What to Do With Mail From a Previous Tenant 

If mail for a previous tenant arrives at your address, do not open it and do not keep it. Return it promptly to the Postal Service and make clear that the named person no longer lives at the address.

The basic goal is to put the unopened item back into the mail system so USPS can handle it as mail that is not deliverable to the named recipient.

Step-by-step

1. Confirm it is not for anyone currently living there

Check the full name and address. A household member may use a different surname, and some mail is addressed to a business or organization rather than an individual.

2. Keep the item unopened

Do not inspect private contents. If the item was opened accidentally, do not use or share the information. Explain the mistake when returning it to the carrier or Post Office.

3. Return it promptly

Hand the item to the mail carrier or take it to the local Post Office and state that the addressee no longer lives there. For ordinary unopened mail, a clear notation such as Not at this address can help communicate the problem.

Avoid covering information USPS needs to process the item. If you are unsure how to mark a special or accountable item, hand it directly to a postal employee.

4. Tell the carrier if it keeps happening

For repeated delivery, speak with the regular carrier or local Post Office. Clearly identify the names of current residents without disclosing unnecessary personal information.

What not to do

• Do not throw away important-looking mail simply because the person moved.

• Do not open letters or packages intentionally.

• Do not try to forward mail yourself by writing a new address.

• Do not contact a former tenant using private information from inside the mail.

• Do not sign for accountable mail unless you are authorized.

USPS has separate rules for signature and accountable mail. If an item requires a signature for a former tenant, tell the carrier the person does not live there and refuse delivery.

What if it is a package?

First identify the carrier. USPS, UPS, FedEx, Amazon, and local delivery services use different return procedures.

For a USPS package addressed to a former tenant, keep it unopened and contact USPS or take it to a Post Office. For another carrier, use that carrier’s official support process.

What if the previous tenant left a forwarding address?

Do not rewrite the package or letter with the new address and add postage yourself unless you are deliberately sending it as a new mailing. Return the original item to USPS and allow the Postal Service to apply any valid forwarding order.

How long can forwarding continue?

Forwarding treatment depends on mail class, the sender’s endorsements, and whether a valid change-of-address order exists. Some mail is forwarded, some is returned with address information, and some cannot be forwarded.

The current resident does not need to determine the correct treatment. Returning the unopened item lets USPS process it.

Frequently asked questions

Can I throw away mail for a former tenant?

The safest approach is to return it promptly rather than discard it. This also helps the sender learn that the recipient is no longer at the address.

Can I open previous tenant mail to find contact information?

No. Keep it unopened and return it through the carrier or Post Office.

Should I write “Return to Sender”?

The key information is that the named recipient is not at the address. Not at this address is more specific. For special mail or when uncertain, hand the item directly to USPS instead of marking it yourself.

What if mail keeps coming for months?

Speak with the regular carrier or local Post Office and make sure the mailbox identifies current recipients where appropriate. Individual senders may also need time to update their records.

Sources

• U.S. Postal Service delivery guidance: Delivery, Refusal, and Return

• USPS Postal Explorer: Treatment of Undeliverable-as-Addressed Mail