Inaccessible Property

[silliemillie]

Sent a card to a friend I have not seen for about a year & have today recieved it back stating 'The Property was Inaccessible'.

I cant think what this could mean, if she lived in a flat I could maybe understand it. (maybe the postie could not gain entry to the block??) or if it needed a signature but its just a normal card (surprised the Post Office returned it actually!!)

She lives in a house in a normal street. I'm a bit worried.

Any Ideas

[Buenchico]

I've never been a postman but I've delivered many thousands of Phone Books and Yellow pages, so I've got a few ideas as to why a property might be reported as 'inaccessible'.

Some of the possibilities are:
1. The letterbox has been sealed up. (Perhaps your friend taped over it to stop it banging in the wind, and she was out when the postman called?) ;
2. The gate leading to the garden path was padlocked.
3. The postie refused to enter the garden, due to the presence of a dog which he believed to be aggressive.
4. Emergency work on a gas or water main meant that there was temporarily no access to the house.

Chris

[silliemillie]

Thanks Chris for your ideas.

I can rule out 2, she doesnt have a dog or a gate (open driveway) but maybe one of th other 2?

[atalanta]

She has left the address and the landlord has sealed the letterbox so as not to get junk mail or even regular post which would have to be returned to sender.
Try to see if the house is visible on Google earth. It may have a for-sale sign on it, or there may be some other indications that she is no longer there. A car you don't recognise parked outside the house, maybe.

[Buenchico]

While I'll agree that Atalanta's theory about the landlord sealing the letterbox is a valid one, I'm less sure about the value of looking at Google Earth. Most of the images on there are at least 2 years old, with some of them being 6 (or more) years old. For example, my friend's campervan is still shown outside her flat, despite it having been sent to the scrapyard about 5 years ago.

[silliemillie]

Thanks again for your suggestions, she owns the house so there is no landlord, and yes Chris you are right about Google earth & streetview, the car in the drive is one she hasnt owned for years!

Have tried to ring, but no reply, I suppose I will just have to wait & see if she contacts me, but I am worried.

[pastafreak]

Are you certain she is still at that address. When did you last hear from her?