I previously rented a room in my home to a tenant. The person moved and asked me to hold their mail because it was costly for them to change court papers. This person has not paid me 2 months of rent and refused to sign any agreement to pay in the future. I said I would be nice and hold ONE week's worth of mail to which the person picked up. Now the person is saying I agreed to allow the person to use my address for 2 months or so for court papers and that I would hold the mail for 2 months and contact that person promptly when it comes. I said I will return mail to sender from now on and the person got mad and attempted to blackmail me. I have a friend's mails held for her in a drawer in my house because she's in Iraq. The tenant said she saw I have mail from another previous tenant piled up and have a witness to prove it, which to me sounds like the person thinks she has something over on me and is attempting a blackmail. What should I do?
2007-10-22 06:43:47 · 8 answers · asked by Crazy People 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
1. Return the mail to sender.
2. The fact that you are taking care of a friend-s mail is none of anybody's business.
The person who wants their mail forwarded should arrange that with the post office.
2007-10-22 06:53:28 · answer #1 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This tenant doesn't appear to have anything "blackmailable" on you. However, even if he/she does, I doubt any attorney would take this case and if so, I doubt this person could afford to pay an attorney. Also, the police would probably laugh at this also. I don't think this person can do anything to you criminal or civil.....there just doesn't appear to be any case against you. I don't believe you have any legal obligation to hold the tenant's mail. You didn't put anything in writing and the tenant clearly does not live there anymore. If he/she has moved out, then you shouldn't have his mail. You are probably more at risk if you keep the mail, then if you just mark it return to sender and have it returned. If there are court papers coming, the I expect these court papers would not be delivered by mail, but rather by "service" which means someone would come to your house (usually a police officer of other public official) and hand deliver a package. If this happens, DO NOT SIGN for it. Tell the person delivering that the person does not live there and don't worry about it. It's not your problem. Don't hold mail for this tenant. Mark everything "return to sender. not at this address" and don't worry about it. Since you have already told the tenant you will not hold mail, then you don't have anything to worry about. Good luck to you. It sounds like this person is hiding. Surely they have another address already (unless homeless) and just don't anyone to find them. I would not allow this person to take advantage of you. It's not your problem. Also, depending on the amount of rent owed & if you had a signed rental agreement when the tenant moved in, you may have a small claims case that you could take to court to get payment of the rent owed. However, if it's a small amount and you can live without it, then just forget about the rent and move on. I can't believe the "nerve" of some people. Count your blessings that this person doesn't still live in your house. Sounds like trouble to me.
2007-10-22 07:09:54 · answer #2 · answered by Amy27 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This tenant is abusing you. I'm assuming that you have permission to hold your other friend's mail for safekeeping while she is in Iraq. If you do not have her permission, why are you keeping it? Doesn't this person have family or another mailing address?
Still, it is none of this tenant's business. Do yourself a favor and return all future mail for this person. He is mean and vindictive and is trying to intimidate you. Clearly, this person operates on the wrong side of the law. Asking you to hold the mail because of some court papers, sounds rather fishy to me. In fact, he could turn around and accuse you of stealing or intercepting his mail which is a federal offense. What is this person hiding? Get out of the situation and tell the mail delivery person that he no longer lives at your address. Do this each time you get his mail.
2007-10-22 07:10:58 · answer #3 · answered by bombastic 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Wow you are nice, you're holding their mail and have yet to get paid your rent? I would've been holding their mail and whoops I tripped and it went in my paper shredder!Lol just gather the mail and write on it"No Longer @ Address" or "Return to Sender" and drop it in a mailbox. Get a lawyer because these people sound like trouble then when they talk about the mail, you can say "Well what about my rent?" I'm guessing they'll shut up. As far as you holding your friend's mail that's between you and her you can not get in trouble for that.
2007-10-22 06:53:23 · answer #4 · answered by !!! 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I throw it out without opening it. There may be a moral obligation but, if the company does not have a current address, it cannot be that important. The previous tenant had a moral and legal obligation to notify them which makes me feel I am doing nothing wrong.
2016-05-24 18:05:59 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are not required to hold/forward another person's mail. Just write "no longer at this address" on the envelope and drop it in the mail.
2007-10-22 06:51:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You aren't required to hold her mail. Just because you are doing a favor for someone else doesn't mean you have to do it for her.
She should put in a change of address at the post office.
2007-10-22 06:51:47 · answer #7 · answered by Judy 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just write return to sender with a sharpie and put it in a mailbox.
2007-10-22 06:53:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋