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Original poster

Previous resident of house claiming they still live here

78 replies

pips23 · 01/01/2023 16:22

I bought my house last summer. Prior to that it was rented out and the girl who lived here had to go into emergency accommodation with the council. I have no further information about her as obviously I didn't buy from her.

Since then I get weekly debt collection letters for her. Some of them are threatening action if she doesn't pay. Numerous companies and lots of debt.

I originally sent them back to sender with 'no longer at this address' then rang the companies to tell them when they continued.
Now the companies are saying that they have confirmed she still lives here but she obviously doesn't. I don't know what to do or how they are confirming she is living here. Would she be telling them or has she not changed her address at the bank or something?
I'm obviously concerned about this debt being connected to my house. Is there anything I can do?

OP posts:
biedrona · 01/01/2023 16:27

The debt will be in her name. Keep sending the letters back

Uninterestedfamily · 01/01/2023 16:27

Is she still on the council tax register? That's one of the main checks they use as 'evidence'.

Youarethesun · 01/01/2023 16:28

Just repeat that they can not have confirmed it as it’s not true.

When I had this I gave them the details of the landlord/agency. They went away.

Original poster
pips23 · 01/01/2023 16:30

@biedrona I don't think so as I get single occupancy discount.

OP posts:
Fundays12 · 01/01/2023 16:31

Check your credit files shows you fully on that address, also check the council tax register and make sure you are registered to vote at that address too. I would also ask them what proof they have so you can see were they are getting there information from

Original poster
pips23 · 01/01/2023 16:31

@Youarethesun that's a good idea actually I could pass on the landlord/agents information.

OP posts:
hedgehoglurker · 01/01/2023 16:34

Uninterestedfamily · 01/01/2023 16:27

Is she still on the council tax register? That's one of the main checks they use as 'evidence'.

Good thought. Have you confirmed the current residents on the electoral roll yet? This should help. Otherwise, as it is causing you issues, ask the debt agencies if they will accept a copy of your proof of ownership/ council tax to remove her link to your address.

anon2022anon · 01/01/2023 16:37

Check the electoral role just in case, and you could also have a copy of the title deeds of your house on your email to send out too. Although to be honest, I work at a landlords, and most debt collectors are absolutely fine and remove the address as soon as I say tenant left with no forwarding address.

Kennykenkencat · 01/01/2023 16:37

pips23 · 01/01/2023 16:22

I bought my house last summer. Prior to that it was rented out and the girl who lived here had to go into emergency accommodation with the council. I have no further information about her as obviously I didn't buy from her.

Since then I get weekly debt collection letters for her. Some of them are threatening action if she doesn't pay. Numerous companies and lots of debt.

I originally sent them back to sender with 'no longer at this address' then rang the companies to tell them when they continued.
Now the companies are saying that they have confirmed she still lives here but she obviously doesn't. I don't know what to do or how they are confirming she is living here. Would she be telling them or has she not changed her address at the bank or something?
I'm obviously concerned about this debt being connected to my house. Is there anything I can do?

How do you know they are debt collection letters and who they are from as I don’t think debt collection agencies advertise their business on letters.

if you are opening the letters or ringing the companies up then I can see why they think she still lives there

biedrona · 01/01/2023 16:40

pips23 · 01/01/2023 16:30

@biedrona I don't think so as I get single occupancy discount.

I am not sure what council tax has to do with it.

anon2022anon · 01/01/2023 16:41

@Kennykenkencat I would open them too if I got multiple letters that I suspected to be from debt collectors. Much easier to make a phone call than deal with bailiffs at your door.

Original poster
pips23 · 01/01/2023 16:47

Checked my credit and fully on for my address. Council tax and electoral register all updated and she's definitely not on them.

The letters often have a company logo on. I just googled them to see what they were.
I rang them and they asked me to open to get the account number.
My fear is debt collectors at the door.

OP posts:
Flapjackquack · 01/01/2023 16:54

Citizens advice have good advice on this including what evidence to provide.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/action-your-creditor-can-take/bailiffs/stopping-bailiffs/stopping-bailiffs-if-you-dont-owe-the-debt/

Hope they stop OP, we were harassed by bailiffs for a previous tenant in a house I lived in as a child. They tried to force their way in when I was home alone aged 13 even though my Mum had told them numerous times and sent a copy of her new tenancy agreement. In the end my Mum got the council to help I think.

Kennykenkencat · 01/01/2023 16:55

We have spent the past year sending (sometimes 100+ letters) each week back to sender. Not known at this address.

I think the house has been rented for some time and I would say I have 30-40 residents I recognise the names who haven’t notified companies of the lot change of address

Although I did get a visit from one person who was pointing to a business name with my address and trying to say my “business” was the one on the letter and this was my address so it must be my business who had bought cars off him and not paid.
i told him like I had told everyone else. That wasn’t my business, it wasn’t my name and I had sent all mail back return to sender. It known at this address.

I think he was relieved as some of the post I returned had probably been the log books for the cars.

anon2022anon · 01/01/2023 16:55

I wouldn't fear it OP- print a copy of your title deeds and a copy of your council tax bill showing you assole resident and you should be fine.

Kennykenkencat · 01/01/2023 16:58

anon2022anon · 01/01/2023 16:41

@Kennykenkencat I would open them too if I got multiple letters that I suspected to be from debt collectors. Much easier to make a phone call than deal with bailiffs at your door.

It is illegal to open mail that isn’t in your name.

Why do you fear debt collectors at your door for someone else. We have had it in virtually every property we have lived in.

My last house they turned up with the police and I just had to prove who I was and that was that. Never came again.

Original poster
pips23 · 01/01/2023 16:59

@Flapjackquack really helpful thanks.

OP posts:
PritiPatelsMaker · 01/01/2023 17:00

The absolute worst that will happen is that a Bailiff or High Court Enforcement Officer contacts you after a CCJ has been made. It's quite easy to prove to them that it's your home and you don't know her. Talk to them and if they don't listen, show them your Council Tax Bill.

Original poster
pips23 · 01/01/2023 17:01

@anon2022anon thank you.

OP posts:
WonderingWanda · 01/01/2023 17:01

Don't worry op. We had this and had debt collectors at the door. I showed them my id and some paperwork for the house purchase and they left.

Flapjackquack · 01/01/2023 17:05

Kennykenkencat · 01/01/2023 16:58

It is illegal to open mail that isn’t in your name.

Why do you fear debt collectors at your door for someone else. We have had it in virtually every property we have lived in.

My last house they turned up with the police and I just had to prove who I was and that was that. Never came again.

Show quote history

It is not illegal unless you are doing it for nefarious purposes. It’s fine in this circumstance.

PeekAtYou · 01/01/2023 17:07

I had a debt collector for a previous tenant turn up and they left when I showed them my photo ID. Never heard from them again.

TopOfTheCliff · 01/01/2023 17:11

When we moved into our house we got all sorts of Debt collection letters IVA paperwork and parking fines for years. I sent it all back for a year or two with increasingly dramatic messages written across the envelope. Now I just bin them. Somebody threatened a bailiff once but when we sent it back Not Known at this Address they never materialised. They have to hand you the Bailiff letter in person I think. No wonder they never gave us a forwarding address!

Georgeskitchen · 01/01/2023 17:14

She will be telling them she lives there to try and swerve paying her debts. Don't worry about bailiffs at your door, once you prove you are not this person (though its a shame you have to) they will leave you alone

GracieLouFreeebush · 01/01/2023 17:23

Kennykenkencat · 01/01/2023 16:58

It is illegal to open mail that isn’t in your name.

Why do you fear debt collectors at your door for someone else. We have had it in virtually every property we have lived in.

My last house they turned up with the police and I just had to prove who I was and that was that. Never came again.

Show quote history

It’s illegal to open mail to act to a persons detriment. OP isn’t doing this, they are assisting the company to find the person the mail is addressed to.

And debt collectors are stressful even if not for you, sorry we aren’t all as chilled as you.