What is hoarding?
Hoarding is a mental health condition, and it can be when someone:
- keeps items that appear to have limited value or are apparently useless
- gets distressed with the idea of throwing away or parting with possessions
- collects items that cover their home, workplace, or other personal surroundings, preventing normal use of the space (for example, storing items in the bath tub)
- creates significant distress or disturbance in everyday life because of their hoarding.
There are many reasons why people become hoarders, however not all people who hoard see it as a problem, which is why it can be difficult to treat.
Hoarding can be dangerous as it can contribute to pest control issues and increased safety risks. This is because people who hoard may not be able to provide access to their home for repairs or gas safety checks, and it increases the risk of fire spreading and the risk of someone not being able to escape if there was a fire.
How to report hoarding
If you’re concerned that someone is hoarding in a home we manage, please contact us to report your concerns.
How to get help
If you or someone you know has a tendency to hoard items, you can find out more about what to do and where to get help on the NHS website 
. Hoarding is a recognised mental health condition, which is estimated to affect up to 5% of the UK population (approximately 1.2 million people).