In cases of compulsive hoarding, people may not be aware of just how serious it can be. Everyone is guilty of storing some things. We all put things away in the cupboard from time to time only to forget about them or resist throwing them out for some reason. Sometimes there are sentimental reasons behind this, sometimes practical. However, this is nothing when compared to compulsive hoarding and as a London house clearance company we see all types of hoarder house clearance scenarios .
Compulsive hoarding is a mental condition. It is also known as pathological hoarding and disposophobia in some cases. Essentially, it leads to the compulsive collecting of possessions which may be completely valueless in themselves, and the sufferer forms a connection with these items and is unable to discard them, leading them to build up in unmanageable proportions. This can lead to a number of problems which make compulsive hoarding very different from the normal storing of items.
Unsanitary
When properties get so full up with objects that cleaning becomes impossible, this can create very unsanitary conditions, and a house clearance becomes essential . Dirt and filth build up over the months and years, and damp, rotting waste and vermin often go unnoticed.
Sometimes hoarding can involve the collecting of unsanitary objects which can be dangerous for the occupant. In the case of animal hoarding, animal waste can become particularly problematic and can lead to unpleasant smells for those living in the vicinity.
Affects Other Activities
The sheer lack of space in a property when hoarding takes place prevents the carrying out of other essential activities. Cleaning often becomes impossible, and standard activities such as cooking and sleeping are made difficult.
These can all have a detrimental affect on the hoarder and other people in the property. Even if you have a lot of junk in your house, it is usually easy to store it away out of sight so that it does not affect other activities. However, with hoarding this becomes impossible.
Infestations
Rats and other pests can become a real problem as a result of hoarding. It can be harder to spot them so that an infestation can go undetected for longer due to the sheer volume of clutter. It can also be more difficult to deal with them even when aware that a problem exists. A pest infestation can be particularly nasty to deal with and can lead to health problems as well as damage to the property.
Increased Dangers
Fire hazards, trip hazards, the danger of objects falling from being stacked dangerously – these are all things which are much more serious in a hoarding situation than they would be in a standard situation where items have been built up over time.
Get Hoarding Sorted with a House Clearance
Hoarding is a real problem which is much more serious than the normal build up of clutter over time. For problems involving hoarding, give us a call to sort it out for you. We have a lot of experience in hoarding situations and can deal with the clearance professionally to ensure that the property becomes liveable once again.
For free confidential advice or a quote call Jeffrey Avery on 0800 567 7769
