Can I throw away previous tenant's mail?

Is throwing away someone's mail illegal?

Stealing, destroying, defacing, or interfering with the delivery of mail is a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. To avoid potential legal troubles, here's what not to do with mail that isn't yours. Throw It Away. Tossing someone else's mail into the trash is tantamount to stealing it.

Am I obligated to return mail that isn't yours?

Reporting / returning misdelivered mail

If you are receiving mail for the previous resident and do not know their address, simply return the mail piece back to the mailstream (by leaving in a Collection Box or other mail receptacle) with the notation "Not at this address" marked on the envelope.

Where can I dispose of old mail?

Recycling companies. Banks or credit unions. Staples. UPS Stores.

Is it illegal to open mail sent to your address?

Absolutely do not open it. Even if your intentions are good, or you know the person the mail is addressed to, opening and reading another person's mail is a felony.

Can I throw away old credit card statements?

You'll put yourself at risk of fraud or identity theft if you simply throw away private documents, such as financial statements. Invest in a cross-cut shredder that will eliminate all traces of your personal information, or search for free shredding events in your community.

What can I do with my previous tenant post?

You should return these to the mail unopened and maked: "Not at this address - Return to sender", whether there's a return address or not - there usually will be if it's debt collectors. Blank out the property address so the postman won't return it to you.

What to do with evicted tenant mail?

A simple message, such as Moved” at the back of the envelope will also suffice. Leaving the mail carrier a short note stating that the tenant has moved elsewhere is also effective. The carrier will then stop sending their mail to your address.

Am I legally obligated to forward mail?

Moving to a new home: When an individual moves to a new home, they must ensure that their mail is forwarded to the new address. Traveling abroad: If an individual travels abroad for an extended period, they may want to forward their mail to a trusted friend or family member.

Can my old landlord keep my mail?

Even if they no longer live in the property, any mail addressed to your former tenants constitutes their property. As such, opening or withholding packages or letters not addressed to you could have serious legal consequences.

What to do with mail delivered to old tenant?

What to do with mail that isn't yours?

A quick way to inform the mail carrier that the letter doesn't belong to you is to write "return to sender" on the back or front of the envelope. However, you should be careful not to tamper with the letter. Writing with ink is one way of tampering with the letter. To avoid tampering with the letter, use a sticky note.

Can I throw away mail that is not mine?

In a word, no. It is a federal crime to destroy, hide, open, or embezzle mail that is not intended for you. The official crime is obstruction of correspondence, which is a felony.

Can I open mail addressed to my house but not my name?

A federal statute known as 18 USC Section 1702 makes it illegal to open correspondence addressed to someone else. However, the law cannot be applied if you did not recognize that the mail was not yours when you opened it.

Can you sue someone for keeping your mail?

A: Under California law, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit against the post office and the carrier for withholding mail, returning mail to sender, and causing emotional distress.

Should I throw away old mail?

Don't toss the junk mail in the trash bin; shred it. Given merely your name, address, and a credit offer, someone could take out a line of credit in your name and spend money, leaving you on the hook.

Is it safe to throw out old utility bills?

Keep for a year or less – unless you are deducting an expense on your tax return: Monthly utility/cable/phone bills: Discard these once you know everything is correct.

How do I discard old mail?

Most of this junk mail should be shredded, if it contains personally identifiable information. This is especially true for things like credit card offers. So as you gather this paper clutter you can place all the papers that need to be shredded in your shredding pile.

How to get old tenant mail to stop?

The simplest way to try and stop previous owners' mail from coming to your address is by writing “no longer at this address” or “return to sender” on the mail you do receive for them. Put these mail items in your outgoing mailbox so that your mail person knows that this resident no longer lives at your home.

What to do when someone else's mail is delivered to you?

The letter carrier will pick it up and deliver it to the correct person. If you get somebody else's mail put it back in the box with the flag up. It will get taken back. If you never want to receive the wrong mail ever again, open a PO Box or build a new house.

Can someone use your address if they don't live there?

A resident temporarily living in a different state for school or work may want to forward mail to a domicile address. But someone who isn't the owner of a home or apartment must ask for permission. If permission is not requested and granted, that person is committing address fraud and maybe even mail fraud [*].