What would you do? New owner and letters coming.

Bluebell1000

We've been passing letters onto our neighbours for the previous occupiers for the last 3 years  The letters have dried up in the last year though, only occasional ones now. The former owners do pop round with a box of biscuits at Christmas to say thank you, and we really don't mind doing it. 

steph2901

It wouldn't bother me for a couple of weeks if they need to give Royal Mail notice to set up the redirection, we all know moving is stressful and sometimes things get missed accidentally.  After 6 days this does seem a bit mean to me if the neighbour is willing to take their post.

In my previous house I did this for the previous occupier until they sorted out their redirection.  It was no bother to me to just post it through the neighbours letterbox.

In the house I live in now, not long after I moved in some concert tickets arrived for the previous occupier.  I didn't bin them, I got in touch with her and she collected them.

Newnoel

When I last moved 4 or 5 years ago, I got bored with marking letters "RTS", as some organisations - particularly NatWest and Boots - seem to ignore it and keep sending mail.

I eventually wrote "Deceased - stop sending post" 

That did the trick!

Princessa_2

The neighbour or the old occupants could be using the address for all sorts. If they were setting up a redirection it would have kicked in by now. I’d return all to sender.

Brie

over 3 years since we moved into our current property and still get letters etc for the previous occupants.  what really bugs me though is that every year when Christmas rolls around there are dozens of cards.  None of these have return addresses so they can't be returned and the individual will never know that their card hasn't reached the right person.  meanwhile the previous occupants may very well be thinking that Uncle George in Devon must have died as he hasn't written for such a long time.  

In our previous place we kept getting bank statements for about 10 years.  And Tesco vouchers.  I did RTS for a lot but got fed up and ended up using the vouchers to buy stuff for the food bank.  Wouldn't work now of course as you need to show your card before they will redeem them.

TimSynths

Just pop them all in the bin. 

thegreenone

Slightly concerned that sister next door could be using the address to her advantage. 

Whether ethical, legal or not, I think I would open all the letters, write a standard letter to all enclosing proof (electoral role?) that you now own the property and return the letters.  Yes, you would have to pay the postage but hopefully a few pounds would stop the issue.  My personal solution and mine alone.

london21

Update. 

The previous occupants have done a redirection.
The debt collection company I provided Council tax bill as proof of new ownership.
I also write return to sender to the other names not included in the redirection.
It has been 8 weeks since completion and the letters are a lot less now. 

Scotbot

The property was sold at auction and debt collectors are coming round, previous occupants are not redirecting mail. Previous occupant is in financial distress and doesn't want to be found. May as well just bin the letters, tell the neighbour you are not comfortable giving them someone elses mail. 

I had a debt collector turn up after I moved in. I told them I was a  new occupant, they asked for proof gave them  a utility letter in my name and I never heard from them again. 

SandyShores

london21 said:

Update. 

The previous occupants have done a redirection.
The debt collection company I provided Council tax bill as proof of new ownership.
I also write return to sender to the other names not included in the redirection.
It has been 8 weeks since completion and the letters are a lot less now. 

Sounds like you have it sorted now london21.  Don't forget the mailing preference service - it was really useful when I moved a few years back and was getting allsorts of mail for the old occupiers.  Mine eventually dwindled down to one or two Christmas cards a year, but I had no forwarding address and no return address so they went in the bin (after checking for vouchers of course)

https://www.mpsonline.org.uk/