If you’ve accidentally opened mail addressed to a former tenant, don’t worry! Accidents can happen, so you likely won’t be liable. However, you must try to promptly amend your error. Re-seal the package or envelope, write “return to sender,” and leave it in the mailbox. The USPS will take care of the rest.

Discard the Mail

You should never dispose of mail belonging to someone else, even if it’s seemingly junk mail. Simply throwing it in the trash or destroying it is considered an obstruction of correspondence, which can have serious legal consequences. Instead, it’s important to properly manage the mail.

Withhold the Mail

You must always avoid intentionally withholding mail from previous tenants, especially if you’re doing it as a means of retaliation. This action can have serious legal repercussions and, more importantly, can damage the relationship with your current and former tenants, as well as your reputation as a landlord.

Use the Mail for Personal Gain

You should never use the information contained in mail from previous tenants for personal gain. This includes using their details for marketing purposes or your own benefit. Doing so would constitute a serious violation of your tenants’ privacy. 

Alter or Tamper with Mail

Avoid altering the mail. Any form of tampering or embezzlement, such as altering the address or the contents, is considered a crime. By doing so, you could face costly fines or even prison time. 

Ignore the Issue

Unfortunately, receiving mail from previous landlords is not a problem you can simply ignore. By not addressing the issue or delaying the mail forwarding process, you run the risk of complications and legal disputes. 

Moreover, it can affect the relationship with your current tenants, as receiving mail from your previous renters can be extremely annoying for them.

File a Change of Address Without Authorization

It is illegal to change the address of a previous tenant without proper authorization. Only authorized individuals, such as executors, guardians, or the tenants themselves, can initiate address changes with the USPS. 

The only thing you can do is request the tenant to change their address.

What to Do with Mail from Previous Tenants

As a landlord, it’s your responsibility to handle mail from previous tenants appropriately and in compliance with local regulations. To do so, you will need to do the following things:

Respect Privacy Laws

Understand privacy laws regarding mail. This will help you learn what you can and cannot do with previous tenants’ mail. Plus, it can give you insight into how to better deal with this problem.

Encourage Mail Forwarding

Before their lease is up, encourage tenants to set up a mail forwarding service or a change of address with the local post office. This will ensure that their mail is sent to their new address moving forward. 

To ensure tenants do this, you can provide them with a forwarding information packet, so they know exactly what the process entails.

Ending a tenancy on good terms is always recommended. This way, you can simply reach out to your former tenants to amicably discuss any issues, including their mail still being sent to your property. Whether it’s to coordinate a pick-up time or to request they file a change of address form, a simple call can go a long way in solving this issue!

Create a Mail-Holding System

While you’re not legally required to store mail from previous tenants, it might be necessary to do so until you figure out a solution to the problem. To avoid issues, you should have a designated mail-holding space within the property. You can keep any packages or letters in this space until tenants can pick them up or you have time to send them back.

Establish a Return-to-Sender Process

If you have your former tenant’s new address, you can forward them their mail. However, this process can be extremely time-consuming. That’s why most landlords opt to return the mail to the sender. All you must do is to write “Return to Sender” on the mail and put it back in the mailbox. 

Contact Your Local Post Office

The USPS can greatly help you deal with mail from previous tenants. If you inform them that the renter no longer lives on the property, they’ll put it on their file and work towards ensuring that any mail address to said renter is sent to you. Moreover, they can offer other resources and processes to help you handle misdirected mail.

Bottom Line

Dealing with mail from previous tenants is not an ideal situation. However, it’s always a possibility. That’s why you must learn how to deal with this problem properly. 

For instance, discarding, destroying, or withholding a previous tenant’s mail can have serious legal consequences, such as fines and time in prison. 

Instead, it’s best to encourage tenants to file a change of address form before moving out, create a return-to-sender process, and contact your local post office to solve the problem.

If you have this concern or others regarding property management, simply hire a professional to take care of it for you!

Have more questions about what to do with mail from previous tenants? Contact Peak Residential today! Our team of experts will provide you with guidance and support to deal with this problem in an effective and stress-free manner!