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EXH - House worse than a pigsty

7 replies

DiamondDoris · 19/08/2012 19:29

EXH was always lazy and a hoarder (mainly paper - doesn't throw any paper item away, you name it he keeps it) - one of the many reasons I divorced him. My DC stay with him at the weekends and a few days during the hols - so he sees them a lot - which was what we both wanted. BUT - his house (former matrimonial home) has not been cleaned since last September (when I left) - I have a key and go back there from time to time to pick up my stuff (flat we're living in now needs a bit more storage) and each time I go there it gets worse. I've had words with him, made threats - none of that seems to work.

He leaves junk mail where it falls, the children's beds don't look as if they have been changed (wee stained), tissues and dust under the beds, old pushchairs and crap in the kitchen. You can't see most floor spaces. Drawers empty because everything is on floor. He gets my daughter - she's 9 to tidy up, or says to her "if you want it tidy, you tidy it". She's ashamed of the house and it's making her miserable. It's making me miserable and I often feel close to tears when I think they are spending time in that horrible home. I've now said to him that I'll start having the children full time unless he starts decluttering, tidying and cleaning or that I'll call social services. Not sure which to do, but he doesn't seem to care. I'm worried he may retaliate over either action I decide to take. He doesn't like being threatened or humiliated in any way.

He may have OCD (hoarding), probably aspergers and ADHD - he's not a horrible person but he's a slob. He loves his children, but maybe not enough that he doesn't care about their environment. Anyone in same situation? Any advice?

OP posts:
purplewithred · 19/08/2012 19:47

Unfortunately it's his house and his business. I would think the only lever you've got against him is your daughter's unhappiness - would he do something to make her happier? unless you genuinely believe he is putting the children in danger.

steben · 19/08/2012 19:51

If you are on good terms can you offer to help him sort it out on the proviso he keeps up with maintaining it? Suggests he gets a cleaner or possibly get his relatives involved to escalate the problem? Sorry this sounds like an awful situation for you and your kids

DiamondDoris · 19/08/2012 20:32

I've thought about decluttering and cleaning up for him, even suggested it once, he didn't seem to be that bothered. I don't know if he would even agree to maintain it - he's an arrogant character, arches his eyebrow at me when I tell him he lives in a disgusting mess and looks at me as though I've got horns. He just thinks I'm crazy/OCD freak (I'm bipolar so he often uses that as an excuse to call me paranoid and crazy). His mother doesn't care that he lives in a pigsty (toxic woman in every way). I know it's his business but my / our DC have to spend time in it. He has a study piled high with a papers near plugged in sockets (computer stuff), hallway has bicycles and junk mail everywhere - I think those things could present a fire hazard. The stairs have clothes, paper and so on on them. Present falling down stairs hazard, in fact, he told me he fell down the stairs the other day. I couldn't give a monkey's about him falling down stairs, but I worry every weekend that they're away they might have an accident. I wonder if he needs psychological help? He refuses to acknowledge he has a problem with his attention span, memory; aspergers and hoarding. BTW he was only married to me so that I could cook and clean for him - that much was clear.

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Happylander · 19/08/2012 21:22

Personally I think it is a risk to your children and would inform social services in a nice way to try and get him some support and help as he clearly needs it if he is not even changing the beds!! I admire your strength in allowing the children to go there to maintain there relationship with their dad but it is making them unhappy.

It is quite a health and safety risk. I think people can live like they want but when it becomes a danger to them and others then it is not really acceptable.

DiamondDoris · 19/08/2012 22:11

Thanks all. I think calling social services as you suggest Happylander is a good idea, especially if they can help him. I am still not sure as to how he would react if they came round, as he would know it was me who called them - no one else goes to that house. He can't afford a cleaner, but he works from home so I can't believe he can't tidy the place in the evenings. He's good at retaliation, I don't know how he would handle people telling him to clean up - he is arrogant and a know it all, he thinks he's above everyone else.

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Happylander · 19/08/2012 22:26

There are lots of men like that unfortunately but why worry about his response you are divorced from him. I would tell him that you have concerns about the house from a health and safety point of view and that your daughter is unhappy and you can not tolerate the situation any longer and so have reported him to social services for neglect....think it would be classed as neglect. I think warning him might realise you are serious and he will have to do something and put from the point of view that he clearly needs some help and guidance before the rats set in!

cestlavielife · 19/08/2012 23:34

Also fire safety ask fire dept to do a risk assessment

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