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?

As other PP have said, yes it is a fire risk, and yes the fire brigade do put a marker on any house known to contain a hoard.

When it comes to fire safety, I really don't think it's just the hoarder's business .

1: They can not get in trouble for collecting things.
2: They are obviously not worried.
3: You do nothing.
4: You mind your own business.

A neighbour had a very overgrown garden. We didn't know that the children of another neighbour had shouted abuse and intimidated the wife fifteen years earlier causing the couple to simply abandon it altogether.
From time to time, we would ask for overhanging branches to be removed and within a week or two they would be cleared. The trees weren't tidy, but they screened us from other houses and a block of flats.
The bullying neighbour put in a formal complaint to Environmental Health and we all got a letter asking us to pile on. Some did, some didn't.
Threatened with an ASBO, the couple bucked up their ideas. They trimmed back the bushes and removed the overhanging branches, tidied up things nicely.
Then they removed everything, trees, grass, bushes the lot. Now 15 separate properties can see everything that goes on in my back garden.

@FaLaLaLaLaaaar Do what you feel you must, but it might not work out as you expect. The next set of neighbours might have louder and more invasive habits.

In terms of helping them, I don't think there's anything you can do.

Have a read up on hoarding and why people do it. It's very sad but as someone who barely knows them you have very little chance of changing anything.

So you honestly don't think that a house where each room is filled up to the ceiling with stuff, with limited ways in and out, is no more of a health a safety risk than an electrical socket behind a bookcase? Really?
In that case why do social services Health services and the fire brigade bother putting resources into supporting hoarders, why have they bothered making hoarding a diagnosable mental illness?
Yep let's just ignore it all, shall we?

It is impossible to say whether there is really a significantly increased risk without any statistics. And more importantly it's impossible to say how any increased risk compares to people who smoke, or have open fires, or burn candles or like frying chips. I'm not aware of Mumsnet readers sending anonymous fire-anxious letters to Yankee Candle owners, and sending the fire brigade in to give them a stern talking to. I very much suspect that the fire-risk fear is a proxy for something else.

@Cherrytart23

1: They can not get in trouble for collecting things. 2: They are obviously not worried. 3: You do nothing. 4: You mind your own business.

The post under yours which you would have seen before you posted, says that the brigade puts a marker on houses where they are aware there is a hoard. Loads of posters before that have talked about the issues / risks. How can you read all that and still say. "Mind your own business"? Are you saying that fire service are wrong?

If their house is attached to another property it would be sensible to contact the local fire brigade for advice. If the property was to catch fire it isn't just their own lives that would be at risk.

For people who don’t think it is a fire risk, why do you think the fire brigade put markers on houses like this and can do risk assessments.

Also posters saying keep your beak out, would you say the same if children were living there?

@Cherrytart23 @AuntyBumBum @RoyalFamilyFan @coffee shall we see what the experts say?

www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/carers-and-support-workers/hoarding-disorder/

I would ask if there’s a grip amongst the things they’ve hoarded. Someone needs one.

Well done for recognizing this is an issue and for not being one of the stick their nose in the sand brigade. It's easy to say that it's none of your business but it's right to be concerned for neighbours and it is right that whatever happens in their house and garden may negatively affect you.

It is a very serious mental disorder and it may not be possible to help them but it is good you have recognized it really is an issue.

Yes, it could be a problem in terms of fire risk, for them and anyone who has to enter their property.

Sadly, I cannot give any advice but if you feel able to be friendly and neighborly then go ahead and see if there are chances to help.

www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/hoarding-disorder/

@CornishTiger

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.

How would somebody go about this please?

@toomuchlaundry obviously if children are living there it is totally different. But they are not.

@Scissor

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.

I live in a new build and my garden is massive!

My hoarder relative was lucky to not blow his street up as his house was so badly neglected the pipe to his ancient cooker crumbled, he was completely oblivious until the neighbour smelt the gas pouring out and the fire brigade broke in.

Id be concerned too, there isnt much you can do but I will say social services were quite helpful for us, he now has things in place and is listed as a vulnerable adult. I even managed to get hi some extra money from attendance allowance with the help of age concern....
We were lucky he was amenable to being helped tho and we bullied and cajoled our way through a complete gutting and renovation. He still hoards, but. We turn up unannounced and clear the papers / clean the sink because he hoards dishwater etc. We're lucky he grudgingly goes along with it but we really cant have it building up like last time.

Cherrytart23

'2: They are obviously not worried.'

I do not think you can assume they are not worried. Even if they said they were not, they may well be.

It's something that people need a lot of help with and they do need to want to get the help. But I think they are often ashamed and don't know where to start.

@earsup

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 !!

How the HELL do you know all of this 🤔

MobyDicksTinyCanoe oh that is so sad. Well done for helping him.

The reasons behind hoarding are so complex.

Yes call up the authorities and they will remove all the clutter and arrest them

And there are clearly different levels of hoarding. Like anything, the more extreme the harder it is to live with.

@XenoBitch

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.

I'm sorry your neighbours treat you like that.

I have a good friend who has bi polar and nobody helps her either. If they aren't laughing at her then they're gossiping about her. She's never once been offered any help or kindness either.

Italian, he had no water, or cooking facilities. He was living in darkness. We knew he had an issue with water and we'd tried to help a few years previously, he'd promised he'd got it fixed but had lied. So had no toilet. He used to shower at his brothers once a week and somehow managed to stay clean and tidy.

Hoarding is such a devestating condition that can put others at risk too. People who know about it should step in, even if it's just making a call to the fire brigade and ss....... In my uncles case it was 60 grand and an 8 week house renovation 😳

It’s a mental health issue, it’s very sad but I don’t think anyone can help. The only bright side I can think of is that at least they are not related to you. All the very best.

MobyDicksTinyCanoe how very sad. my friend had a mild version of hoarding and you would never have guessed but seeing her home it was a shock.

@Unreasonabubble

Nah! Popcorn needed. Well actually I consumed it reading your thread. Thanks for feeding your opening post. Consider yourself grateful that your DH was trimming your trees!

Don' believe a word of this but I am not allowed to call you a .....

You don't believe that somebody's neighbour is a hoarder?????