To call the police to conduct a wellness check for my hoarder neighbour?

Things sound really horrible, I can only offer a couple of thoughts.

Firstly, if you know your neighbour’s name, you could try phoning local GP’s and say you have very serious concerns for your neighbour’ physical and mental state (explain what’s been going on); state that you don’t know if she is on their list and you realise they cannot discuss any details with you but you are seeking support for her. Repeat with as many local GP Practices as you can, they have a duty to listen to you, and a duty to her if she is on their books.

Secondly, here is some info from Citizens Advice Scotland regarding the safety issues regarding your accommodation, your rights, and what to do.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/housing/fire-safety-s/if-youre-worried-your-home-isnt-fire-safe/

Thirdly, contact your local City/County Councillor, or MP and tell them what’s going on. You can’t sort this on your own but you can certainly get the ball rolling. Keep notes of who you have contacted and when, so you can quote what you’ve done and tried to get done to help your neighbour. None of you should have to put up with this.

Good luck. Please let us know how things are going.
FFAB

Yes, don’t wait until the end of the week. The police need to do a wellness check, and hopefully they will then call a mental health crisis team.. sounds like urgently needs help( sectioning).

This sounds awful for you and the poor woman sounds in a bad way 😔 can you contact adult social services?

How awful. I hope she gets the help she needs for both of your sakes.

My next door neighbour in a previous house had their services cut off and weren't allowed to live in their house as it was classed as a fire hazard. A call to the fire brigade might be really useful as others have previously said.

Good luck with finding a solution it must be awful for you to live next to.

I expect the smell of sewage inside the flat will be because she isn’t able to use her toilet anymore - either because it’s blocked/broken or the hoard is in the way.

I’m not sure if it’s the case in Scotland, but you might be able to speak to Social Services to report a vulnerable adult in need of help. Sounds like there are bigger MH issues at play than just hoarding.

I’ll call the police and issue a welfare concern for her. I’m not sure they can do much though

They most likely wouldn't come out in these circumstances & would refer you to Social work etc. Her issues are clearly MH related. Social Services are a better option, they're in a position to actually help her.

I think you need good legal advice (shelter).
her behaviour makes your home uninhabitable, your landlord might be liable to help rectify the situation.

@Atmywitsend23 i think its more of a mental health issue??? She might need sectioning for her own good?? If she's that bad she's not looking after herself properly then it might be the kindest thing. Can you contact social services and make them aware of the situation??? Sorry if you have already been told this. It sounds horrible for you

Any updates?

As others have said contact the fire brigade. Hoarding is a fire safety issue and they have a multi agency approach to hoarders so may be able to get social services and HA to step up their game.

Fire brigade

It was about 1990 but I had an ex who lived in Clevedon

There was a well known local hoarder - it was mostly rubbish he had picked up but every so often the Fire Service/Social Services would have to clear his place as it was a fire hazard.

Who is your landlord, is it a private let or a Housing Association/Council?

Any decent social services department should at least try to engage the person though and try and establish if there are any social care needs.

If the risk to life is high enough it warrants a multi agency response to attempt to support the person a minimise the risks as far as possible

Look at any local safeguarding board website (England and Wales) and nearly every single Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR) will be about adults who have died as a result of self neglect.

I'm not as familiar with the Adult Support and Protection Act 2007 in Scotland but I presume Section 53 offers similar protection for adults at risk from self neglect to Section 42 of the Care Act 2014 in England and Wales.

I think I would try the building owner again on the basis it would likely invalidate their insurance.

Fire brigade too.

Yes, make the phone call.

hoarding is a health and safety hazard for everyone.

not too long ago, the issue of a hoarding neighbor of a relative resolved itself. The thankfully detached house burned down. It took over 24 hours to put the fire out because it kept reigniting and the adjacent houses were in serious jeopardy. The resident luckily got out. I have no idea if this incident has been sufficient for her to get the mental health intervention she needs.

But environmental health can and should if her actions or collections are affecting others

Don’t get your hopes up too much - people have the right to live as they please, and hoarding is a very very intractable mental health issue. While SS may investigate they are unlikely to be able to do much if your neighbour is living independently.

@Atmywitsend23 many forces won’t do wellness checks anymore unless there is a concern about whether someone is alive or there is a suspected crime. You’d be surprised about the lack of action even when someone has a diagnosable mental illness and is under services. Your best bet is likely environmental health / local council ( but I am in England so maybe check on scotsnet ?)does she own her own apartment? Are there other flat owners to talk to? There would normally also be a management company managing the property apart from the freeholder..surprised your landlord isn’t concerned.