How should I handle mail that still arrives at my former address?

Establish a trusted handling arrangement

Ask the person at your former address what they are willing to do with mail and agree a secure method for notifying you. Decide whether envelopes should be left unopened, forwarded or handled differently with your express permission. Avoid an informal arrangement that exposes sensitive documents to a changing group of occupants.

Check the postal operator’s current forwarding service directly, including what it can and cannot handle. Do not assume forwarding updates the address held by banks, insurers, public bodies or other senders.

Correct the source of recurring mail

Keep a list of organisations still using the old address and update each through its verified process. Ask whether correspondence details and residence information are recorded separately, and describe your circumstances accurately. For financial or official records, confirm any implications with the relevant organisation or qualified adviser.

Track important items until the new arrangement is working. If mail suggests identity misuse or contains an unexpected demand, verify it through an independently obtained contact route. Do not send passwords or complete identity files to someone merely because they offer to redirect your post.