How to deal with a former tenant who is still using my address?

I print up a sheet of labels with 'RTS - Addressee Gone Away' ready for whenever tenants vacate especially those who don't leave a forwarding address. I then stick the label over the address to prevent it being delivered back to the property (leaving the tenants name plus any ref numbers visible).

Reply to the comment left by Alison Walker at 25/08/2023 - 15:55
very organised. I actually wrote 'RTS - try HMP Exeter instead' on post once as that is where I knew the ex tenants 'long term' accommodation was...

Reply to the comment left by Alison Walker at 25/08/2023 - 15:55
I have a custom vista print ink stamp,
Not at this address
Please return to sender

My international students always left the country, and me with all mail, bank, opticians, mobile phones, and any other random junk mail they'd sign up to.

Literally 100s per year.

A cross thro the address and stamp for each. It's actually quite satisfying to do

Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 25/08/2023 - 14:10
That’s why you trace them first then serve the small claims documents.

I've just had this.
Not for the first time tenant, leaves keys with letting agency anonymously over night.

Removes anything of value and leaves a chain of destruction. Unclean is polite, disgusting mess through out

Unpaid rent, would not allow my contractors in to complete inspections and service and maintenance.

My costs in time and financial are obsurd

I sent letters emails and texts reminding them of rent arrears and failure to allow arra ged and agreed contractors resulting in aborted visits and more costs.

Sent a recorded letter and first class stamped for.all above they day the letters arrived they took the stamped but postman's card on doorstep with royal mail letter informing occupier of their post being redirected

They stopped their council tax months earlier I got a summons after getting my keys back

Out of principle I will pursue how do I do this any advice welcome

I understand they have remained local but have no idea of where

They also get mail for their business to my property

I have only opened to the occupier letters they were on pay as you go meters and are on the last but of emergency

We are still in process of refurbishing the mess and destruction it was absolutely should destroying as this was more than just a property it had revious memories I simply can't see passed the destruction

New everything totally cleared top to bottom the amount of rubbish they left took two weeks to clear.

I was concerned since rent arrears mounted but my plumber / gas engineer alerted me when he told me they were avoiding arranged visits so I told him to go anyway which he did I called at the expected time of the agreed visit rest is history I am determined not to allow this to anyone else. Has anyone had similar and what coarse of action did you take to get to a satisfactory conclusion?

This happened to me twice when tenants had to be removed by bailiffs. You are not liable for anything which isn't in your name. I have done the 'not at this address' thing but nobody takes any notice. Mail will come for
over a year. One tenant even got people who were never at the address to register their cars there and every day they had Tfl penalty notices. Eventually it gets to the bailiff stage. They hand deliver a note saying they will come over but they never do. When it gets to that stage I contact them - Marston debt collection agency or similar. They are very good. You just need to send them proof that you are the owner and they drop the case. It's stressful to keep getting the letters. I put some of them in the bin. But it is sorted once you contact the debt collection agency. These crooks never end up paying for the unpaid debts. They are untraceable.

You can buy those self inking rubber stamps that say 'Return to sender: address unknown' and /or tweak with a pen as required - saves a lot of time if there's a lot of mail, worth the investment. Two lines through original address, stamp it and post it.
Thank you can make custom stamps, maybe'RTS - No longer at address' is better?
If they owed me 3k I'd be chasing that though...

Reply to the comment left by JaSam at 25/08/2023 - 09:50
Thanks JaSam for the info, this is helpful!

Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 25/08/2023 - 14:16
Hi Judith, many thanks for your point-by-point reply, this is exactly the answer I was looking for!

We did not open any of her mail, but I can guess - from the sender's address or the markings on the envelope - where those are coming from.

I can't spend time responding to all of you guys, but big thank you to all who also responded with additional info/advice, this is super helpful!