Scam at our new house in the UK

[Asterix]

Just heard from the last owner of our house. Apparently someone knows it's empty and has been using the address, with the previous owner's name to buy and order expensive mobile ophones over the internet. Next door signed for them when they were delivered (as house was empty) but wouldn't give them to 'young, white, mousey haired woman, wearing pink Ugg boots' who arrived on doorstep to claim them! The police have been notified.

We only got it last month and were a little surprised that in the first week of it being up for rent we had a very keen prospective renter (family), negotiated terms, did backgound checks on the company etc.. and then they pull out just before moving in apparently because we couldn't paint one of the smaller bedrooms in time. The house is immaculate just the bedroom was previously a child's a rather 'green', doesn't make sense really.

I doubt the two things could be related?

Anyway - we obviously don't want the threat of scams or squatters - short of having someone live in the place (we have good interest but as it's quite pricey it's not going to be a particularly quick process), what else could we do?

Thanks in advance.

[HiRich]

Since the neihbours appear to be good eggs, get them on board for starters. Make contact (through the revious owners for an introduction) and arrange:

• You will not send any parcels to the address
• You will warn them if you do
• Give them contact details - if anything turns up, they can check and contact the police if necessary. Also note sender details and warn them.
• Give them a set of keys to collect post and check the place once a week
• Promise them a very special bottle of wine or similar

You could also put a note on the letterbox "All parcels to House X". You should contact the local sorting office to see if they can do anything.

[Asterix]

Thanks for the reply and all good points - I had thought of sending them a decent hamper to say thanks.

Luckily my Mother lives close by so is going to step up her visits to make sure all is ok and if necessary we'll drop our rental price to ensure someone is in pronto - not that it's over market rates but it's a good size 5 bed detached so will take a bit longer than the norm.

So if anyone needs a good size immaculate family home in (arguably) the best part of Milton Keynes with excellent schools nearby, blah, blah...

[Wings]

Asterix said:

Thanks for the reply and all good points - I had thought of sending them a decent hamper to say thanks.

Luckily my Mother lives close by so is going to step up her visits to make sure all is ok and if necessary we'll drop our rental price to ensure someone is in pronto - not that it's over market rates but it's a good size 5 bed detached so will take a bit longer than the norm.

So if anyone needs a good size immaculate family home in (arguably) the best part of Milton Keynes with excellent schools nearby, blah, blah...

I have several bed sit type rental properties, with the intercom and number of door bells giving a clear indication of the same. Unfortunately the Data Protection Act has to some extent helped the fraudster, so apart from returning mail and goods to sender there is very little one can do.

Reminds me that many years ago I rented a property out to a single mum with 2 children, the mother who incidentally, although not related, had the same surname as myself. Owing to rental arrears I had to serve her with a Section 8 Notice, and since she failed to turn up at the due Court Hearing, she was served notice to vacate the premises. Over the next 15 months after vacating the property, she was still calling to collect parcels from mail order catalogue companies.

The woman incidentlly had a civil job with Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

[bimsb6]

you could get the mail redirected .