What to do with mail being delivered for prior tenant?

General Landlording & Rental Properties
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What to do with mail being delivered for prior tenant?

Mindy JensenPro Member
BiggerPockets Money Podcast Host · Longmont, CO · Member since 2014 · 7k+ posts · 10k+ votes

This showed up in my facebook feed and I started wondering what responsibility the landlord or new tenant has for previous tenants mail? I'd write Return to Sender a few times, but then I'd get fed up. I would probably start tossing things in the trash, but it's a federal offense to tamper with the mail.

Who are my postal experts? Any mail carriers/postmen here?

My last real estate purchase I have a conundrum on. It has a been done for a while. Whole shebangy. 

New person has been living in it for 4 months now.... and they are still receiving previous tenants mail. Like lots, and lots, on the daily. All marked return to sender. Some taken in handfulls to the post office and explained to a manager. Just like the packages given back to the carrier. Just like the handfull I was there for and personally ran down the street to the carrier, explaining again and damn near begging for resolve over. Sounds petty I know but we’re both kinda like - “really??? come on man”. 

Now, the christmas packages have started arriving. New guy has kept up the “return to sender” routine but... apparently the rent was late cuz we got a shop-a-holic. They just 😳 keep 😳 coming 😳. Its hard not to feel somehow responsible for these items but I can see how this unpaid part time job is starting to wear thin and I totally get it. 

The bonus sad part here is that I know for a fact this woman still does and always has worked for the post office!!! She is a USPS carrier!! 🤦♀️ The update of the day I just recieved is: she showed up on the doorstep today asking for her “items that were delivered earlier”. Hearing the story, I’m already thinking - you mean shes been tracking a package to the point of knowing its going to her old address and is just cool with that? Sit back and watch it get delivered there, and ?

I digress.... my tenant is kind and says she was apologetic but I’m still under the impression this is not something she cares to resolve. I have a number for her and I suppose I could call? Let her know that her old house and its new occupant aren’t a ups store here to accept and keep her packages safe and sound til shes ready for an unannounced pick up but... the source and solution here.. is the post office which I would think she has some pull at?? though nobody there seems to be able to get it done.

Maybe I'm just not asking the right questions? Lol. Maybe I should copy, paste, print into a word doc? And 🤦♀️ mail it? 🤣 to the post office?? This is too stupid to spend time on - exactly why I need to fix it. Ideas?
I’m was gonna leave a note, ON the mailbox saying: mail for ____________ only. No other occupants here. Eh? To the carriers who don’t care?

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Jason Grimm
Real Estate Agent · Wytheville, VA · Member since 2017 · 21 posts · 28 votes
7y

I am a USPS carrier, and I run into this on the daily. There are several variations of this solution, but it ultimately comes down to the former tenant needs to put in a change of address form. If they're a postal worker, they should've done it (it takes literally less than 5 minutes). They may be trying to dodge debtors, as mentioned earlier. I would definitelt put a sticker on the box saying "(new tenant's name) only," because chances are there are carriers who rotate that route daily, and it's hard to keep up with all the forwards, especially on multi-family addresses. Another thing that will help is instead of writing "return to sender" on the mail, smply write "FWD." This will force the mail back into the system, and if there is a forwarding address on file, will send it on to where it should go (assuming it's first or second class mail). If there is a forwarding address on file, it will expire after 1 year, at which point you may have to start the proccess again. Another tip, which you may or may not want to bother with: if the mail says "first-class" or any version of "service requested" ie change service, it can be forwarded. If it simply says "standard," it cannot be forwarded, and most likely will end up in the recycling bin. But the safest bet is to rubber-band the whole bundle, mark it FWD, and leave it for the carrier. As for going to the post office to rectify the situation, I would request to speak to the actual Postmaster or a Supervisor, as they will have the most accurate information, as well as the most influence over the situation.

I know this is probably an overly long explanation, but I hope it helps.

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  • Thomas S.
    Member since 2016 · 13k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    7y

    The post office can not fix the problem only the person the items are intended for can fix it. They must give the post office a change of address notice and inform companies sending her items that she has moved. In reality your old tenant is still providing her old address to companies she is buying from. She is doing this on purpose, the reason is obviously unknown but I would guess that she is probably hiding from creditors.

    Once she realizes everything is being returned to sender and your new tenants refuse to hold items for her she will solve the problem herself otherwise she will never receive mail again.

    3Reply
  • Alex S.
    Specialist · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2018 · 270 posts · 187 votes
    7y

    I would think USPS could do something about that since they tenant is no longer there. 

    0Reply
  • Jason Grimm
    Real Estate Agent · Wytheville, VA · Member since 2017 · 21 posts · 28 votes
    7y

    I am a USPS carrier, and I run into this on the daily. There are several variations of this solution, but it ultimately comes down to the former tenant needs to put in a change of address form. If they're a postal worker, they should've done it (it takes literally less than 5 minutes). They may be trying to dodge debtors, as mentioned earlier. I would definitelt put a sticker on the box saying "(new tenant's name) only," because chances are there are carriers who rotate that route daily, and it's hard to keep up with all the forwards, especially on multi-family addresses. Another thing that will help is instead of writing "return to sender" on the mail, smply write "FWD." This will force the mail back into the system, and if there is a forwarding address on file, will send it on to where it should go (assuming it's first or second class mail). If there is a forwarding address on file, it will expire after 1 year, at which point you may have to start the proccess again. Another tip, which you may or may not want to bother with: if the mail says "first-class" or any version of "service requested" ie change service, it can be forwarded. If it simply says "standard," it cannot be forwarded, and most likely will end up in the recycling bin. But the safest bet is to rubber-band the whole bundle, mark it FWD, and leave it for the carrier. As for going to the post office to rectify the situation, I would request to speak to the actual Postmaster or a Supervisor, as they will have the most accurate information, as well as the most influence over the situation.

    I know this is probably an overly long explanation, but I hope it helps.

    22Reply
  • Anthony Wick
    Rental Property Investor · Ankeny, IA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    7y

    @Mindy Jensen

    18 United States Code 1708: Theft or receipt of stolen mail;

    Whoever steals, takes, or abstracts, or by fraud or deception obtains, or attempts so to obtain, from or out of any mail, post office, or station thereof, letter box, mail receptacle, or any mail route or other authorized depository for mail matter, or from a letter or mail carrier, any letter, postal card, package, bag, or mail, or abstracts or removes from any such letter, package, bag, or mail, any article or thing contained therein, or secretes, embezzles, or destroys any such letter, postal card, package, bag, or mail, or any article or thing contained therein...

    The key to this statute is "fraud or deception". When dealing with violations of law, it is about fraud or intent. Simply receiving U.S. mail not meant for you is not fraud or deception. Also, once U.S. mail is delivered and brought into the household, it no longer continues to be U.S. Mail, it is then personal property (assuming it was in your mailbox and you had the right to retrieve said mail). 

    Packages can be delivered anywhere and to any address you choose. The post office will not and cannot help with that. However, a little chat with the regular mail carrier, and a note inside the mailbox ("no mail for Jane Doe here please!") could possibly stop some of these mailings. Some of the standard mail (junk mail) could merely be disposed of. It is not tracked, and often states "or household or recipient". 

    So, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and/or local police are not going to open an investigation and/or arrest anybody because packages may or may not have been delivered to the wrong address. For starters, unless a package was signed for, there is no way to prove the package was delivered (was it delivered or stolen off the door step?), and there is no probable cause to get a warrant to search the premises (nor would anybody take the time to do this). Now, considering that, if you get mail in somebody elses name, and it's, say, a gift card, and you use said gift card which was clearly not intended for you, you could be charged with theft. But you still will not be charged with a federal offense under the statute for stolen U.S. Mail. 

    6Reply
  • Mindy JensenPro Member
    OP
    BiggerPockets Money Podcast Host · Longmont, CO · Member since 2014 · 7k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    7y

    I love my BPeeps!

    Thank you @Jason Grimm, @Alex S., @Anthony Wick and @Thomas S.

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    3Reply
  • Account Closed
    Lender · Pensacola, FL · Member since 2017 · 658 posts · 626 votes
    7y

    https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Mail-for-Previous-Residents

    2Reply
  • Mike McCarthy
    Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    You’ve gotten great advice about the technical side of mail. If it were me as a landlord, I would drop off a $15 DunkinDonuts or Starbucks gift card to your new tenant and thank them for forwarding the mail and dealing with it.

    It’s not a huge expenditure for you, and will make their day. Plus, one less thing you have to worry about!

    3Reply
  • Matthew Paul
    Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    7y

    Had that problem in the past , I tell the new tenant , do what you want with it . 

    0Reply
  • Nancy P.
    Naperville, IL · Member since 2018 · 330 posts · 357 votes
    7y

    Big reason my leases say "You will get any unused security deposit back only if you leave me a valid forwarding address".  (Other reason is to track them if needed legally.)  One tenant who left under bad circumstances (knew she wasn't getting any deposit) had dozens of people getting mail at that address.  Also had a pile of car titles.  We think she was offering the address to people trying to clean up their credit and then they could buy a car.  Putting a note saying "ONLY JANE SMITH'S MAIL" on the mailbox  put a stop to that.

    3Reply
  • Lee Bell
    Real Estate Appraiser · Isabella lake, CA · Member since 2018 · 628 posts · 491 votes
    7y

    Write Addressee Deceased on it and dump in the nearest mailbox.

    3Reply
  • Jammey Booth
    Honolulu, HI · Member since 2016 · 1 post · 2 votes
    7y

    If you have the old tenants number I believe the easiest thing to do in this situation is just to call them and ask them kindly to update their information as it is causing undue stress to you and your new tenant.  Also, even if you were to somehow work with USPS to have the mail re-directed that will not solve her updating her address with sites like amazon and such, who will just continue to drop items at the door. Sometimes being straight forward is the best policy. 

    2Reply
  • Account Closed
    Lender · Pensacola, FL · Member since 2017 · 658 posts · 626 votes
    7y

    The OP's post was about stopping unwanted mail.

    The opposite problem is not getting certain mail because it's being stolen by crooks, which is why I'm in the process of signing up for Informed Delivery.

    0Reply
  • Kurt Wilson
    Member since 2018 · 1 post · 0 votes
    7y

    Something that comes to mind is that I recently tried to update my banking information and add a new credit card, and it was nearly impossible. I managed to update one, but not the other. Why?

    Because online shopping services like Amazon, which store consumer information, are using very strict verification processes, such as sending a text message, or a code to an email address before one can change/update anything.

    While this method may be a great way to may prevent fraud. it can also bring havoc to someone who may have changed cell phone number and/or email address several times since the first time they set up their account with Amazon, eBay, and so forth.

    Another scenario could be that the person who moved away is staying with someone who cannot place them on the mailing address, as it may cause an issue with the person they moved in with. 

    I know that some Landlords place restrictions on occupancy, and if it is discovered that your previous tenant is renting a room, but is not allowed mailing privileges, that could be a possibility.

    However, this would not explain why they haven't simply rented a PO Box, and filled out a change of address card. 

    With the above all said, I would be leery about allowing any unmarked packages be delivered in the future. They could be using the old address to have illegal contraband delivered. 

    Good luck!

    0Reply
  • Megan Phillips
    Rental Property Investor · VT · Member since 2017 · 233 posts · 147 votes
    7y

    Never got quite that volume, but a steady flow of someone else's mail at my duplex after they left. Had to write "return to sender" over a dozen times, and left a note in the mailbox saying "Only deliver mail to x, y, z names" it still happened (I know it's not the carrier's fault).

    The previous tenant never made any attempt to ask about old mail or anything like that. After several months, the items started making their way into the recycling bin accidentally. 

    The OP sounds like someone perposefully using the address for an unknown reason and then they come and expect it to be like a customer service counter "here are your packages, Miss Doe, do you need help to you car?" 

    If I knew they worked for USPS, I'd go talk to the postmaster where they work (or at least YOUR post office), and ask about having their mail being delivered to the incorrect address, and mention they work for USPS.

    People are strange.

    2Reply
  • Account Closed
    Lender · Pensacola, FL · Member since 2017 · 658 posts · 626 votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Kurt Wilson:

    Something that comes to mind is that I recently tried to update my banking information and add a new credit card, and it was nearly impossible. I managed to update one, but not the other. Why?

    Because online shopping services like Amazon, which store consumer information, are using very strict verification processes, such as sending a text message, or a code to an email address before one can change/update anything.

    While this method may be a great way to may prevent fraud. it can also bring havoc to someone who may have changed cell phone number and/or email address several times since the first time they set up their account with Amazon, eBay, and so forth.

    Another scenario could be that the person who moved away is staying with someone who cannot place them on the mailing address, as it may cause an issue with the person they moved in with. 

    I know that some Landlords place restrictions on occupancy, and if it is discovered that your previous tenant is renting a room, but is not allowed mailing privileges, that could be a possibility.

    However, this would not explain why they haven't simply rented a PO Box, and filled out a change of address card. 

    With the above all said, I would be leery about allowing any unmarked packages be delivered in the future. They could be using the old address to have illegal contraband delivered. 

    Good luck!

    The government through the Department of Homeland Security is cracking down on driver licenses for identification. When I moved to Florida in 2015 and transferred my driver license here, for example, I had to visit the DMV with multiple documents to prove who I was and where I lived (street address). No longer can one use a PO Box number (at least for the initial license). Now that I'm in the system, I can update my address online (but I don't know if a PO Box is acceptable). Not all states comply with the new DHS rules and for those that don't, residents of those states will eventually need a passport to board an airplane even for a domestic flight.

    1Reply
  • Christin Ross
    Rental Property Investor · Danbury, CT · Member since 2018 · 8 posts · 5 votes
    7y

    Unfirtunately I had/have this issue.  I put a sticker on the mailbox saying “mail only from xyz..” needless to say I still get mail from former tenant!

    0Reply
  • Evan Hooks
    Rental Property Investor · Spotsylvania, VA · Member since 2018 · 21 posts · 20 votes
    7y

    1) Since you have their phone number, maybe call them and see whats the holdup in getting their address corrected. 

    2) Maybe do a reverse look up with their phone number and submit a change of address to the post office for them. (Not for them, but to put an end to this before your new tenant gets fed up.) 

    3) Wait. They came to pick something up?? That means they know exactly what is happening and they are probably nearby. They don't care because this is not an inconvenience for them. It is not the new renter's responsibility to handle their mail. What if they gave it to a fraudster by mistake? They'd be answering to a judge. Put a lock on the mailbox and tell the new renter to only give the mail to you. I would let the old renter know that if anything else comes for them, you will hold it for a short time for them to pick up at your "location". I'd make that location at least 50 miles away and make them come get it. Let them feel the   inconvenience on their end and they will fix it. 

    0Reply
  • John Teachout
    Rental Property Investor · Concord, GA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    7y

    Getting previous tenants mail delivered is an inevitability for any address that's been a rental for a number of years. Forwarding orders and address change orders expire and then the mail defaults to the original address. We are currently getting IRS notices of unpaid taxes from 15 years prior to two different recipients at one of our unoccupied rentals (undergoing refurbishment). It the OP's case, I would put a box in the house and dump all the previous tenant's mail in it. They can come get it if they want and otherwise it eventually becomes trash. If someone wants their mail delivered to them, they know what to do to make that happen, if they don't care, I don't either.

    1Reply
  • Chris Szepessy
    Catskill, NY · Member since 2018 · 636 posts · 668 votes
    7y

    As for the original question, @Jason Grimm had it right. 

    0Reply
  • Irina Belkofer
    Real Estate Broker · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2017 · 719 posts · 658 votes
    7y

    When previous tenant stopped by and asked about her mail, I said I told mail man not to bring any mail anymore as the property is empty.

    She's got the message.

    0Reply
  • Mary M.
    Rental Property Investor · Portland OR · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    7y

    I dont understand the question.  You must have the previous tenants contact info? Contact them and tell them they are getting mail at old address 

    For new tenant just write Not at this address or NATA and put in the mailbox.  

    0Reply
  • Irina Belkofer
    Real Estate Broker · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2017 · 719 posts · 658 votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Mary M.:

    I dont understand the question.  You must have the previous tenants contact info? Contact them and tell them they are getting mail at old address 

    For new tenant just write Not at this address or NATA and put in the mailbox.  

     If you read OP, it states that previous tenants deliberately deliver their mail to their old address for some reason. Not just letters etc but packages!

    More of that, they stop by to pick them up!

    They've got some nerve 

    0Reply
  • Mary M.
    Rental Property Investor · Portland OR · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    7y

    Well i have had packages delivered to my old address. It is pretty easy when paypal and amazon keep all your old addresses. So my guess is it was not intentional. 

    I guess i tend to see people as good instead of bad.....

    If she works for the USPS she probably has been busy with the holiday rush? 

    In any case - just call her and let her know. 

    0Reply
  • Sylvia B.
    Rental Property Investor · Douglas County, MO · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Mary M.:

    Well i have had packages delivered to my old address. It is pretty easy when paypal and amazon keep all your old addresses. So my guess is it was not intentional. 

    I guess i tend to see people as good instead of bad.....

    If she works for the USPS she probably has been busy with the holiday rush? 

    In any case - just call her and let her know. 

    Seriously? Whoever heard of a 4 month holiday rush?

    1Reply
  • Mary M.
    Rental Property Investor · Portland OR · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    7y

    Hey, at least this was only 4 mobths,,  the last house in reno’d (and lived in while doing the work) I recd mail from previous tenant for 2 years. And for all I know the mail could still be going there.   But i just kept putting “ Not at this address” each time something showed up. 

    Hopefully the OPs situation is resolved 

    0Reply
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