Return Letters – Tenant Information
After a year long battle, I have recently evicted a tenant and am in the process of repairing the damage to the property by the previous tenant in order to re-let.
There are a number of letters still being received at the property addressed to the previous tenant which give a strong indication of possibly being from debt agencies or similar. I intend to return these letters unopened to their originator along with a letter clearly stating that the addressee is no longer at this property.
Would I be in any legal breach if I also requested to the originator of these letters to inform me of any debt recorded against people at this address?
I’m sure that the response would be “can’t tell you data protection act” and all that, but I want to be sure that the new tenant is not inundated by debt collectors knocking on the front door.
Many thanks
Ian
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Member Since February 2014 - Comments: 50
1:24 PM, 19th September 2014, About 12 years ago
You do not need to worry debt no longer attached to property it goes with the occupier. Just score out address and put “return to sender” on envelope and put back in post box.
Unfortunately due to the nature of debt collection arriving at your door goes with the territory.
Member Since August 2013 - Comments: 323 - Articles: 1
3:04 PM, 19th September 2014, About 12 years ago
Open letters from debt collectors or if you are uncomfortable with this then use your initiative to find out their contact details and contact them to ask your address is recorded correctly in their records They probably wont do this until they see proof, eg a copy of the new tenancy.
Register all old tenants with MPS Online.
Return all other letters to sender marked “No longer at this address”.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 264 - Articles: 1
6:28 PM, 19th September 2014, About 12 years ago
what is the advantage of registering old tenants with MPS?
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 128
9:08 PM, 19th September 2014, About 12 years ago
Were your tenants evicted by baliffs, if so they would of given you paper work on the day. You could include a copy in our return letters to prove the old tenant no longer lives at the property.
In the past I’ve opened letters and rang the companies, they are usually very accommodating, especially if you can give them the tenants new address (or rough whereabouts).
Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12196 - Articles: 1396
9:20 PM, 19th September 2014, About 12 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Steve Masters” at “19/09/2014 – 15:04“:
Who/what is MPS?
Are they similar to LRS Landlord Referencing Services?
.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 264 - Articles: 1
9:23 PM, 19th September 2014, About 12 years ago
mail preference service
Member Since August 2013 - Comments: 323 - Articles: 1
10:53 PM, 19th September 2014, About 12 years ago
Yes, MPS = Mail Preference Service. This has nothing to do with bad debt, but it does help to cut down the piles of junk mail. It’s what I do with all past tenants mail.