Forwarding Mail

[2sp_]

A tenant has moved out of a cottage we rent out. They moved out suddenly and in breach of their contract. (But they have breached their contract in many, varied ways.)

Now they tell us that they have had all mail forwarded to their new address (which they won't give us - again in breach of their contract), but are expecting an "important letter" in the next few days.

They want us to forward it to her place of work.

What would be the best thing for us to do?

Should we return it to sender, forward to her work, or ask them to collect it from us?

We are concerned that they may be up to something, but we have no idea what!

[albaqwerty]

It's possible, this 'important' letter may be forwarded to them and you'll never see it.
However, if it does arrive on your doormat and it accidentally hovers over a boiling kettle.....

[albaqwerty]

to be serious though, they've asked you to forward to her place of work, I'd comply with that request, don't drag yourselves to their level.

[2sp_]

It is tempting, Alba!

They were truly horrid tenants, glad to see the back of them. I know that they are in debt up to their eyes, I'm concerned that it could be a finance agreement or other such guff and they've not given the company a forwarding address. I understand that they are now living in a caravan as they can't afford rent.

I don't understand why they think this one letter won't be forwarded by the Royal Mail?

[society]

Ignore them. If the mail is so important, let them come and collect it.

[2sp_]

I'm just wondering if there is a legal issue with forwarding private mail to a place of work and not to another private residence?

[albaqwerty]

oh, planky, that raises the spectre of did they give a finance company your address instead of their own?
:-(

[albaqwerty]

I know some companies don't like private mail arriving at their premises, but don't think there's anything illegal about it.

For instance, a letter could be address to
Miss Head of HR
name of company etc etc,

or
Miss Head of HR
c/o name of company (which would then imply that it was 'private mail' as opposed to work mail)

[kat1]

Open it!

[Old_Geezer]

If they have asked the PO to forward mail then I can't see how it will get to you to firward to a different address altogether. Unless it arrives by private courier.

In your shoes I'd be in no hurry but would drop it back in the postbox with their new address on when it suited me. If the PO want's further postage for that second part of the delivery that'll be between the PO and them.

No I have no idea what the law is on this, or even if it has a view. I'd suspect you'd be in your rights to refuse delivery or return to sender if you wanted, but to what point, aside from having a go at them ?

[sandyRoe]

It sounds as though you're happy to see the back of them. Forward it as requested and hopefully that'll be the last you'll hear of them.

[2sp_]

The cottage is on the farm, so the address will be Cottage 2, On the Farm, Up in the Wild Highlands. Hopefully not just On the Farm, Up in the Wild Highlands!

Bloomin' nightmare, Alba!

[SlackAlice]

I'd shred it ☺☺☺

[2sp_]

We really just want to see the back of them. They owe us money, I think that they are just making enough noise and being unpleasant so that we just drop it all and don't chase them for all of it.

I'm actually really upset about the whole thing. To cut a long story short, we felt sorry for them at the beginning and they have well and truly dumped on us from a great height.

We wouldn't send the letter back to the sender just to be awkward, we really are trying to raise above all of that. I just want to make sure that we follow the law.

[SlackAlice]

Return to Sender is the only way forward, you cannot be faulted for that. Why should you help them, they aren't helping you.

[mazie]

Shame when folk treat you so shoddily 2sp....If they owe you money I would be inclined not to forward to them unless they settle up with yo


ps. We are looking for somewhere to rent 2sp...how far up are you (in Scotland that is?)

[2sp_]

We're just outside Inverness, mazie.

[mazie]

Shame.. A bit too far north for us :o(

[Peter Pedant]

.
Ah you arent at their address.
I hesitate to advise as that would be AWFUL to open it
deliver it opened to the place of work
in an unsealed envelope on her day off
and say it was passed to you like that, and that workmen and children have been in and out and you cant guarantee the state of their mail...

[rockyracoon]

I'd Return To Sender putting Not Known At This Address or Gone Away, if it is to do with finance you don't want it still linked to your property. It's not being petty.

[2sp_]

Pity mazie, ideally we could get a tenant we already know and trust.

PP, we would never open someone else's mail. Just because they are behaving appallingly and breaking the tenancy agreement (and being bumholes in general) doesn't mean that we should stoop so low.