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Original poster

New owner sending parcels to a house they do not own yet

105 replies

coffeeneeded · 01/12/2022 20:39

We complete on the house next Tuesday.

I have just received a sizeable package for the next owners. It came from overseas and the only option for the courier was to send it back.

My conscience got the better of me and I took it in. But I will have to give it to a neighbour to look after so it doesn't get packed up with our stuff.

House house is small- no room to store things.

Would it be awful of me to refuse any other packages that happen to arrive for them?

WWYD?

OP posts:
Rightsraptor · 02/12/2022 09:14

I disagree, @Thisbastardcomputer, that applying for pp on a house or land you don't own is wrong, though it does seem cheeky. It may well make a material difference - like whether you buy the house or not. How does it harm the existing owner? If pp is granted but the prospective buyer pulls out you can still sell but now with pp for the loft conversion or whatever it is. A gain, surely? And you didn't have to pay for it!

It is expected that you will notify the owner though. There was a glorious case of a big supermarket chain applying for pp on a large house and garden adjacent to one of their stores - obviously with a view to purchase, demolition and extending the store. The owner was furious so applied for pp to demolish the house of the supermarket CEO.

Bit of a digression.

BecauseICan22 · 02/12/2022 09:18

WakingUpDistress · 02/12/2022 09:03

@BecauseICan22 I hope you’ve asked the current owners if they were happy with your arrangement.
Otherwise it’s just as cheeky and rude than sending your parcels to someone else Wo asking them first.

I hope none if your parcels get missing …..

I haven't asked no. But we have a mutually beneficial transactional relationship. The people I'm buying from most definitely are not petty.
Equally, neither am I. It's called being helpful. Just as I am being by letting them come back to collect certain plant cuttings in the spring next year so they can plant in their new garden.

Sometimes, it's just nice to be nice.

Oh and space isn't an issue as it's a huge 5 bed detached house.

I'd help out a buyer in the same way if I was selling my old house, as it stands I'm renting it out.

BecauseICan22 · 02/12/2022 09:20

FaazoHuyzeoSix · 02/12/2022 09:10

@SeasonFinale the OP clearly describes it as "sizable" and 'there is nowhere for it to go" - but you are one of the blissfully unaware whose advice was to "stick it on the kitchen side" - so ignorant of how small some homes are. some kitchens have literally a sink, a stove and one cupboard unit's worth of "side" where a large box renders the kitchen unusable. it's only in your imagination that the OP has plenty of spare space, despite her saying that she hasn't.

A sink, a stove and one unit's worth of a side!??? That's quite the conclusion you've come to. Are you part of the 'it might be drugs, guns or an anaconda!' gang?

Notanotherone6 · 02/12/2022 09:24

Just look after it. It's Christmas. Be nice.

Hugasauras · 02/12/2022 09:28

I'd assume it was just a Christmas gift and they gave new address as they assumed it would arrive nearer to Christmas when they were in the house, rather than any blatant CFery. Have you actually spoken to them?

Janch13 · 02/12/2022 09:30

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Janch13 · 02/12/2022 09:32

Ignore!!! I posted on the wrong bl00dy thread.

Footballmyarse · 02/12/2022 09:35

Magentax · 02/12/2022 09:14

I’m having a really shit day but the idea that you shouldn’t take a parcel in “in case it’s guns” has properly tickled me. I think OP should destroy the package in a controlled explosion just to be safe.

Me too! Of all the things it could be, I would probably stake my life on it not being guns 🤣

Original poster
coffeeneeded · 02/12/2022 09:50

I'm actually howling with laughter at these over reactions on my behalf.

The lovely people next door are keeping the parcel safe. Job done.

Thanks to everyone for getting riled up so I don't have to.

*shuffles off to organise everything and move house.

OP posts:
anniegun · 02/12/2022 09:53

I would do the kind thing. And hope they do not take your attitude when items for you are accidently delivered to your old address after you move out

SeasonFinale · 02/12/2022 10:03

FaazoHuyzeoSix · 02/12/2022 09:10

@SeasonFinale the OP clearly describes it as "sizable" and 'there is nowhere for it to go" - but you are one of the blissfully unaware whose advice was to "stick it on the kitchen side" - so ignorant of how small some homes are. some kitchens have literally a sink, a stove and one cupboard unit's worth of "side" where a large box renders the kitchen unusable. it's only in your imagination that the OP has plenty of spare space, despite her saying that she hasn't.

I meant to stick it on the kitchen side when she left but that's fine you carry on with your imaginary scenario and potentially stop a child getting their Christmas present from granny (my imaginary scenario) 😉🤣

AliceS1994 · 02/12/2022 10:18

We accidentally did this! We booked to move our broadband after exchanging on our new house but before completion. DH works from home do wanted to avoid any delays and we needed to wait two weeks for the engineer to arrive. They sent a huge box to the house with a new router (and copious packaging). Probably looked cheeky but it wasn't an issue.

What I'm saying is give them the benefit of the doubt here!

Novemberhater · 02/12/2022 10:23

At least you didn't have the most enormous bright blue leather three piece suite arrive for the new owners. I piled up my sofas and chairs and sat in them until the sale was completed.

Trixiefirecracker · 02/12/2022 10:27

Jeez some really mean spirited people. It’s a parcel. Unless it’s the size of your living room I’m sure you can find space for it.

Fairyfudgecake · 02/12/2022 10:28

This also happened to me - I ordered new beds to arrive the day after we were due to move in. The delivery company, thinking they were being helpful, decided to deliver 2 days early whilst the old owners were still there. I couldn't stop the delivery, nor get hold of the owners to notify them (Estate agent was bloody useless). In the end my wonderful solicitor contacted them to explain what had happened which I was relieved about as they had believed me to be the ultimate CF! But after realising it was an accident held onto the beds for me.

So anyway just sharing that as an example of delivery timings not always going to plan!

Tpob · 02/12/2022 10:36

@coffeeneeded i would feel the same but also know it’s really a non issue and you need to just take any in. Ask there’s have said it’s probably a mistake. That said… There’s absolutely no way I would send a parcel with even a chance of it arriving before completion. It’s not appropriate in my view. It could be sent from someone else though.

BrieAndChilli · 02/12/2022 11:04

this happened to us - I ordered some dining chairs that were coming from abroad and had a very long delivery lead time. 2 days before we were completing I had a message to say they had been delivered to a neighbor! (The house we were buying was empty) So I had to rush round there to apologise, and was going to have to do a couple of runs in our car to get them back to the oldhouse, Thankfully the lovely neighbour said we could leave them with her for the couple of days. I bought her a box of chocs to say thanks.

Todowithbuses · 02/12/2022 11:34

Miserable sod, it’s only until Tuesday!

JudyGemston · 02/12/2022 11:40

Beees · 01/12/2022 21:11

They're not sending parcels though are they, they had one item delivered which likely turned up early and for which they would probably be mortified.

You're not going to mistakenly pack it when you move if it's sizable so the logical thing to do is let them know it's arrived by way of a quick email and tell them you'll happily leave it in a designated cupboard for them upon departure.

It really is a non issue.

Exactly. So many people on here are just looking for reasons to get worked up concerned.

Wishingwell2022 · 02/12/2022 12:15

I recently moved house, and after exchanging I ordered some school uniform bits to be delivered to the new house (website said delivery would be 5-7 working days so we'd be in by then). They arrived in 2 working days.

I only knew when I got the keys and opened the door, and the parcel was there with a 'Not at this address' written by the previous owner (I assume she was going to return it but someone said we were buying the house so she kept it for us).

Maybe it's a similar situation, they organised something to be sent and it just came sooner than expected. I'd keep it, or if it really bothers you just tell the EA and get it collected.

Crunchymum · 02/12/2022 13:06

Sounds like more of a pain in the arse for your neighbour. I'd not fancy being the package deliverer for the new owners.

onlythreenow · 02/12/2022 18:41

They don’t live there yet so it’s a return to sender. You also don’t have the space for their stuff. They could have it sent to a parcel receiving service instead of your address.

Oh grow up. What sort of a world are we becoming when this is the response to something so trivial? The fact that you would return to sender a parcel which has come from overseas simply because it is too much to deal with tells me a lot about you.

As for those saying how stressful moving is - I know, I moved myself earlier this year. Apart from the furniture movers and a friend who helped with a few loads I moved by myself, and as I don't drive I did it on foot. Yet I could have easily dealt with dozens of parcels arriving for the new occupiers without turning a hair.

Interesting to note how this parcel has gone from being "sizeable" - to something which needs a whole room to contain it! Also how one parcel has gone to a number requiring a whole van to deliver them in some people's eyes!

ButterCrackers · 02/12/2022 20:01

onlythreenow · 02/12/2022 18:41

They don’t live there yet so it’s a return to sender. You also don’t have the space for their stuff. They could have it sent to a parcel receiving service instead of your address.

Oh grow up. What sort of a world are we becoming when this is the response to something so trivial? The fact that you would return to sender a parcel which has come from overseas simply because it is too much to deal with tells me a lot about you.

As for those saying how stressful moving is - I know, I moved myself earlier this year. Apart from the furniture movers and a friend who helped with a few loads I moved by myself, and as I don't drive I did it on foot. Yet I could have easily dealt with dozens of parcels arriving for the new occupiers without turning a hair.

Interesting to note how this parcel has gone from being "sizeable" - to something which needs a whole room to contain it! Also how one parcel has gone to a number requiring a whole van to deliver them in some people's eyes!

You quote my comment. Absolutely I would not keep the parcel. They new owners could have had the parcel delivered to where they are now or to friends or family or a parcel reception service. Easy. I would not want other peoples stuff in the way of the moving task especially when it would get in the way. I also would not accept responsibility for it.

Beees · 02/12/2022 21:39

They new owners could have had the parcel delivered to where they are now or to friends or family or a parcel reception service.

You're missing the most crucial part of this in that the new owners most likely didn't actually send the parcel in the first place and if they did they obviously didn't anticipate it arriving before they moved in so why would they send it anywhere but the property they assumed they would be living in.

ButterCrackers · 02/12/2022 22:43

They don’t own the house yet.