Homeowners confront identity fraud as former tenants use their Hertfordshire address for debts

Two thousand letters and counting: Lisa Freedman and her husband, Elliot, have found themselves tangled in a web of debts and notices that have nothing to do with them after purchasing a three-bedroom home in a leafy Hertfordshire town in 2021. The couple learned that the previous tenants had used the address to register bank accounts, cars, and other records, leading to enforcement actions, fines, and, at times, a county court judgment that the homeowners say they cannot challenge. Since taking possession of the property, they have endured repeated bailiff visits and mail that seems to multiply at every turn, some of it dating back years.

The situation began, in part, with the discovery that the house had been used as a brothel, a fact neighbors reportedly whispered about for years. When the couple first viewed the home, they found a scene that suggested long-term neglect: rubbish in the garden, a strong odor of marijuana, and rooms repurposed as bedrooms. The previous landlord appeared unaware of who was living there, and what they left behind was unsettling: beds, clothing, and clutter filling every room. This history, combined with the address being used as a fraud nexus, would unfold into a broader, ongoing dispute with dozens of organizations.

The scale of the problem gradually emerged over 18 months of renovation. The Freedmans found credit cards and debit cards belonging to people they did not know, along with multiple mattresses and other remnants left by the former occupants. They also learned that the house’s drains had been part of a wider problem on the street, with clogged pipes affecting the main drain after years of improper disposal. The couple stripped the interiors back to the brick and rebuilt the plumbing from the house to the mains to address the damage. As months passed, they began receiving a flood of letters addressed to other people, which they initially attempted to return to sender. The letters often carried enforcement notices or debts ranging from about £1,126 to £15,000, including a claim from HM Revenue & Customs. They estimate that roughly 30 different names appeared on correspondence tied to the address, and the debts totaled hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Lisa Freedman recalls that the letters continued despite their payment of the council tax bill and continued attempts to prove that they did not live at the address. The couple learned that some lenders and service providers would not recognize them as the account holders and, in at least several cases, the mail could not be redirected or stopped. They found that two bank accounts and a company mobile phone remained linked to the home, complicating attempts to prove their residency. In one instance, a licensing or loan product registered to the address carried actions that would require a bailiff, forcing the couple to intervene repeatedly. Some creditors accepted a copy of the couple’s council tax bill, while others did not, prolonging the disruption.

The broader fraud problem is not isolated to private individuals. A cybersecurity expert described the method as a way for criminals to anchor their identities to a credible residential address, using that anchor to open accounts, register vehicles, obtain loans, and create other official records while avoiding direct traceability. Mail redirection and the ability to intercept sensitive documents help criminals maintain plausible deniability, complicating law enforcement efforts and the work of credit agencies. Experts note that while some authorities are strengthening identity checks—such as biometric requirements for company registrations—criminals remain adaptable.

Despite the ongoing burden, the Freedmans say they still see potential in the home’s location and its prospects. They bought the house with the understanding that the owner would ensure the previous tenants vacated by exchange and completion. When the keys were handed over, the house appeared empty at first, but the scale of the prior occupation soon surfaced. Freedman described finding old belongings and documents left behind, including cards in the names of people she did not recognize. The couple faced the additional challenge of verifying their own identity to all the agencies pursuing the alleged debts, with many institutions insisting that the account holder be the one to address the matter.

The case has drawn the attention of several agencies and lenders. The DVLA, which administers vehicle registrations in the United Kingdom, confirmed it had begun reviewing the matter after Freedman reported the issue. The agency indicated that it would address the situation on a case-by-case basis and would not disclose whether other license plates are registered to the address. The mobile phone bill associated with the address is being settled by the fraudsters and is one of the few active accounts connected to the home, complicating the ability to present proof of identity to agencies such as the council or utility providers. O2 said it would contact Freedman regarding the improper registration of a phone number at the address, while Ageas reported that several short-term policies were registered at the address but are no longer active as part of a broader fraud investigation.

HSBC and Lloyds also said they were examining the case and expressed sympathy for Freedman. Law enforcement and fraud agencies have logged the matter and are reviewing potential investigative opportunities. Action Fraud, the national reporting center for fraud and cybercrime in England, said it had recorded an information report and has passed the matter to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau for potential follow-up, noting that not all reports lead to police action but that victims are prioritized. The agency stressed that victims should contact the relevant organization, report the fraud, and seek support from organizations such as Victim Support, Crimestoppers, and Royal Mail in cases of mail tampering.

The broader public policy concern is clear. Experts caution that criminals can exploit residential addresses to create a shadow identity that helps them avoid detection. They urged tighter verification processes in lines of business that rely on a fixed address as identity anchors, while acknowledging improvements in identity checks in some sectors. The daily burden of dealing with fraudulent activity tied to a property highlights the practical challenges victims face when the address itself becomes the fraud’s conduit. In the meantime, Freedman and her family continue navigating the practical and emotional toll of living with a house that once housed a business that no longer exists and a flood of debt notices that still arrive, year after year.

Action Fraud offered practical steps for victims of identity fraud, including reporting the incident to the relevant organizations and agencies, contacting Victim Support for guidance, and reporting the fraud to Crimestoppers if information about the perpetrators is known. They also encouraged people who suspect mail redirection or suspicious mail to contact Royal Mail, and advised consulting a credit reference agency to review and correct records. The situation remains ongoing, with the homeowners hopeful that the investigation will clarify which debts are legitimate and remove them from their address. While authorities pursue the case, Freedman says she remains committed to her home and road, even as she confronts a long-running battle with misattributed debts that followed her into the present.