We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Still receiving post for previous house owners
![[Deleted User]](https://us-noi.v-cdn.net/6031891/uploads/defaultavatar/nFA7H6UNOO0N5.jpg)
[Deleted User]
Posts: 0 Newbie

We bought our first house in June last year and are still regularly getting post through addressed to the previous owners. Most of it seems unimportant e.g. leaflets, typical junk mail but other items seem a bit more official, e.g. things from HMRC. Although I’ve not opened any of the post to check (it seems a bit intrusive?), I believe the man owned his own business and I’m pretty sure some of the post has been things like invoices.
I don’t have any contact details for them so I can’t let them know.
Am I under any obligation to do anything? Or is it suffice to expect that after 15 months they should have got all of their address details updated by now?
I don’t have any contact details for them so I can’t let them know.
Am I under any obligation to do anything? Or is it suffice to expect that after 15 months they should have got all of their address details updated by now?
0
Comments
-
From day 1, it should all be binned. Then you set no precedent.0
-
Just write return to sender on all of them, not much else you can do really.0
-
I don't think you're under an obligation (other than not to open it) but I found putting it back in the post box with "return to sender" on it tended to reduce things for us over time.
This is assuming it's official enough to have a return address on it.
If it's not, you can write "Misdelivered" I believe on it and Royal Mail do something with it.The above facts belong to everybody; the opinions belong to me; the distinction is yours to draw...0 -
We had a similar issue, as above I'd put a line through their name/my address (Still readable) and write "Return to sender - no longer at address" on the front then pop it into the mailbox.0
-
I don't agree with binning other peoples mail from day one. The official looking items I would just pop back in the post, clearly marked please return to sender.0
-
In our rental property, we received quite a lot of post for previous tenants.
I would cross through the address and just write- "please return to sender, no longer at this address"
Although throwing the post directly in the bin might be an instant solution to the problem, the post will just keep coming.
How else will the sender know that the addressee is no longer there?
With post having no return address, that is trickier, but I think it should be returned to Royal Mail as above.0 -
The quality of glue these days is terrible, it's amazing how much mail "falls open" when it hits the mat.0
-
I'm still returning the off bit of mail one year on, but it's getting less frequent. I just keep it in a drawer until I know I'm passing the postbox.0
-
Thanks everyone. I will try returning it!0
-
Cardinal-Red wrote: »I don't think you're under an obligation (other than not to open it) but I found putting it back in the post box with "return to sender" on it tended to reduce things for us over time.
This is assuming it's official enough to have a return address on it.
If it's not, you can write "Misdelivered" I believe on it and Royal Mail do something with it.
You can open it, as long as you're not doing it to their detriment, aka to commit fraud, things like that.
Its addressed to the OP's address. They can absolutely open it.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 352.1K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.2K Spending & Discounts
- 245.1K Work, Benefits & Business
- 600.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.4K Life & Family
- 258.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards