Knowing how to properly handle mail destined for a tenant, past or present, can help landlords and their future tenants avoid unwanted legal trouble. There are serious legal implications for mishandling a tenant’s mail. but sometimes mail from previous or even current tenants keeps coming. in such situations, owners must take appropriate steps to legally handle excessive or spam situations.
When a tenant moves or leaves the property for long periods of time, what to do with their mail can quickly become a time-consuming hassle. Some renters move without providing a forwarding address or may go on vacation or travel for long periods of time without requesting an official hold from the local post office. When mail from an absentee or former tenant accumulates, landlords need to take steps to prevent a small nuisance from turning into a big legal problem.
The United States government takes mail delivery very seriously. It is common knowledge that under our current postal system, a citizen’s mail is considered personal property. it is delivered to them by authorized carriers and is intended only for those to whom the mail is addressed.
Under federal law, taking or moving mail from its intended delivery location is considered a felony. so is preventing delivery by holding a tenant’s mail, as well as opening, throwing away, or destroying mail not addressed to you. Known as mail tampering, any of these acts can lead to criminal charges, fines, and even jail time.
So what should a property owner do to stem the tide of spam and prevent future tenants from tampering with the old tenant’s mail? Because mail falls under the definition of personal property, it must be handled with care.
For example, if a tenant has moved out, the property owner could instruct the current tenant to write “return to sender” on the envelope and return it to the mailbox for pickup. owners can also write a note to the mail carrier, informing them that the recipient is no longer at the address and request that mail delivery be stopped.
However, if the tenant is currently under a lease but is simply away from the property for vacation or another reason, handling mail delivery can become a bit more difficult. The best way to handle mail delivery during an extended absence is for the recipient to contact their local post office and request a hold. if a tenant hasn’t, the mail will continue to pile up, creating a potential legal nightmare for landlords.
If a property owner picks up and stores mail for a tenant and that mail is lost or damaged, the tenant could accuse the landlord of tampering with the mail. In such circumstances, the best thing a property owner can do is to contact the postmaster at the local US Post Office. uu. and request that mail delivery be temporarily suspended. If they can’t deliver the mail, a post office will usually hold the person’s mail at the post office until they come to pick it up in person.
Dealing with a hassle like mail delivery is not complicated, but it does take time. For real estate investors, time is one of their most valuable assets. protect yourself by hiring real estate managers to help with tenant mail delivery issues and all other aspects of tenant relations.
We can handle all of a property’s needs, including everything from basic day-to-day tasks to the most unusual situations. With real estate management at work, you can rest assured that your tenants and your property are being taken care of professionally and legally.
For more information, contact your nearest real estate management office.