If you have just moved into a new house, it is likely you will still be receiving post meant for the old owners of the property.
You can be sent post that is not meant for you for years after moving, which might make you want to open it to send it to its rightful owner.
You should fight the urge to open them or even throw them in the bin.
If you do end up receiving post from the previous owner of your house, here is what you should do with it instead.
What should I do if I get post for the old owner of my house?
On receiving someone else’s post, Fosters Solicitors said: "We’ve all received someone else’s mail from time to time and on occasion it can be tempting to investigate, but this may not be the best idea…"
"A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse, they open a postal packet which they know or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to them.
"The Act also refers to a person who ‘intentionally delays’ post being received – even throwing away unopened mail could lead to problems!
"Even your postie could face criminal sanctions if they intentionally delay or open a postal packet in the course of its transmission by post."
If you open their post, you could either be fined or given a prison sentence between six months or two years.
You should only open it if you have consent or if you have legal authority such as power of attorney, are an acting executor in an estate, or a legal guardian.
Instead, you should send the post back by writing "return to sender" on the envelope and posting it in a letterbox.
To stop getting the wrong mail posted to you, you should cross out the address, and write "not known at this address" or "no longer lives here," and Royal Mail will try to return it to the sender so they can update their records.
You can throw away a "Something for you" card if you get one from Royal Mail with the wrong name on it, as after the holding period, the parcel will automatically be sent back to the sender.
Do you often receive post from your home’s old owner? Let us know in the comments.
Share