I'm a snooping landlord AIBU

[justasking111]

We had some tenants. They never missed the rent but moved elderly dad and dog in without asking. It was covid so no problems.

Anyway they left, dad went into a home. The dog they cared for died.

They did a flit no rent owing but no forwarding address. We decided to sell but the post kept coming. I'd collect but there was a strange name so opened. It was bank statements to the ex tenant marked vets Bill sometimes twice a month around £900 a month.

We know for a fact that the dog is dead. So the elderly man in the nursing home is he being conned?

Should I do something about this or just let it go because the daughter would receive the money when he dies anyway.

It's illegal to open other peoples post.... you should have marked it as 'not known at the address' and put it back in the post box

What?! The statements are to the ex tenant, not his father. The dog who was with them then may be dead but perhaps they got a new one? Also, stop opening the post and return it to sender!

It was accidentally opened. Since then I have sent it back not known at this address which the bank NAT West have ignored for seven months now

Stick it up, write “opened in error” and “not at this address” and put it back in the letterbox.

And again...it is NOT illegal to open someone else's post.

@ineedafairygodmother

its not actually.

I've tried believe me month after month. They still keep coming. I spent this morning on the phone with council tax, water board, etc trying to straighten things out. I've no chance with the banks.

https://www.fosters-solicitors.co.uk/insights/is-it-legal-to-open-someone-elses-mail/#:~:text=Postal%20Services%20Act%202000,been%20incorrectly%20delivered%20to%20them.

It's not illegal to open someone else's post.
You've sent the post back. Don't worry about it.

Who do you think is being conned?

I've had nearly 4 years now on the previous tenants post to our address (we own, the house was previously rented). I returned and returned and returned. I tried to find a forwarding address. I just bin everything now. If they haven't clocked after 4 years that they are missing post it can't be that important.

Just be glad they paid rent up before leaving. I bagged up all post for about 3 months then took it all back to post office.

I've sold the property now. Just hope that the new owners do the same.

There's cases legally in renting property that bailiffs turn up demanding from new tenants.

Someone I knew many years ago managed to put her gas, electricity, phone in my name at her address, they finally found me demanding arrears. It was scary at the time.

Same. I gave it a year and then binned it.

We bought our current house 7 years ago, after the previous owners split up and both moved away. I'll add that they tried to stiff us with THEIR gas bill and I had to quote case law to British Gas to stop them sending it to us.

Anyhoo- after five years of getting bits of post for one or the other, writing 'no longer at this address", etc, we came home one day to find a box addressed to the bloke previous owner sitting on the doorstep. It contained several bottles of speciality beer and a greetings card addressed to him.

I'm going to admit it. We kept it.

Not really between eviction costs 3.8k and getting rid of bed bugs 3 treatment over 9 weeks, fleas, replacement of wired fire alarm points, venting points they had ripped out, vandalised complete redecoration, new carpets, the total bill was 6.8k. and I'm trying now to get a deposit of £600 back. 🙈

You are loopy OP

Lots of people think this but it really isn't.

It's not illegal if it is your property, and you are not using it to defraud anyone.

No it’s not. It’s only illegal if you do it with malicious intent. @justasking111‘s intention is quite the opposite of malicious.

So you think the ex tenant is conning the elderly father out of money every month for a dog that is dead? Is that what you're worried about?

OMG how many more people are going to point out it's not illegal to open someone else's mail?

CANCEL THE CHEQUE! 🤣🤣

Yes I do.

I've a pile more mail here that I collected, haven't opened but again have written on the envelope not known

Why are you collecting and opening mail addressed to old tenants from a property you've sold, opening it and getting stressed they are conning their elderly dad?

BUGGER it I've opened the latest bank statement. His daughter has transferred over 7 separate transactions £1540 in 26 days. Another letter from the council a collection and recovery team are seeking unpaid residential care costs. 🙈.