Basics of postal service in a share house
We will explain how to receive mail at a share house.
This may vary depending on the type of mail, so please use this as a reference.
How to receive mail
The way mail is received varies depending on each share house.
Shared mailboxes are often used in small shared houses where several people live in one house, or in privately run shared houses.
In most cases, there is one post box at the entrance, and the landlord or tenant sorts the mail and places it on each person's mailbox in a shared space such as the living room.
In medium to large sized shared houses, you will often see a "communal mailbox" installed near the entrance.
Each room has its own mailbox, so you collect your own mail from there.
Your mail will not be mixed with other residents' mail.
Type of mail
Although it is generally referred to as mail, there are some mail that can only be received by the intended recipient, and some mail that requires special care when receiving.
Mail that can only be received by the intended recipient
- Restricted delivery mail
- Special Delivery
Personal delivery mail, such as that sent by credit card, and special deliveries sent by the court, cannot be received by proxy, and identification documents and the recipient's signature are required upon receipt.
If the recipient is not at home, a delivery slip will be issued and the person receiving the parcel will arrange for redelivery.
Mail that can be received by someone other than the recipient
- Regular mail
- Registered mail
- Courier service
Registered mail and courier packages are generally handed over to you rather than being dropped in a mailbox, but they can be picked up by someone other than the recipient as long as they live at the same address.
However, to avoid issues such as lost mail, some share houses prohibit people from accepting other people's mail without permission, so please check beforehand.
How to manage your mail
We will tell you how to manage mail that is not yours when you receive it in a shared house, as well as things to be careful of.
: Mail sorting and storage
In the case of a shared mailbox, the landlord or tenant collects the mail from the mailbox and distributes it to each individual.
Many shared houses have shelves or pockets for mail in shared spaces such as inside the entrance or in the living room, so you can put your mail there.
Obviously, you should not open other people's envelopes without permission.
Please be aware that if you open the envelope without permission, you may be charged with opening a letter.
Additionally, when it comes to important items such as registered mail, unnecessary trouble can be avoided if the recipient takes responsibility and hands it over to the intended recipient in person.
Mail Management Benefits
Living in a shared house comes with benefits when it comes to receiving mail.
Efficient pick-up
One of the benefits of living in a share house is that other residents can receive your packages.
You can ask other residents in your share house to receive your mail and deliveries on your behalf.
This will save you the trouble of having to wait at home for your package to arrive or having to adjust your schedule to request redelivery.
However, please be aware that some share houses have rules that prohibit you from receiving other people's mail or parcels.
Also, to avoid any issues regarding whether or not you received your mail, please be sure to hand it over responsibly to the correct address.
To receive and deliver mail with peace of mind, it is important to have a sense of trust.
Residents can build trust with each other by communicating with each other on a daily basis.
Privacy protection
If you do not want other residents to know private information such as the contents of the postcard or the sender, you can use the following methods.
- Have it delivered to the post office
- Pick up your parcel at a public delivery locker or convenience store
- Choose a share house with private rooms and mailboxes with locks
- Have it sent to your home
You can have your package delivered to a parcel locker at a post office or train station.
If you use these services, your package will be delivered to your preferred post office or parcel locker instead of to your share house, so you can receive it without being seen by others.
Alternatively, if you move into a shared house with a locked mailbox, other residents won't be able to see your mail since it's your own personal mailbox.
If your parents live nearby, you can have the package sent to your parents' house and then pick it up there.
Check points regarding mail when choosing a share house
Each share house has different procedures for handling mail.
If the shared house is poorly managed, you are more likely to get into trouble.
When choosing a shared house, be sure to check how your mail is handled.
Check the reception rules
Each share house has its own rules, so be sure to check before moving in.
The rules include the following:
- When you receive mail from someone else, hand it over to the person in question.
- Keep it responsibly until you hand it over to the person
- Do not open other people's mail without permission
It is also a good idea to ask in advance whether there have been any problems with mail in the past.
Receiving facilities for mail
There are surprisingly many problems with mail in shared houses.
Therefore, when viewing a property, we recommend that you check how the post box and mail are handled.
- Collective or joint post
- Is the post box secure, with a lock or other security features?
- Is there a designated space for mail in the share house?
Ask questions if you have any doubts and ease your anxiety.
summary
There is a mailbox in the share house, so mail addressed to you will be delivered there.
While there are benefits, such as other tenants receiving packages, there is also the possibility that your privacy may be compromised.
If you are concerned, you may want to use the post office pick-up service.
Also, each share house has different rules regarding mail.
Choosing a share house with rules that you can agree with will lead to a safe and secure share house life, so be sure to check the rules carefully in advance.
