Can anyone see why I shoukdn’t do this?

[canningqueen]

Close family relative has asked if they can temporarily use my address for their new bank account as they’ve just returned from living abroad, need to open a UK bank a/c and don’t want banking info being sent to the rented address they’ll be living in as others will be living there that they don’t know. Any potential problems with this? I’m not claiming welfare benefits but do claim the 25% council tax deduction as I live here alone. They won’t be living at my address but 100 miles away.

I simply moved my account from one bank to another and had to provide prove of address (utility bill, council tax etc). How are your relatives going to prove they life at your address?

Why can’t they just go paperless with the bank? My bank never sends me post unless it’s a new bank card. And you live 100 miles away which is too far for a new bank card to be posted anyway…

Can't they use online statements? I rarely get any paperwork from any bank.

It will show up at your address on things like Experian and other systems so yes may cause questions about if you really live alone if your council checks these. My local council has a council tax fraud department that do look into things like this.

It won't work for a bank account unless they have utilities or bills coming into that address. Which would mean to an outsider they live there. So you could lose you council tax reduction.

If they racked up untold debts then bailiffs would be coming to your door. They couldn't legally take your personal stuff but it would still be distressing and a hassle.

Tell them to use their own address. Millions of people live in flatshates, HMOs or in buildings where all the post comes through one door. They are just going to have to accept using their genuine address.

Don't do this

Bad idea. Say no.

No paper correspondence with a Revolut type account. Suggest that. I wouldn't let them use my address in similar circumstances.

Do not do this. I have learned over the years that unless you are married to someone or they are your children, do not mix finances in any way. It's 2025, I'm sure they can work out getting a bank account and going paperless.

All sorts of things could go wrong with this, and it's fraud. Just tell them to sign up with a bank that does everything online. Starling are great and absolutely no need to get paper statements.

I had a bad experience with this - really suggest you say no.

Don’t do it. They have an address and they need to use it. Not your problem. You don’t want or need to be involved in forwarding mail all the time, nor do you want debt collectors turning up at your door. A bank statement is proof of address so god knows what they will use that for. Just tell them to use on line banking.

This is quite a common issue for students opening new accounts when in shared accommodation. They could try asking the bank not to send anything like bank cards, but hold in in branch until it can be collected in person.

Thanks for the replies. I’ll suggest the online accounts. I think (I’d have to check) that perhaps they’d open it with their own rental address but use mine for any correspondence. Presumably they could just do a mail redirection thing though couldn’t they if they wanted to do that which would get around the confusion of me still livibg alone and getting the lone person council tax deduction?

It would be a no from me I’m afraid, not for financial stuff.

Say no. You could get a CIFAS marker / your accounts closed and struggle to get another.

If you weren't claiming the single person reduction in your Council Tax this MAY have been OK, possibly, but since you are, then I feel sure your council will pick up on it, and it will cause you all sorts of problems. You may very well lose the discount and even be accused of defrauding them.

In general too, it's probably not a great idea. Can't your relative talk to their new bank and ask for all correspondence to be done online, and maybe if they could call into a branch to pick up their new bank cards?

Isn't there also a scheme where you can ask for your post to be held at the Post Office, and then call in and collect it?

“perhaps they’d open it with their own rental address but use mine for any correspondence”

OP, just no. Steer well clear - you have no idea what complications might ensue down the line. As others have said, leave your relative to sort out their own affairs without involving you. If they don’t want bank cards etc being sent to a rented HMO, then ask the bank to let them pick it up from the branch. (Most banks require proof of address such as utility bills and driver’s licence - how are they proposing to get round that?)

What happened?

They can rent a post office box and have no mail delivered to the shared accommodation.

You’ve all convinced me. Have replied saying to ask the bank to switch all correspondence to online as it’s more secure. Thanks everyone for your advice.

Just use your actual address with room number and stop being ridiculous.

That's to your relative.

i don’t think your close relative is being entirely straight with you!

Either that, or they have an unhealthy level of paranoia. It’s very easy never to get any written correspondence from a bank - all online, as others have said.

PO Box there is a charge https://www.royalmail.com/receiving/po-box