Find solution
Mail Association on yahoo.com?

Can landlord require me to hold mail for previous tenant(s)?

  • I live in Texas and am renting a house from an individual. This individual is the original owner of the house, and used to live here years ago. Occasionally I receive mail addressed to the owner, but it's from the homeowner's association, and I'm ok with that. However, we have been getting mail addressed to a third party who I assume to be a previous tenant. Here's the weird part: on the day of lease signing, the landlord VERBALLY told us to be expecting mail addressed to that name, and to hold that mail and give it to him once a month when he comes to pick up the rent check (another weird item IMHO). Well, it's been several months now and we're still getting mail for this 3rd party. Apparently they never forwarded their mail or something. I'm starting to worry that our address may be being used as a proxy for something illegal, or at least questionable. Today we received a package via a big shipping company (not US Postal Svc.) addressed to that third party, and no signature was required so they just left it at the door - we didn't get the chance to refuse it. Since it's not specifically written in the lease, I am considering writing "return to sender, no such person at this address" on the mail so it will be returned, and refusing other packages as well. I haven't brought this up with the landlord yet, but since it's not in the lease, I don't see where he would have a legal leg to stand on. What do you folks suggest?

  • Answer:

    You are not legally bound to hold mail for anyone. Your verbal contract can not be enforced in a court of law as one that moves should give the postal serve a forwarding address. You may simply give the mail addressed to anyone that does not live in your property back to the postal delivery person with a note on it saying "this person does not reside at this address" There is nothing legally your landlord can do to you for this action. Any negative action on your landlord for taking the action of giving mail back to the postal carrier could be challenged in court. You should contact a local attorney for any legal matters. I hope this has been of some use to you, good luck. 'FIGHT ON"

Jason G at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

the landlord legally can not require u to hold their mail but it would be courteous of u.

GG

he can just refuse to renew your lease

Earl s

Be nice. If you moved out and the next tenant received your mail, then you would want the mail to be forwarded to you, just like your landlord is doing. You could ask your landlord what the new person's address is and you can forward the mail to the person yourself.

Annie M

Call the post office anonymously and ask about your situation. Obviously don't give them your name or address. See if they will confidentially stop the delivery of this mail and protect you from inquiry by the owner of the house. If so, call back later and follow the appropriate procedure. The key here is to not let the owner of the house know you are refusing the mail, he'll just notice that it stops coming, or the sender will start getting undeliverable returns and make new arrangements. It does sound fishy. But if the mail is clearly addressed to a different party and you never open it, it's not likely to become a legal issue for you, even if it is something illegal. You might want to consider moving if you get any trouble from the landlord after the mail stops coming.

John M

Take it back to the post office and stop any other with that name on it. It's a federal offense to take in someone elses mail.

littlost

You did have a verbal agreement, however, I would actually bring this up with a local police officer without telling your landlord and see what they have to say. It sounds very suspicious. They may want to see the mail. Don't open it because that would be tampering with the mail and that is a federal offense. But, with you being the middle man, I would be afraid of any safety issues or legal issues if something happens. I wouldn't be comfortable with that situation at all.

lm

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.