Compulsive Hoarding
Clearing a hoarders house
Jeffrey Avery and Associates are specialists in the clearance of hoarded premises. A property may become full of possessions due to illness, or more commonly, as a result of Compulsive Hoarding Syndrome, which is recognised as an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Clearing hoarded houses and flats present house clearance companies with specific problems which need to be addressed, as there are additional health and safety risks, alongside logistical issues which need to be considered. For more information about compulsive hoarding, see our Compulsive Hoarding FAQ's.
Some of the problems which arise from the clearance of properties involving hoarding, or which are unusually full of possessions include which have become unusually full of possessions, include:
Common problems that arise when clearing a hoarded house include:
- The property may become unsafe due to damage to floorboards, or other structural damage.
- A much higher proportion of the contents of a hoarder's property may be damaged and recycling or re-use may not be possible.
- Valuable items and documents may be hidden within a mass of unusable material, and so the goods require careful handling and sorting
- Hazardous and dangerous materials may be stored on the property, which are not visible on the initial inspection, which require specialised handling.
- A common and associated condition is the hoarding of animals, and in these cases there are additional problems resulting from the often insanitary conditions in which animals are kept. For example, toxoplasmosis may be present in the dust in the property and special protective equipment may be required.
As specialists in clearing hoarded houses and flats, we have all the resources and expertise necessary to clear any kind of hoarded property, including lofts, garages, gardens and even small holdings.
Irrespective of the nature of the hoarding, we will always guarantee the confidentiality of our client. Our staff sign confidentiality agreements as part of their terms of employment and we can assure our clients of the utmost discretion at all times.
In the past year we have carried out more than 40 instances of hoarded property clearance, including:
- A house which had housed over 100 cats, most of whom were not allowed out, and where inadequate sanitation and litter trays were provided. Most of the ground floor was completely contaminated, and the smell was indescribable. We used a specialist team to completely clean and disinfect the property, and we carried out repairs on some of the floorboards which had rotted away. As part of this job we gave a donation to the RSPCA and the Cat's Protection League, who rescued and re-homed almost all the animals involved.
- A house where one of the rooms contained 2 tons of newspapers and books, some of which dated back to 1948. Hidden amongst the newspaper was a valuable share certificate, which we returned to the owner.
For free advice and information on clearing a hoarded house, or on de-cluttering, contact Jeff Avery on 0800 567 7769.
More information on compulsive hoarding: Wikipedia
