Landlords mail still coming to my home, benefit fraud?

[Isobellesmum]

I've had to make the sad (and costly) decision to move out of my current rented property due to the landlords lack of contact and debt collectors coming to the house. Since moving in last November he hasn't done any repairs I've asked for, has let himself into the house when I'm not there and has had all his post still coming to the house. I've also had a debt collector come to the door twice. He has collected his mail when he comes here, so I started hiding it.
I'm only now beginning to wonder if he's still making out he's living here so his girlfriend can keep claiming UC and 25% off her council tax. She has children so as a 'single parent' like myself she could well be getting some benefits.
I'm so cross at having to be in this situation but I don't feel comfortable here and it doesn't feel like my home. My angry head says I should contact UC after I've left to tell them about the situation, I have proof that I rented the property & he is re-letting it. What are peoples thoughts? Should I just leave it and not report it or take action? Do I have any legal standing for not feeling safe in my home because of him?

Honestly? Just find somewhere else to live, and draw a line under this one.

He has collected his mail when he comes here, so I started hiding it.

Why?

Because he was letting himself in when I wasn't in the house. If he spoke to me about why his mail is coming here and made arrangements to collect it that would be different. He's also never explained why debt collectors are coming to the property.

Finding somewhere else to rent these days is easier said than done, especially as a single income household with children. I'm angry at the situation and how he's made me feel when I just want to feel like where I live and pay rent for is home. It also.means unsettling the children when they've already had a tough time.

It’s possible that he’s in arrears with his mortgage?

I would write on the envelopes “not at this address, return to sender” and pop into the postbox.

After you have moved out and got your deposit back, you may consider reporting him to HMRC with proof of your tenancy agreement.

Well no, except in cases of immediate emergency, he cannot let himself in without a court order. You are also allowed to change the locks to keep yourself safe.
Not sure why you want to report to the DWP though, you'd be punishing his girlfriend not him.
If you've already make the decision to leave and you can, just get out of there as soon as you can.

Could the mail just be the inconvenience of changing the address? (Although he should do this). For example, on Friday in took me over 5 hours by chat with Thames water to get them to put my correspondence address down as a different address to the supply address. It was a nightmare!

I’d put all mail for him back in the post with ‘not known at this address’ on it, they’ll figure it out for themselves he’s no longer living there, you don’t need to report him.

You can do a mail redirection super easily, it’s not hard at all.

Hiding his mail is ridiculous because surely he would still let himself in to look for it. Just tell him when some arrives and when it is convenient for him to collect it.

Good idea report him and he may need to evict you to sell his property!

Probably his mortgage lender would not agree to him letting the property. So he has his post sent to the address as 'evidence' that he lives there.I've known landlords do this. They insist that the tenant is actually a lodger.

@Changingplace a mail redirection isn't a permanent solution.

I know, but it’s what most people do when they first move to catch any companies you’ve not told yet & gives a bit of time to get it sorted.

He's been told when it arrives

The mail coming to the house isn't the only issue here, although everyone is focusing on that 🤷🏼‍♀️. He has had his mail up until the last post because I was angry at this situation and had made the decision to look for somewhere else to live. It's the debt collectors and un welcome visits that are the bigger issues. If your child was home alone (old enough to be) with someone demanding money at the door or walking in without permission wouldn't you be furious? Luckily it hasn't happened when.she has been home but she should be able to feel safe.

Definitely report. He deserves all the punishment he can get.
If you ring Shelter they'll advice on your legal rights you are entitled to quiet enjoyment of your property as a tenant and he's violating that.

Return all the mail "not known at this address". If you have his contact details hand them over to debt collectors or the name of the agency you rent through.

Sounds horrible, I hope you find somewhere else to live.

If he's claiming he lives there then there's a serious risk of it affecting your benefit claim (assuming you're on UC).