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?

@AuntyBumBum

How is it a fire risk? My home is full of highly flammable material - wooden floorboards and joists to start with. Just having flammable material in your house is not dangerous. If the electrics aren't safe their house may burn down. But so would yours if yours weren't. Theirs will just burn for longer.

Massive fire risk. I can’t believe people don’t understand this. The hoarder houses I have been in almost always have access to power points blocked by the hoard. The resident might only have one accessible power point and will run multiple power cords and power boards from one point, overloading it. Normal electrical maintenance can’t be done because access is blocked and the resident will refuse to allow tradesmen until their home anyway.

The hoard leads to vermin which destroy electrics. The electrics can’t be fixed because electricians can’t access the wires.

One house I was in had a water leak from the roof. Water was running down and in the walls and into the electrics but the resident refused to call a plumber because it would mean the hoard would be disturbed to give them access to the wall. It would have taken a week to clear a narrow path to the wall for the plumber to access. That resident ended up being forcibly removed because of mould.

Let’s not start on trying to get out of the house in a fire, when there is a narrow access path to the front door.

It’s a terrible and difficult to treat mental illness and living in a hoarding house is dangerous for the resident’s health in so many ways.

Bloody hell ypu must have massive amounts of time on your hands to be concerned about what you saw through your neigbours window,myob

@Kshhuxnxk

I don't understand how it's a fire hazard?

You can't see how stacks and stacks of stuff as high as the light fitting in a room might be a fire hazard? You can't stretch your brain around the fact a house full of things might impede the occupants making an emergency exit if a fire starts?

@Porcupineintherough

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

This ^

Can you imagine if your neighbours looked through your windows and reported you for having boxes of magazines. The world has gone mad.

I have experience of this, it’s fine being all sanctimonious saying ‘keep your nose out’ until you live next to someone like this.
We had to report frequently to EH for rats, no doubt attracted by empty take away boxes that were piled up in the front garden. There was a nest of rats and dead rats. Fix shit and cat shit everywhere.
Plus numerous reports to the council of massively overgrown trees, bushes, knee high weeds ridden with all sorts of rubbish, including an old car. Various orders were served which resulted in a short term improvement. It was a massive relief when it was sold.

@AuntyBumBum

Of course it’s a fire risk . That’s why the fire brigade will get involved.

If there was a fire it would hamper their efforts to tackle the blaze. Escape routes for the occupants as well . And of course that type of material would burn quicker. They also told my uncle that his hoarding was so bad it was actually putting a strain on the structure of the house because of the weight.

Pretty sure it could be a big fire hazard which could spread to the attached house. Maybe have a word with the local fire brigade to express your concerns? They could call round to give them some advice .
Possibly preventing a hideous tragedy is not being nosey, in my View!!

Log it with 101

Not really. Keep your neb out

This is a very difficult issue OP - as you can see you’ve touched quite a nerve. My neighbour is a borderline hoarder as is my XDH and knowing hoarding has its roots in mental ill-health means I worry about them as much as if they were physically ill.

What Cornish said above is right: you can make a safeguarding referral (just google safeguarding + your local council for the number) but other than that there is very little you can do other than to allow them their privacy. I can’t imagine there is any way you can help them directly.

Beak out

This thread demonstrates how little people understand hoarding. It is a manifestation of serious mental illness and they are not coping if they are hoarding, they need help.

You wouldn't (I hope) ignore someone who was self-harming or displaying other destructive / risky behaviours. Hoarding is no different.

Hoarding is hugely unsafe and presents direct risks to the occupants of the property as well as indirect problems for those around them as one or two others on this thread have laid out.

OP, apart from speaking to adult social services / the vulnerable adults team of your local council, there is likely nothing you can do directly really other than support them if they ask for your help. I would also suggest perhaps calling the local fire station (non-emergency number of course) to ask if they have any support for properties at a high risk of fire.

the world is full of functioning hoarders....my 3 neighbours all hoard....social worker, teacher and carepenter...all outwardly respectable, all have nice families and all work....but they hoard....its life !!

If the hoarding is attracting vermin, ie discarded and stockpiled food waste, then definitely make it your business and call the council environment team to investigate. As I’m sure most mumsnetters would do if in same situation. It’s no fun having rats invading your property. But if just papers and stuff, I would just keep a friendly eye on the couple in case they have vulnerabilities - most people who hoard aren’t happy doing so, and might need some support from social services.

Given this is mumsnet where people have barely any possessions in their homes I suspect they are just a normal couple.

But it's their home, keep your nose out.

@yellowleaves123

Can you imagine if your neighbours looked through your windows and reported you for having boxes of magazines. The world has gone mad.

my late dm had 2 rooms full of magazines and papers...all in boxes etc...rooms kept shut for years...nobody ever saw it...if op hadnt seen it then would have carried on as normal....hoarding is quite common....some fill up gardens and cars and others keep it hidden.

There's been some sad threads on here about family trying to help out relatives who hoard. It's grim reading and very sad

I can’t believe your reaction was about what you could do about it. Mind your own business! It’s not even the house that you’re attached to! It’s up to them how they live and yes it’s a mental illness but certainly none of your concern. It will be down to family or friends to help not the nosey bloody neighbour 🙄

Thank you to posters who can see I’m not acting with malice or nosiness, just concern. I am reading all replies and noting the helpful information, in case we use it.

@Purplewithred I have to say I am shocked by how divisive it has been. I just wish I hadn’t noticed or told DH, as then he wouldn’t have said about the back and we’d be none the wiser.

Please can I ask how you think your XDH and/or Neighbour would react if someone called the fire brigade to ask them to offer a safety check? Do you think it would help?

I don’t think you should ignore this at all. The PPs laughing at you for being nosey are the types you see on the news after the tragedy has happened wringing their hands making out there was nothing anyone could do or nobody saw it coming.

If more people looked out for others we’d see a lot less ‘we’ll learn lessons’ enquiries.

Absolutely raise a concern with your local fire service. It can be a huge fire concern not only for the property and occupants but also firefighters attending a fire at a property they don't know is hoarded (structural damage, searching procedures harder when you haven't got a solid wall) Our fire service would also raise a concern with adult social care and notify them of the extent of the hoarding. Often the fire service gain access to hoarded properties easier than other agencies. Hoarding is an incredibly complex situation.

Ahhh bless them, this was my MIL, it’s so upsetting and a medical condition. Do they have grown up children? I take it no small children there

You wouldn't (I hope) ignore someone who was self-harming or displaying other destructive / risky behaviours. Hoarding is no different

I am that neighbour. I just get gossiped about, and when people see me, they turn to their friend and do the twirly finger thing on the side of their head.
They have stood and watched me get forced into cop cars and ambulances. Not one person in the 10 years I have lived here, has actually asked if I am ok.

Using the search facility titles this year these are just a few threads.

I would say get to know them over time and if the opportunity arises suggest good fire alarms be installed. If it's rented smoke alarms are required I think.