Receiving Postal Mail at a Mid-Term Room Rental: What to Do?

[Alicia1348]

Room rental is in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prior to move-in, it was discussed in writing that guests are not to receive USPS or any mail at the room rental address, and we kindly provided alternate resources for receiving mail, as they are coming in from out of the country. About 30 days into a two-month rental, the guest received USPS from a medical sender.

On June 5, 2024, we sent an all-guest reminder that receiving USPS or any mail at the residence is strictly prohibited. Compliance with this house rule is critical, as was agreed upon prior to reservation acceptance. Any violation is considered grounds for immediate removal from the property.

On June 6, 2024, two additional mailings have been received (both medical, from a different sender).

Are we reading too much into this, or does this sound like someone trying to set up residency?

[Paula]

Hello @Alicia1348, thank you so much for bringing this topic to our community.

I’m reaching out to some of our experienced Hosts to get their advice on how to handle this situation: @Debra300, @Joan2709, @Kitty-and-Creek0, @John5097 and @Patricia2526 

All the best 🌻

[Debra300]

@Alicia1348,

We have a couple of rentals that are long-term stays only, and do not allow guests to have USPS deliveries.  Guests are informed in the Things to know section and the booking greeting message that there isn't any postal delivery to the rental address, and this will result in mail being returned to the sender.  We share these mail delivery options with guests:

1. Have their mail sent general delivery to the local post office and pick it up from there (free).
2. Open a postal box, e.g., USPS, UPS, Fedex, (fee).
3. Have deliveries sent to their job, university, church, friend's place (unknown if there are fees).
4. Have deliveries sent to their family or friend's place and they forward it via a courier service, e.g. Fedex, DHL, UPS (unknown if there are fees).

We have discontinue all post office residential deliveries and opened a UPS Store post box for our mail.  This has its benefits for us because we no longer get the sales papers and mail addressed to Resident that went straight into the trash bin, and since most of our bills and business dealings are done online, we we pick up just a handful of mail every few weeks.  However, the primary benefit is that guests cannot get to our mail, use our address to establish residency (or tenancy), or open accounts and services.

[Marie8425]

@Alicia1348 I  al

low like Amazon or the grocery  store deliveries.   I   do  not accept mail deliveries..  I  have a locked mailbox  for my  personal use.  Not often but occasionally  I  have  gotten  a Guest's  mail in  my boWhenn IIII  make it clear  not included,  I  also   make  clear  my reesponnse.x.

I inform  the  guest  that  mistakenly  I  received  mail for them.  I  marked it return  to  sender  incorrect address...  I  didn't note   who  from, sorry you   have to  figure out who  was  incorrect.  I only  notify  you  that  someone  your dealing  with  shouldn't be  addressing  mall  here.

II  am aa believer   make my rules  easy  to  follow.  Onn  the same wave llength don't  make breaking rules easy.  No   mail ever there   are  options  and  sorry  I   didn't  look  who from but it is safe with the  PO   returning it.

[Kitty-and-Creek0]

@Alicia1348 

This must be common issue with longer reservations. The guest may naturally assume that this serves them, as they are living there for a time, and may have overlooked the rule. They may also have reasoned that a medical delivery be an exception. 

@Debra300 has the easy solution. Mailbox stores abound, and provide a service that fits the need. In addition to asking long term guests to agree to the rules, how about providing a list of these services?  

[Debra300]

@Kitty-and-Creek0,

It's a fact that there isn't any residential USPS mail delivery service to the rental address, so there really is no need to request that guests agree to the rules, the information is also included in the rental agreement that they must sign.  

[Paula]

Thank you so much, @Debra300, @Kitty-and-Creek0 and @Marie8425, for offering your advice to Alicia.

@Alicia1348, how have you found these ideas for long-term stays? We would love to hear your thoughts.

Best regards,