should i change my address on accounts - renting

ohrosannababy

i am in my mid 20's, have changed address a lot over the last 7 years (due to college, university, and later work) but have always kept my bank and credit cards registered at my parents home address for ease. i know that this will be detrimental to my credit rating and i'm currently in the process of trying to rectify everything going forwards. however, my question is this:

i am currently renting a flat, and we regularly (at least every other day) receive letters and visits from "bailiffs" (they are not actually bailiffs as they have no court order, but credit agencies that buy debt and try to scare people into paying). these visits and letters are not for me or my partner, but the previous tennants. all the post you could think of (bank, credit, dvla, personal, etc) are all still arriving at our home, but as the previous tennants rather suspiciously disappeared to austrailia without any explanation to the letting agency or landlord, there is no way to contact them and ask this to be changed. is there anything else i can do to remove them from being listing as living at our flat still? and if not, should i still change the addresses on my account to the flat? i don't want my credit to be further impacted my the credit history of the previous tennants. i'm so worried about doing the wrong thing and regretting it, as we are hoping to get on the property ladder in the next 18 months! as credit agencies clearly still think that the previous tennants still live there, is there any chance of our details being linked together by accident?

any help would be great, thanks so much!

Yorkie1

Credit attaches to people and not to addresses, so your credit record won't be impacted at all by the bad credit for previous occupiers. You won't be linked.

Keep a copy of your current tenancy agreement by the door to show anyone (bailiffs etc) who calls, and never ever let them in.

Return any post to sender if you choose.

As you're considering buying a house, I would definitely consider changing your official address to where you're living. Don't forget the electoral roll.

Lenders will want to see the details all match up, and if there are any odd discrepancies, it may well go against you.

Locky

I bought a house in December 2010 and my bank accounts were all registered at my parents' address while I was living elsewhere. It didn't cause me any problems at the time. I was registered on the electoral register at my flat though.

Just keep sending back all the letters with 'No longer at this address' written on the front.

thegirlintheattic

I'd move your official address over, I kept mine at my parents for many years (apart from one account) and it became very complex when applying for credit.