How to Get Post if You Have No Fixed Address (NFA)

Having no fixed address means:

• You don't have somewhere you can live all the time.
• This could be because you:
  • Are street homeless.
  • Are 'sofa surfing' with friends and families.
  • See this page on our website on homelessness what you can do.
• Live a nomadic lifestyle and do not stay in one place.
• This could mean that you live in a:
  • Mobile home, such as a caravan, boat or van.
  • You might travel around or live roadside.

Use a friend or family member’s address

• Ask if a friend or family member can receive post for you.
• You can use their address to get letters and parcels.

Use a local charity or support service

• Some charities and support services let people use their address to get post.
• We at FFT let clients use our office as their address.
  • You will need to contact us to be use this service.
• A nearby homeless shelter, support group, or day centre may be able to help.

Use a PO box

• A PO Box is a mailbox at the post office.
• You can rent a PO Box for a fee and use it as your address.
• This is useful if you expect to receive lots of letters.
• You can apply:
  • Online.
  • Fill in a form to send to the post office.
  • Or call 03457 950 950.

Poste Restante Service at the Post Office

• Poste Restante is a service at the post office where they hold letters for you.
• You can go to the Post Office and pick up your post.
• When you use Poste Restante, make sure to address letters with:
  • Your name
  • "Poste Restante"
  • The town and postcode of the post office where you’ll pick up the letter

Check how long they will hold your post and what post they can hold

• Most post offices hold post for about one month.
  • After that, they may send it back.
• Some services will have a limited time they can hold your post for.
• Some services will not be able to hold certain post.
  • At FFT we cannot accept any vehicle-related post.
    • Like DVLA, DVSA or VOSA post.
  • We also cannot accept post for private businesses or companies.
    • Including HMRC post for a private business.
  • This will be returned to sender.

ID and consent

• You will need ID to pick up post from a post office.
• Make sure you have it with you.
• You might need consent and proof of ID to pick up your post from other services. 
• If you are picking up or want your relative's post to be read out to you by us:
  • You will need to have the consent of the person whose mail it is.

Issues with DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) post

Why am I having issues getting vehicle post to my care of address?

• The DVLA require registered keepers of a vehicle to provide a residential address.
• This means that they cannot accept a PO Box as a care of address.
• Charities will also generally not be able to hold DVLA post, including FFT.
  • If your post is sent to FFT and we receive DVLA post, we will warn you to change the address.
  • We will then start returning to sender if this continues. 

What care of address can I use for vehicle related post?

• It is recommended to use a family or friend's address if possible.
  • Remember to get permission from them in advcance.
• If this isn't possible then you can ask your GP surgery if they will keep vehicle post for you.
• Most charities won't be able to, unless they are vehicle related organisations.