Hoarding behaviour is a serious and fairly common issue. Some housing organisations report that the number of hoarding cases has now surpassed the number of antisocial behaviour cases they are seeing. It appears to be becoming more prevalent since the Covid pandemic and cost of living crisis; but it is also true that organisations are getting better at spotting the signs of hoarding.

Some organisations report that hoarding behaviour carries high costs – up to £2,800 for clearances has been cited, for example. It is a significant health and safety risk to the person themselves and potentially to neighbours. Organisations striving to meet legal and regulatory requirements may find themselves hampered by refusal of access and by the practical issues of fire risk, damp and mould, rotting floorboards and other hazards.

Those that recognise hoarding as a mental health issue and take action sensitively in partnership with other support services are likely to have greater success in dealing with cases. In some areas peer support groups for people dealing with their own hoarding behaviour have proven useful and housing organisations are urged to tap into these where they exist, or start their own.