Are you still getting mail for previous tenants and don’t know what to do with it? Do you receive mail addressed to a previous tenant and aren’t sure how to handle it? If so, this article is specially meant for you!
As a landlord, failing to give the USPS a forwarding address of the old tenant isn’t uncommon. After all, most landlords believe that it’s the tenant’s responsibility to inform the postal office of their new address, rather than the landlord’s.
But while that may be the ideal scenario, what should you do with mail from a previous resident? Should you simply discard it? Maybe notify the postal service that the tenant no longer lives there? Perhaps even consider filling out a change of address form to redirect the form to their new address so they can keep receiving mail?
Or, what exactly should you do…
The following are answers to commonly asked questions regarding how
property managers and landlords should handle mail from previous residents. Keep reading to learn more!
How Can You Stop Mail from Previous Tenants?
You could do a few things to stop mail for previous residents. One action you could take is simply to put an appropriate label on the mail to let the postal carrier return the mail to the sender.
Some appropriate labels to use include “No longer living at this address,” “Please return to sender,” or “Person moved to a new address.” Usually, the carrier will then take the mail back to your local post office, which will then forward it to either the new forwarding address (if they have it) or back to the sender.
Some mail, however, may have a barcode. For such mail, writing such phrases may not work. You’ll still have mail coming to your
rental property's address. In such cases, you may need to draw through the barcode, which may mark the mail as “undeliverable.”
This would be an illegal landlord action. You cannot discard a previous tenant’s mail by shredding or throwing it out, as it could result in serious legal consequences.
The penalty for discarding a previous tenant’s mail includes serving up to 5 years in prison. You could also be liable for paying the tenant a hefty fine for opening their mail, which could be considered theft.
Even if you consider certain mail as junk or unwanted, they are still protected by law. You could be penalized heavily for discarding them without the old tenant’s permission.
Remember, it’s not your responsibility to hold onto or file mail for previous tenants for extended periods of time. Be sure to write the note clearly to avoid further complications.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): What to Do with Mail from Previous Tenants?
How Can a Previous Tenant’s Address Benefit You?
Sure, dealing with the previous tenant’s mail can be annoying. That said, knowing the former tenant’s mail can be beneficial. For one, it can help you know which address to send the securitydeposit, or whatever portion remains, to.
Plus, should you need to
contact the tenant for whatever reason, such as a court summon, you’ll know how to contact them.
Can You Discard a Previous Tenant’s Mail?
This would be an illegal landlord action. You cannot discard a previous tenant’s mail by shredding or throwing it out, as it could result in serious legal consequences.
The penalty for discarding a previous tenant’s mail includes serving up to 5 years in prison. You could also be liable for paying the tenant a hefty fine for opening their mail, which could be considered theft. Even if you consider certain mail as junk or unwanted, they are still protected by law. You could be penalized heavily for discarding them without the old tenant’s permission.
That said, please write a note and leave it in the mailbox to notify the sender that the tenant no longer resides at that address. You should write this note on the envelope and file it as a record of your efforts to notify the sender. Remember, it’s not your responsibility to hold onto or file mail for previous tenants for extended periods of time. Be sure to write the note clearly to avoid further complications.
Can You Discard a Previous Tenant’s Mail?
Just like discarding a previous tenant’s mail, filling out a change of address form for them is illegal. It is usually considered as identity theft or fraud.
It’s the responsibility of the tenant to fill out a change of address form, not the landlord’s or any other person for that matter.
What to Do if a Former Tenant Passes Away and Mail Arrives?
It is possible for a tenant to pass away without changing their forwarding address. While some families will care for their deceased’s mail, some won’t. In such a case, you may need to do the following.
Create an account at the
National Funeral Directors Association. Enter the details of the deceased tenant. It will take about 3 months for the changes to take effect.
This method is especially effective at stopping mail from marketing and mailing lists. It may not, however, prove not to be very useful when it comes to stopping junk mail.
Another option is to just simply head to the post office and request an audience with the Postmaster.
What if the Previous Tenant Permits You to Open Their Mail?
If you have permission, you can open their letter. Federal law grants an authorized agent the right to handle mail on behalf of the person. Ideally, have this in writing to avoid potential legal issues.
Conclusion
Having to deal with mail from a previous tenant can be stressful. To stop it, however, you must ensure you do it right to avoid potential legal repercussions.
If you still have more questions, get in touch with
MTD Property Management. We have a team of highly qualified staff that can help you overcome any challenge in property management. Get in touch today to get started!
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