless you are the intended recipient.docmaggiemay wrote: »I have a tenant who vanished frim tbe house I let, owing a large amount of rent. Mail is still arriving at the house including bills, bailiffs letters etc.
What's the legal position with me opening it?0 -
In transit, yes, of course. But what if it's been delivered to the correct address?0
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Pretty sure its illegal although who would ever find out?0
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Covered many times before on the site.satchmeister wrote: »Mail in transit belongs to the Queen and it is illegal to open it unless you are the intended recipient.
'Belongs to the Queen' pah! but illegal to open in transit.
Only illegal to open once delivered if it is intended to act to the detriment of the recipient.Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam0 -
Legal case link please.DVardysShadow wrote: »Covered many times before on the site.
'Belongs to the Queen' pah! but illegal to open in transit.
Only illegal to open once delivered if it is intended to act to the detriment of the recipient.0 -
It would be wrong of me to suggest you keep opening his mail by mistake whilst you see if there is any useful info such as
his employer, a tax code(gives you NI) etc etc to help you track him down. So I won't suggest that. I do know
of someone who tracked down 2 ex-tenants this way!0 -
"Quite simply, it is an offence to open, destroy, hide or delay any post that is addressed to someone else. Post cannot be opened if it is to the addressee's detriment and without reasonable excuse. Reasonable excuse is not defined by the Act. This means your explanation for withholding post may not stand up in court. An example of a potential conflict is if a landlord opens a previous tenant's post in order to trace them."theartfullodger wrote: »It would be wrong of me to suggest you keep opening his mail by mistake whilst you see if there is any useful info such as
his employer, a tax code(gives you NI) etc etc to help you track him down. So I won't suggest that. I do know
of someone who tracked down 2 ex-tenants this way!0
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