Just discovered we live next door to a hoarder - What to do?

[FaLaLaLaLaaaar]

This post makes me sound like a pearl-clutching nosey neighbour, but I honestly don’t know what to do!

We recently moved into a new semi-detached home. Our neighbours to the right (not the one we are attached to) have always been quite pleasant and friendly. They’re a couple in their mid fifties and we often see him going to work, but she stays home.

They always keep their curtains closed, so their house always looks dark and you’d never know they were home.

Whilst popping out to the car earlier, I noticed their living room curtains were open (they don’t have any nets) and a light bulb was on, so I could see straight in. I WAS SO SHOCKED! Their entire living room is piled high to the light bulb with boxes and magazines! Every single space was full and some had fallen down. I am guessing their cat must have pulled the curtains down as god know how they would’ve got to them to open them!

DH said when he was trimming our trees he saw in from the garden and their dining room and kitchen appear to be in similar conditions. I’m assuming this means every room in their house must be like this too.

What should we do? I don’t want to get them in any trouble, but this is a massive fire hazard and although we are not attached to them, I do worry about the amount of flammable materials in there.

So do we just ignore this and do nothing?

Or should we call the fire brigade or something?

i wouldn't like it OP but i'm not sure there is anything you can do

So you'd allow them the right to decide what you have in your house or how you arrange it, would you? Thought not.

What you should do? I think you should be friendly and make an effort with them so that they know that you’d be willing to help them if they needed anything. Then move on.

Rats, cockroaches or smells call environmental health. Hoarding their bodily excretions, call social services. Otherwise ignore, it doesnt effect you.

It's none of your business how your neighbours live if it isn't affecting you

I'd send an anonymous letter saying the house is a dump & to sort it out.

Also quite thrilled by your husband trimming trees in a new build so can see into next door.. Whereabouts in UK?? Any new build near me has some weedy shrubs and a garden smaller than a car.

Ffs. Some people really have no idea.

The Care Act 2014 recognises hoarding as one of the manifestations of self-neglect and requires all public bodies to safeguard people at risk. You need to make a safe guarding reflection. This will prompt a multi agency approach including fire service trying to conduct a home safety risk assessment. This will highlight any concerns both to the occupants and the fire fighters that may attend.

Social services will look at if there is any self neglect and offer advice and assistance as necessary. If they have capacity they can refuse this of course.

[quote FaLaLaLaLaaaar]@NotTheGrinchAgain they seem a nice and happy couple, based on short chats.

I think I’m mostly just shocked as you’d never guess and it must be horrible to live like that.[/quote]
Shocker! People with bad habits or self-destructive tendencies can be pleasant to speak to!

Do you imagine burglars go around wearing masks and stripey tops and carrying sacks marked ''SWAG' as well?

As pp says, real hoarding like what it appears you have seen, is a psychological illness, very difficult to engage sufferers in treatment and even then, very very difficult to treat successfully
The hoarding is often a symptom of very difficult life experiences,
Authorities can get involved when it becomes an environmental health issue, the hoarder can no longer care for themselves adequately and are a risk to themselves or others such as children in the household
Nowt you can do, but count blessings it’s not your household!

My fil saved his ndn when their 'full' house caught fire and spread towards his setting off his smoke alarms.
Local council have a vulnerable adult dept.. It isn't being a busy body if you genuinely want to help. They can say no thanks if anyone calls round. Fil is a volunteer at the fire department and visits elderly and vulnerable residents making sure they could get out in a fire. Sounds unlikely your ndn could.

If their garden is well maintained, I’d ignore it (and feel quite sorry for them)

Having worked for the fire service I can tell you that they can actually help, to an extent if you feel the hoarding is a fire hazard
. If you raise a concern about hoarding they can do a safe and well visit (may be called something else) and advise your neighbour on how to keep fire safe despite the hoarding. They can also refer them to other agencies if they want help/it’s needed. Even if they won’t do a visit to your neighbour they can help you with fire advice as you’re attached to their house. Hoarding is a massive problem which fire services are well used to dealing with

@WorstXmasEver I think that would be mean and would make them paranoid, I don’t want to harm them or upset them. I just worry about the fire safety aspect.

@FaLaLaLaLaaaar@Scissor not a new build, a new house to us. Well I say new, it’s been 5 months, but that still feels new.

If they have capacity they can refuse this if course.

Well quite - if they have capacity they can and will tell the agencies to take a hike. And the OP will have pissed off her new neighbours for no gain.

Nothing that the OP has posted suggests that these people lack capacity.

Not your business. Worry about your own life.

Erm ignore it? Unless they seem incapable of looking after their own health

Very good point by @CornishTiger re be safeguarding aware

How much stuff your neighbours have in their house isn't really your business. There's no limit on the amount of belongings someone can have and what they choose to keep in their own home.

It might not be the way you choose to live or keep in your home but really what they do, is none of your business.

If they were filling the garden with rubbish so you had a vermin problem or if they were clearly having issues so that they couldn't maintain basic hygiene or basic care of themselves, then that would obviously be different. From what you've said though that doesn't seem to be the case.

Actually anonymous letters, spying on front and back, posting on the internet.. You could be in a TV show

From my experience with relatives who are hoarders, do nothing.
They have the right to live as they choose.

@WorstXmasEver

I'd send an anonymous letter saying the house is a dump & to sort it out.

Well, that's going to help usnt ut.

Don't be such a knob.

@Redcrayons

Mind your own business.

What do you think the fire brigade are going to do?

They fire brigade will do fire safety checks for homes where there’s hoarding due to the increased fire risk. In my previous job we had them done as part of the risk assessment.

@FaLaLaLaLaaaar if they’re functioning and you think have capacity which it sounds like they have, especially given he’s going to work it’s unlikely there’s much you can do unless there’s a clear and obvious risk.

Call the police.

@TheRoomWhereItHappened thank you, that’s helpful to know. I definitely think it’s a fire hazard.

I’m torn massively between this being none of my business and butting my nose out OR what happens if there is a fire and they (or the house they are attached to) can’t/don’t get out and I knew but did nothing.

Let me restate for other posters: I am not trying to get them in trouble or tell them how to live. I am just worried about the fire safety aspect of choosing to live like that.