Q: WE HAVE recently sold our house and have now moved, but the new owners of our old property are not forwarding on any mail.

We are now worried they may be reading our private mail or just returning it to sender or worse still, just binning it.

What can we do?

Mr and Mrs T, Bussage.

A: This is often a problem that can be easily avoided.

I always advise my vendors that as soon as they know where and when they are moving, redirect your mail.

Redirecting your mail when you move is a key way to protect your privacy and avoid identity theft.

This is also important for tenants who may move more often than others.

If your mail gets into the wrong hands, it can be the first step to identity theft.

Then your identity could get mixed up in all sorts of serious crime.

While most people now take steps to protect their identity online, many forget that stolen mail is another favourite for the fraudsters.

Many new occupiers may just dispose of previous occupiers post in the bin.

This mail may give away personal details that could be used to open bank accounts, get credit cards, loans, state benefits and other documents like passports and driving licences.

It is estimated that identity fraud costs the UK economy more than a billion pounds a year – so it’s big business.

It’s thought that one in eight adults have been a victim of identity fraud at some stage.

So when you move home it’s all too easy for your mail to go astray, and that’s why I always recommend Royal Mail’s redirection service.

When you move home, make sure you set redirection up three weeks in advance, if you leave it too late there is no guarantee that it will be up and running by the time you move.

Redirecting your mail is an important way to avoid identity theft.

It’s simple to set up a redirection online at royalmail.com

My suggestion in your case at this late stage is to maybe make contact with the new owners and ask that post be set aside for your collection from time to time.

But it is worth notifying as many people as possible of your change of address to help stop mail going to your old home.

Please continue to email you property related question to: clive@sawyersestateagents.co.uk