AITA if I tell my tenants they can’t have packages delivered to the house?
Renting out part of your home can be a great way to bring in extra income, but it also comes with unexpected challenges. Some landlords deal with noise complaints, others with late payments. But what happens when your tenant turns your porch into a full-fledged distribution center? This Reddit story brings up an unusual but increasingly common landlord dilemma—package overload.
The OP (Original Poster) shares a home with tenants who rent a daylight basement apartment. Everything was fine until an avalanche of packages started arriving, filling OP’s porch and garage. Despite multiple attempts to set boundaries, the problem persists. The OP wonders: Is it reasonable to restrict deliveries, or would that make them the AH?
‘AITA if I tell my tenants they can’t have packages delivered to the house?’
Expert Opinion: Is OP’s Frustration Justified?
The Core Issue
At the heart of this conflict lies the intersection of tenant rights and property management boundaries. OP’s concern is valid—having a constant influx of packages can be an inconvenience, especially when it leads to potential safety hazards. However, tenants have a legal right to receive mail at their residence, and restricting deliveries could cross into murky legal territory.
Dr. David Reiss, a psychiatrist specializing in behavioral patterns and personal boundaries, explains, “When a landlord and tenant share a living space, clear boundaries must be established early on. If expectations aren’t communicated effectively, resentment builds over time, leading to unnecessary conflict.”
Legal and Ethical Considerations
The situation raises questions about what rights landlords have in regulating mail deliveries. According to U.S. federal law, obstructing mail delivery is illegal. Some jurisdictions allow landlords to require tenants to use alternative delivery options, but this must be clearly outlined in the lease agreement.
Legal expert Michael Drouillard, an attorney specializing in tenant rights, states, “A landlord cannot legally prevent a tenant from receiving mail unless there is an explicit agreement or a separate mailbox is provided. Any interference with mail delivery could be deemed a violation of tenant rights.”
What Could OP Do Differently?
Rather than banning deliveries entirely, OP could consider alternative solutions:
- Requiring tenants to pick up packages themselves: Instead of moving them, OP could notify tenants and leave the boxes for them to retrieve.
- Installing a designated package drop-off area: This would keep packages out of OP’s way while allowing tenants to receive deliveries.
- Updating the lease agreement: If OP wants to implement delivery restrictions, it should be explicitly stated in the lease renewal terms.
- Using visual obstructions: Making the porch less visible to passersby could reduce the risk of theft without restricting deliveries.
Here’s What Reddit Had to Say:
The Reddit community was divided, with many siding against OP.
The majority opinion seems to be that while the tenant’s excessive deliveries are inconsiderate, OP’s proposed solution may not be legally sound. Instead of restricting mail, OP could focus on setting better boundaries or finding a compromise that works for both parties.
What do you think? Should OP enforce stricter delivery rules, or should they accept package chaos as part of being a landlord? Let us know in the comments!