For several years, a tenant and their partner had collected charity items and donated them to overseas organisations. But when the couple’s mental and physical health began to suffer, they struggled to keep up with their good work. This meant their charitable work quickly became a hoarding issue.
The background
Through their work, the couple had collected clothes, pushchairs, multiple fridge freezers, suitcases and lots of other household items to donate to charities abroad. But because they couldn’t sort and donate like they used to, the items piled up inside and outside their home, posing serious health and safety risks to the couple and their neighbours. The hoarding became so bad, the couple couldn’t use their kitchen.
How we helped
Working closely with agencies including adult social care, Clouds End and Headway, our Tenancy Services Officer, Priscilla, arranged for specialist hoarding teams to help clear the couple’s home.
But, because they were so passionate about their charity work, they continued to find and bring more items home. This meant the hoarding didn’t end. Priscilla then arranged for a court order to let us work with the couple to safely store the items and clear their home. She also helped fill more than 50 boxes in a single visit and managed to secure funding for the clearance work to take place.
The scale of the hoarding meant it would’ve taken months and thousands of pounds to empty the couple’s home. With this in mind, Priscilla asked the court for an injunction to be adapted so the items could be thrown away safely. The couple refused for the items to be removed, which meant Priscilla had to ask for a possession order as a last resort solution to keep the couple safe in their home.
Understanding how emotionally distressing removing the items was for the couple, Priscilla made sure the right support was in place for them. She also worked closely with the couple’s family members to help them understand how serious the situation was.
The outcome
Priscilla worked on this case for eight years. She supported the couple with dignity and compassion, often personally visiting them at home along with other Tenancy Services colleagues to support with clearing their home – doing everything possible to manage the situation safely and respectfully.
After the couple had moved out and into supported accommodation, Priscilla was committed to getting a respectful and compassionate outcome. She stayed in touch with the family members, worked with social services and visited daily to help the couple collect their belongings from their previous home.
Although the case eventually led to eviction, the family remained grateful for Priscilla’s efforts and the compassion she showed throughout.
Struggling and need support?
We’re here to help you live safely and happily in your home. If you’re struggling with hoarding, or know someone who is, call our Hub on 0345 60 20 540 to be put in touch with our Tenancy Services Team. You can also report a problem by completing this short form: midlandheart.org.uk/contact-us/managing-my-home/report-a-problem
