Help my friend after Mothers death and her hoarding - council property

[dora1234m]

Hi I was wondering if someone could offer some advice please.
My friend lived in a council property with her mother. Her mother has now passed away. After years of never been invited into the house I have now gone in to see my friend and the condition of the house is poor. Her mother has hoarded bags and boxes of things and rubbish. The house is filthy and the bathroom is covered in grime and mould. It isn’t a healthy environment to live in and my friend is reluctant to clean or move anything - saying her mother would be angry and she just isn’t ready.
How can we help them, can the council come in and offer support?
Please be kind as we all want to help but just do not know how. Myself and friends who want to help have no experience with the council.

If the person died recently, it is probably too early in the grieving process for your friend to let go of any of her mother's possessions.

Perhaps you could suggest that she rents some storage space so she can keep some of her mother's belongings in there for the time being, and go through everything when she is ready.

Is she staying in the house?

I’ve helped a friend who was a hoarder and it was almost impossible.

She wouldn’t throw anything away. Broken buckets, out of date tinned carrots, ten year old ikea catalogues, junk mail.

If you google help with hoarding there are many charities who will help advise you. I believe the council can help with practical decluttering if it comes to that.

Ultimately though it needs to be with your friends consent, and it doesnt sound like they are ready yet. I think you might be limited in what you can do until they are ready. It sounds like they really need some kind of therapy first to deal with their grief.

Thank you. Yes i can see it will be an impossible task.
sorry about your friends loss.

Thank you. She has a consuelling service to call so hope she can do that.

She needs to take the things she wants and have a house clearance company do it. Average 3 bed under £1k