Hoarder in-laws want us to inherit their stuff

[Xmasiscomingsoon]

My in-laws in their 70s are serious hoarders. They have a massive house filled with stuff.

They have repeatedly told my DH and me that they will not sort out their belongings and expect us to inherit or sell everything after they pass, believing it's all valuable.
For example, hundreds of DVDs, crystal decor, old DIY tools, and casual "jewellery" that's not my taste and to be blunt, not worth inheriting, the quality of something you would see in Claire's or Accessorize.

DH has sincerely explained that majority of their possessions have little to no value, and we do not want them. We offered to help them declutter or sell items, but they refuse, as they are unwilling to give things away for free or accept low selling prices.

We live in a tiny terrace with no storage. I dread the enormous task of clearing their 4-bedroom house, annex, and workshop when the time comes.
AIBU to think what they are asking of us is very selfish?

This will be a issue before they pass, own will probably need long term care

What if there is some valuable in that lot, especially documents? You can’t treat it all as rubbish!

Of course you can! My in laws have a house full of utter shite. Yes some of it is valuable to someone, but not to me. I don’t want it. I have zero free time to sift through any of it. Documents that are needed for admin will be retained. Photos and sentimental items too, but encyclopaedia Britannia from 1970 etc are heading straight for the skip.

Hoarding does not always equal squalor

There are plenty of clean, organised hoarders out there too

Swedish death cleaning to avoid inflicting the same on your own kids and for the ILS clear out what you think is important after they've died and then book a clearance company to come and empty their house. Just brush off anything they might say about you having it all etc.."Yes how kind, we'd love your China doll collection." No point winding them up about it: this is stuff that is bound up with memories and significance for them and they will never understand you are not going to feel the same way about stuff that is, to everyone else , mostly tat.

No point winding them up about it: this is stuff that is bound up with memories and significance for them and they will never understand you are not going to feel the same way about stuff that is, to everyone else , mostly tat.

It's definitely worth everyone talking to their older relatives about what they value in their property and why.
Things of antique road show type value are often not very obvious - a dull pot that belonged to your grandads, grandads grandad may be ancient and of value. This happened to a friend of mine - a glass that looked very unprepossing, 100% would have been for the tip if you were doing a clear out -turned out to be worth several thousand because it was old.

Don't forget that you may have a negative view of 'tat' but your children and their children may one day value the historical connection of a book, pen, watch, briefcase, whatever that has been used by an unbroken line of women or men in their family.

With my dad's stuff I just put any paperwork to one side, took it all home to sort and everything else got thrown out.

I wouldn't expect DS to want to keep my Emma Bridgewater stuff so I would expect it to go up the tip as an EB collection is probably todays china teaset which also goes up the tip.

But I'm not going to tip it beforehand as I use it, DS can tip it

What if they need care and you have to sell the house?? Will you inherit the house when they pass on, and go from a tiny terrace to a big house? It's crass of your DH to say it's no worth anything. It's their stuff.