How to deal with previous tenants debts?

lady_fuschia

Hiya,
Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on this: I've recently moved into a rented flat and the woman who lived there before us did what our landlord describes as a "moonlight flit" - leaving a whole load of rent arrears and unpaid utility bills (we actually had a card through the door addressed "The Occupier" on the second day we moved in from British Gas threatening to cut us off! Seems a bit harsh). We've also had a demand addressed to the previous tenant for debts to the Next catalogue, and I'm worried there could be more.
If they start chasing these debts how do I prove that I'm not the person who owes for them, considering neither I nor the landlord can provide a forwarding address? Is this something I need to worry about? I've got enough debts of my own without having to worry about somebody elses!
Thanks

angelavdavis

I had a similar experience in that the previous tenants in a house I was renting had never registered with the electricity board. As a result, they owed a lot of money (the house had previously been unoccupied so the electricity board had marked the house as such).

The electricity board were fine, I told them when I moved in who I was and provided them with proof I had been a previous customer of theirs - with a good standing as such and they wrote off that debt (I didn't have a forwarding address for the previous tenant either).

opalfruits_2

Your not even remotely liable. You will need to provide meter readings for the utlities now that you've moved in, so if the utility companies want proof then a copy of your tenancy agreement normally suffices.

All the other letters address to the previous tenant, stick 'em back in the post with "not at the address" added on the envelope.

kanga78

Sorry to resurrect this, but I have a slightly similar situation in that I have been receiving letters for the previous homeowner from a company chasing payment of a debt and threatening debt collectors and court appearances. I opened one in error which is why I know what the letters are and now recognise them when they arrive. I have since been returning them unopened to the sender saying they are no longer at this address, but they still seem to come despite this. I do have a forwarding address for the previous occupier but thought I'd be better returning them so that the company would have some record that they are no longer here.

I got another one last week so decided to forward this on to the previous owner instead to see if they'll sort it out and I can stop worrying about it. However, another letter arrived yesterday which again has been forwarded on. Hopefully they might pay attention to this one and sort it all out. In case they don't, what's my best option for stopping them? I'm worried that debt collectors may turn up on my doorstep and I'd rather try and prevent this from happening! I've found the address and phone number of the company from the return address on the envelope and wondered if I'm best to contact them and tell them that the previous owners are no longer here.

Sorry this is such a long post. Hopefully the debt will be paid and that'll be the end of it but I'd just like other people's advice / opinions for in case it isn't! I'm sure some people might suggest that I just ignore them, but I'd rather not be worrying that the bailiffs might pay me a visit! Thanks very much.

Storm

If there's an address on the outside of the envelope then contact them explaining the situation & give the forwarding address you've got - there's no reason you should have to deal with this. If there's no address then return to sender stating no longer at this address - you're not legally allowed to open another person's mail.

Should anyone turn up at the door show them photo ID to prove that you're not the person they're looking for & give them the forwarding address too - if you get more than one visit from a company/bailiffs then report them for harassment.

It's a horrible situation, and one that us tenants often have problems with unfortunately, the only other thing I can suggest is get a signed letter from your landlord/agents stating that the previous tenant left on X date and you moved in on Y date as further evidence for anyone that shows up.

Crown

Hi, If any mail comes to the address that is not addressed to you and you open it iy is you that is breaking the law. I found his out when a previous tenant of mine did a runner without paying the rent and had used the property to commit a fraud.

When I went to the police regarding it they advised me that I had no right even as the owner of the property to open the mail and told me to just pop it back in the post unopened with a note saying No Longer at this address written upon it.

If the debts are not in your name and you have a copies of your tenancy agreement dated correctly you have no reponsiblility towards the debt and I personally would just return the letters and ignore them.

They have finally stopped in my case although it has taken about a year :mad:

kanga78

Thanks Storm

I actually bought the house off them so just want to also make sure that their debt doesn't somehow affect me because I'm the registered owner of the house - would a credit check show this? I did think about passing on their new address to the company but would prefer to only do that as a last resort as I wouldn't be too keen on people giving out my address details - I may be too nice for my own good I think!

I looked up the address from the postcode on the return information so I'll contact the company to tell them that the person sold the house and that I've been returning the letters, and hopefully that'll help. Thanks for the response, I just wanted to get someone else's thoughts before I actually did anything!

immoral_angeluk

debts are on a person, not an address. Check your credit reports to be in the safe side but if you get anymore post for them write no longer at this address on the envelope, put it in the post box and forget about it.

KnightofNi_2

Since I moved into my flat in September, i've had letters through for the couple who lived there before me. As the became more frquest and red looking, I opened one.

Turns out the previous tenants owed the council a load of money and bailiffs were due at the house within a few days. So I called the debt collecters and explained the situation. They advised me to fax them a utility bill or such like with my name and the address on to prove the debtors didnt live there.

Since then, the letters have stopped so I assume the case is closed.

*Dee*

When me and my ex moved in together there was a whole cupboard of unopened post going back for about 2 years (the property was empty for about 18 months) I wrote on every single envelope 'not at this address' and took it all down to the post box and sent it back. We still got letters nearly everyday and the bailiffs came a few times as well and i just showed the our council tax bill and some id and they went away, i was going to say happily but they werent! It just takes a bit of time and some persevernce. (spelling)

pk2007_2

hi
had a similar problem; had umpteen letters returned to sender as not at this address but they kept turning up. finally called them up and then sent a proof - council tax bill/utility bill and then it stopped
HTH