Compulsive Hoarding Disorder

Compulsive hoarding disorder is a condition where someone doesn’t just acquire too many things, but they also can’t bring themselves to part with anything either. Over extended periods of time, this can lead to a little more than a clutter and disorderly home. If you have ever watched the TV show American Pickers, you will have seen the kind of thing we are talking about. 

Though it may just seem like it will just be a lot of stuff to sort through, taking longer than you might think, this kind of hoarding can also take a toll on the property itself, as well as the health of the person that is living in it. 

What are the issues of compulsive hoarding disorder?

Being a compulsive hoarder creates a lot of mess and clutter not only within the walls of the property but in any outbuildings and even in the driveway and garden of the property. The more space a hoarder has to fill, the more hoarding they will be able to do. 

There are several other issues that are much more serious than clutter though. To begin with, when there is a lot of clutter in a house, especially when it is flammable such as books, magazines, junk mail and clothes, it presents a fire hazard. With so much stuff crammed into every corner of the house, the number of exits from the property are also greatly reduced. Most become blocked over time, and even making your way through a hoarders property can be extremely difficult. 

Hoarding can also lead to the property falling into disrepair. When there is so much clutter in one space, seeing where there is mould growing becomes difficult, and in some instances, clutter can actually lead to an increase in mould growing – especially in window bays. There is also the issue of being unable to clean properly, leading to an excess build-up of dust, dirt, creating an extremely unhealthy environment to live in. This can also include rodents moving in and setting up nests in the clutter. 

One of the more dangerous aspects of hoarding is that it can also lead to the hoarder becoming trapped in their own homes, and even killed by their obsession. There are plenty of news reports about hoarders dying and their bodies remaining undiscovered in their clutter because there is so much of it, a dead body just went unnoticed. Equally, there are plenty of stories of hoarders becoming trapped after a pile of hoarded newspapers has fallen over and crushed them. 

Hoarding is not simply a hobby, but a disorder that has an extremely dangerous and far-reaching consequences. If you have a hoarders property that needs clearing, it is not something you’ll want to attempt on your own. It can be extremely unsafe to try and clear a hoarder’s property by yourself. Call us today to see how we can help you deal with a hoarder’s den. 

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These kinds of collections can be things such as film memorabilia, video game figurines for a specific series, coins, stamps, American muscle cars, or antiques. These collections will often be displayed or kept in specific locations where they can be protected and maintained. Hoarders do not collect in this manner.  

Though hoarders will generally accumulate stuff until their property can take no more, there are certain items that are more commonly found in hoarder’s houses than others.

Commonly hoarded items

A good rule of thumb for hoarded items is that if you can find it in a charity shop, then a hoarder will probably have it. With the number of car boot sales and charity shops, there is plenty of opportunity for hoarders to find junk to fill every available space in their homes. 

Magazines, TV guides and newspapers are probably the most commonly hoarded items. Though having a collection of film magazines as part of a film memorabilia collection is normal, a hoarder will not be so selective in the magazines they keep. It is not only restricted to magazines, TV guides and newspapers either, hoarders will also often keep all leaflets, pamphlets, and every piece of mail they have received whether it is a letter, a political party newsletter or an estate agent trying to get the hoarder to sell their property with them.

Though coin collectors will be on the lookout for specific and rare coins that pique their interest, hoarders will often have coins both old and new, regardless of the value or rarity of those coins. 

Clothing and shoes are another common item that hoarders will collect. Though everyone has clothes and shoes, and some people may have a few too many pairs of shoes for your liking, odds on they will be shoes that they can wear, and generally in a condition that they can be worn. Hoarders will have clothes and shoes that will not fit them and may not even be for the gender they identify with. They will be in a range of different sizes, different conditions and different styles. Do not be surprised if there are even odd shoes amongst the hoarder’s collection either.  

Hoarders also tend to gravitate towards pots, pans, cooking utensils, jars and a variety of containers from Tupperware to cake tins. Every good kitchen has a range of these items, and even may have one of two of the same item, but hoarders will take things to a whole new level. Wooden spoons, slotted spoons, jam jars with and without lids and a whole lot more will be crammed into other places, even rooms other than the kitchen. 

Other common items you’ll find in a hoarder’s home include dinnerware, plants, towels, tablecloths, dolls, ornaments, music, rugs, carpets, free samples of things such as shampoo or soap, irons, kettles, cutlery and china. 

If you need help with dealing with a hoarder’s home after they have passed on, get in touch with us today to see how we can help. 

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In this article we look at just one important aspect of the bereavement process – and that’s dealing with the deceased’s home in the most effective way possible.

How quickly should we clear the deceased’s home?

This can often be a very difficult decision to make and it may well be that different family members, or friends, have very separate views on it.  Some might want such matters dealing with almost straight away whilst others will naturally struggle with the idea of getting things sorted.

It’s never easy going back to the deceased’s home once they’re no longer there to greet you but of course, certain things need to be taken care of as quickly as possible – for example, the possible disconnection of utilities, security (such as changing the locks), the removal of valuable items from the property and the location of important documentation (such as any Will, life insurance policies and so on).  In reality, all these type of issues need to be done at the soonest opportunity.

If the property’s owned outright then there may be some flexibility in terms of removal time but if there’s still a mortgage to pay – or the property’s rented – it’s likely you’ll need to clear the property as quickly as possible in order to avoid ongoing mortgage or rent repayments (and especially if there might not be much equity).  You should also notify any lender or landlord about the death as soon as possible.

What’s the best way to organise clearance?

Most families prefer to enlist a professional company to assist with clearance and there are certainly a number of key advantages for doing so:

• The property can be properly deep cleaned without the bereaved family and/or friends having to get involved during what will already be a stressful period of time for them.  It may also be, of course, that it simply isn’t practical for this to be done by the family; especially if people have already taken time off work through any period of sickness, or to make funeral arrangements and so on.

• Where relevant, arrangements can also be made for any items to be formally valued (thus ensuring full compliance with relevant inheritance tax regulations).

• They property can be made suitable for sale or rental; thereby reducing monthly outgoings as quickly as possible.

• If necessary, waste management solutions, such as skip hire, can also be put into place and/or trips to the local tip with relevant licenses in place.

Prior to enlisting professional clearance services such as these it is, of course, important that the deceased’s family have already decided which possessions they’d like to keep, which might need valuing and which can be disposed of directly fro the property.  Thereafter, the cleaning team can get to work and ensure that everything is properly taken care of – for example:

• Any electrical items (including white goods, garden equipment, televisions and so on) are taken to an appropriate WEEE recycling facility;
• Any cardboard (such as boxes) are properly recycled (either using the property’s own wheelie bin or at a local recycling facility);
• Any medication is passed over to a local pharmacist for appropriate disposal;
• Any batteries are taken to the local waste facility for recycling; 
• Any car batteries are taken to a hazardous waste centre.

Whenever you decide is the ‘right’ time for you and your family to clear your loved one’s home, it’s crucial to get a supportive and professional team to help.  Remember, with circumstances such as these there’s never a ‘one size fits all’ solution and for that reason, you should ensure your chosen team aren’t either.

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A mortgage is an investment, while renting is an expense.

This is true. When you invest money in a mortgage, you are getting a property in exchange. This means that when the time comes, you can try to sell the property if you want and recover your money or even get more than what you invested.

On the other hand, with renting, the money you pay disappears from your wealth. In other words, you will not have any option to recover it.

These facts are what intuitively make people think that a mortgage is better when you have the option. We agree that they are very important things to consider. Now let’s see some advantages of renting:

1. You stop when you want: A mortgage obliges you to pay. With renting, if your conditions change and, for example, you lose your job, you can easily leave the rental property, move to your mom’s or anyone else’s house, and cut that regular payment. With a mortgage, if you cannot pay, you can lose the property and face extra issues related to defaults.
2. Renting is usually cheaper: Usually with the same amount of money, you can live in a better place by renting than by getting a mortgage.
3. Renting may prevent you from having extra expenses: When you are not the owner, you can agree with your landowner that he is responsible to repair the damages resulting from the passage of time.

Then, when would it be a good idea to rent?

Answering this universal question is always risky. So let us say that first of all it will depend on your specific personal conditions. In case of doubts, ask your financial advisor. 

We can give you some general ideas, though.

The basic idea you need to keep in mind is that the more stability you have, the more convenient a mortgage could be.

In order to start with a mortgage, you need to be sure that you will be able to make the payments throughout its long life. This means that you want to have a stable income that will not be cut in the coming years. You would also want a stable real estate market that makes you think that the property is going to increase its price with time. You would like to know that your company will not decide that you need to move to another city or country. In summary, you do not want changes.

If any of these changes above are likely in the coming years, then it is very important to try to forecast the evolution of the real estate market. If your prediction is that prices will increase, the mortgage may still be a good option because when you need to move, you will be able to sell the property for more than you paid for it.

If you have doubts about the real estate market, renting may be a better option. You will live with the peace of mind that you can move whenever you want with no further obligations.

The post Renting or Mortgage — What Is the Better Option? appeared first on National Clearances.

As a result, we need a regulation to clarify what one can or cannot do. In the UK, such regulation is the Party Wall Act 1996. In its own words:

“An Act to make provision in respect of party walls, and excavation and construction in proximity to certain buildings or structures; and for connected purposes.”

The regulations state that in order to build or modify the party walls, the person who wants to make the works shall notify the other owners that will be affected. This notification has to include the data of the owner doing the work and the date on which the work will begin.

Before sending the notifications, it is important to check all the owners who may be affected because you need to notify all of them.

If you have a good relationship with your neighbours and you do not expect issues, it may be better to talk with them in person, first. Some people get nervous when they receive written notifications. Therefore, explaining what you are going to do orally may reduce the stress that the notification may bring them.

Your neighbours have 14 days to answer your notification.

They have two options:

1. Accept it

2. Request a party wall settlement

The second one will generate costs for both of you, so it is highly recommended to try to reach an agreement before sending the notifications in order to get them accepted.

When people reject the works, they can propose modifications. If that happen, it is time to negotiate.

Some typical issues:

– About the works themselves (structure, dimensions, materials, etc)

– Hours of work

– Noises

If negotiations fail, you can ask for help from a surveyor. You both can agree on the same one, or you can ask one and your neighbour another. If these two surveyors fail to agree, you will need a third surveyor. If there is more than one owner affected, each of them can appoint their own surveyor. Keep in mind that the more surveyors you need, the more you will pay because you (meaning the person who wants to do the works) have to pay all of them. Thus, it is always recommended to approach the modifications with an open mind and be willing to reach an agreement.

Even with having a party wall agreement, we recommend hiring a professional with the correct civil responsibility insurance coverage in order to do this kind of work. If you decide to do it yourself or have it done by someone not professional and you eventually produce damages to

your neighbours, they can ask for compensation. Thus, it is better to have appropriate insurance coverage.

If you require any further information you can contact us and we can point you in the right direction.

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