Presentation from Foundations about hoarding behaviour and why it is important to work with people who hoard.

1. Hoarding Behaviour
And
Cluttered Homes

2. What is Hoarding Behaviour?
A persistent difficulty in discarding possessions, which results
in obstructed living environments and functional impairment
Items often
have little or
limited value
But may have
significant
attachment
for the
individual
It is not
collecting or
a life-style
choice
But may
involve the
acquisition of
specific types
of things
It is identified
as a disorder
in its own
right
But may be a
symptom of
additional
health or
wellbeing
issues
Estimates of
prevalence
are around
2% of the
population
But may be
as high as 6%

3. What is Hoarding Behaviour?
DSM-5 (2013)
Persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their
monetary value
This difficulty is due to a perceived need to save items and distress associated with
discarding them
The difficulty discarding possessions results in the accumulation of possessions that
congest and clutter active living areas
The hoarding causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social,
occupational, or other important areas of functioning
The hoarding is not attributable to another medical condition or
mental disorder

4. What drives Hoarding Behaviour?
Positive feelings
through
acquiring
Avoidance of
grief, loss or fear
Sentimental
links
Protection of the
self
Fear of
deprivation
Response to
trauma
A reaction to emotional trauma
?

5. Who is at risk of Hoarding Behaviour?
Can start early in life But is often not identified until later in life when at crisis point
Women and men are affected equally But can be triggered by a significant life event
Can be a very individual activity But there is a strong familial correlation

6. Who is at risk of Hoarding Behaviour?
But are often ‘below the radar’
Anyone can be affected But it is generally associated with a poor quality of life
Can be in any tenure
Can be a low level of insight into the behaviour But can also be embarrassing and isolating

7. Why is it important to work with people who hoard?
It can be dangerous to health
Poor sanitation and cleanliness
Poor nutrition: inability to cook safely
Inability to use rooms as intended, leading to physical health problems
Continuation or exacerbation of mental health conditions
Isolation and loneliness
Pests and vermin
Potential fall hazards and crush injury
Smells, mould and noxious fumes

8. Why is it important to work with people who hoard?
It can be detrimental to the property
Poor maintenance and repair
Damage to fixtures and fittings, and possible structural issues
Inability to gain access for gas and electrical safety checks
Inability to undertake adaptations
Increased risk of fire or flood
Increased risk to emergency services entering the property

9. Why is it important to work with people who hoard?
It can be anti-social
Isolation or victimisation
Increased risk of crime
Complaints from neighbours about smells and rubbish
Vermin and pests
Animal hoarding
 Risk to visitors to the property, including support staff and services

10. Why is it important to work with people who hoard?
It can be expensive
Costs of enforcement
Costs of staff time
Costs of relocation: eviction; court action; cleaning; repairs
Cost to emergency services
Costs of lost property value, rental income to landlords and re-letting costs
Missed appointments

11. What does the Care Act say?
14.10: local authorities [social care] must:
• Make enquiries, or cause others to do so, if it believes an adult is experiencing,
or is at risk of, abuse or neglect. An enquiry should establish whether any action
needs to be taken to prevent or stop abuse or neglect, and if so, by whom; …
Hoarding behaviour is identified as a
safeguarding issue, specifically in
relation to neglect
14.17: Self neglect – this covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to
care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes
behaviour such as hoarding.

12. What can Environmental Health do?
Section 83 Public Health Act 1936: where the filthy or unwholesome condition of
a premises is prejudicial to health or the premises are verminous, Environmental
Health departments are required to give notice to the owner or occupier to
require them to cleanse the premises.
Environmental Health have a range of
powers to enforce house clearances
Section 79 [1] Environmental Protection Act 1990: any premises in such a state as
to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance and / or any accumulation or deposit
which is prejudicial to health or a nuisance is deemed to be a statutory nuisance,
and where a statutory nuisance is found to exist, the local authority is required to
serve an abatement notice.

13. What other statutory powers are there?
Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978
Town and Country Planning Act 1990
Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
Other ‘amenity’ powers can be used
Where there is a serious risk of harm to the individual, other members of the
household or animals, you must refer to an appropriate agency

14. How can we work with people who hoard?
Recognise that hoarding behaviour is an emotional issue
Recognise that it will take time and patience
Be sensitive to people’s needs, and try to understand
their need to hoard
Work with other agencies where necessary – GP, Fire
service, environmental health, social care, housing
Professional mental health services to support people
to reclaim their lives from their stuff

15. Alison Spalding
Regional Development Manager (East)
07702259115
AlisonS@foundations.uk.com
www.foundations.uk.com