What can be done about Evicted tenants who keep coming back?

Question

These tenants started shorting rent in 11/19 and were given a 60 day notice in January.  They completely stopped paying rent in 2/20. The eviction process was started and subsequently halted due to eviction moratorium from covid-19.  So they lived free for an entire year when we were finally able to finish evicting them 2/21.

Cleaned up the mess they left behind and got the house rented out again in 3/21. Now the old evicted tenants are still coming over and having packages delivered to the address. Knocking on the door to pick up the packages they are having sent there.

Our new tenant has complained that someone has been throwing whole bags of trash and other debris into the yard. I can only assume it's the old tenants.

Has anyone experienced anything like this and is there anything that can be done about it?

Nicole Heasley Beitenman · Answer

It may be worth it to install surveillance devices, even if just temporarily, to provide the authorities with footage.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

Set up a trail cam or other monitoring device and catch them in the act. If they have packages show up, take them to the post office and have them returned.

Bjorn Ahlblad · Answer

Believe it or not we used to have laws in this country and people obeyed them and if they did not wehad a group who enforced the law. Forget what they were called. Anyway they were defunded and it does not matter anymore.

Mary M. · Answer

I used to get amazon packages for an old tenant - i told them many times to please change your address....  the packages still came. eventually i took them to whole foods (amazon) and they looked at me blankly and said "we cant help you as we dont do returns/changes of address" so i just tossed the lot in the garbage on my way out. I would have your tenant put a sign on the door and mailbox that states so and so no longer lives here. pls do not leave packages.

Also if it is just usps mail just write NATA and shove it in the outgoing mail.

Theresa Harris · Answer

I'd offer to put up cameras and charge them with trespassing.  I know the latter may not work, but.  Tell the current tenants to post a notice saying any packages NOT addressed to the current occupants (list the names) is refused and should not be left.  If the package is left, have the tenants mark moved on the label in big letters and leave it for the postal worker to pick up.

Renee D Smith · Answer

Thanks for the replies. Already told the current tenant to refuse/return packages.  They're just nice people and were giving the deliveries to the previous tenants.  Mostly from Amazon,  not mail from USPS.

There used to be security cameras up, but the evicted tenants took them down while they lived there. I'm not sure why. Putting up new ones is always an option.

It seems like it would be obvious that an evicted tenant is no longer welcome at that address.  There's probably nothing to be done about it though unless they start harassing the current tenant.  It's just an uncomfortable feeling knowing they are coming around after having been so ugly and taking advantage of the pandemic situation.  I have no trust for them.

Christen G. · Answer

First of all - I'm sorry this is happening - what a pain for you and your current tenant. Do you have the old tenants' fwding address? Regardless - give the local precinct a call or stop by - ask for the on-duty Sargent. Provide them with the eviction proceedings/completion, tell them what's going on and that it's a big nuisance for you and the tenant and you would like to get a No-Trespass against them (they realllllly should include these in evictions, you know?) Then, when they show up (get that camera) - you can just buzz the fuzz and they'll handle it.

On the topic of cameras: I'm renovating a home right now and have like $6-7k worth of stuff in the garage. It's a slightly remote location and all of the delivery drivers and various contractors and subs running through had me a little paranoid - all it would take is one of them to tip off a buddy and kick my door in (we're not staying there at night yet) and boom, theft. So I got this new camera from Wyze (the V3) it was $20 (!!) - super simple set up, free to store stuff in the cloud for 14 days, but $1.15/mo if you want it to run continuously and alert your phone. I love this thing... could work for you. It even has this alarm in it that you can trigger from your phone - so you could scare them off!

Andrew B. · Answer

@Renee D Smith

I research how to have them trespassed from the property so they can’t come back. You probably have to start with a certified letter to cease and desist and may need to contact your local police job-emergency line

Max T. · Answer

@Renee D Smith

Motion activated sprinkler system filled with Apple juice.

Bjorn Ahlblad · Answer

If the deliveries are by the post office then go there and have a discussion with the local postmaster. They can have the future items returned to sender. I have done it personally. Bring a photo ID showing the address.

What can be done about Evicted tenants who keep coming back?

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