Hoarding is damaging to not only the individual living with a hoarding disorder but to the public. Due to this reason, a hoarded home can be condemned. Although hoarders suffer a mental health issue, they are still bound by local codes and regulations intended to protect people.
What is a hoarding disorder?
People diagnosed with a hoarding disorder are unable to part with their belongings. This leads to a mass accumulation of items, from oily fast-food wrappers to empty boxes and even animals. Even the thought of discarding their goods fills them with severe distress, causing them to hold on to them.
Hoarding is different from collecting, however. The latter involves acquiring specific items to include in an organized collection, which is set up to be admired by others. Hoarding, on the other hand, is an impulsive acquisition of random goods, with disorganization being the main theme.
What are the consequences of hoarding?
Living in unsanitary conditions, with dirty dishes piled in the sink and unlaundered clothing, is just one consequence of hoarding. This mental health condition poses additional hazards, such as fire and safety. Stacks of newspapers and cardboard boxes, for example, are fire hazards and block fire exits.
The safety of the home’s occupants is at risk due to tripping hazards caused by the clutter. Hoarded homes may include items piled up high to the ceiling. One wrong move, and the entire pile can topple onto the homeowner or their guests.
Cleanliness is another issue in hoarded homes. If the homeowner accumulates bottles of waste or leaves pet waste uncleaned, they can attract bacteria and harmful pathogens. Mold growth is common in these homes, as water damage is left unaddressed for prolonged periods of time, if at all.
Can hoarding cause a house to be condemned?
Another serious consequence of hoarding is the condemnation of the property by local authorities. Simply, the hoarded property poses a health and safety risk to the occupants or the public. In addition to the abovementioned consequences, hoarding invites pests, like termites.
An unmaintained home is susceptible to severe termite damage. Pest infestations of this severity can lead to structural deficiencies. The homeowner’s welfare is threatened additionally by unstable walls or foundations—either of which can collapse and lead to substantial injuries.
Many of the abovementioned consequences of hoarding, including water damage, are grounds for condemnation. If the plumbing leaks or is improperly maintained, the resulting water damage leads to both mold infestations as well as air quality issues—which pose risks to the homeowner’s welfare.
Why is a hoarded home subject to condemnation?
Aside from the glaring public health and safety issues, a hoarded home can be condemned to maintain community standards. The home’s value decreases significantly when it is left in deplorable conditions caused by hoarding behaviors. Hoarding can lead to housing code violations, too.
Specific code violations include excessive clutter, which creates fire hazards. Unsanitary conditions due to the accumulation of trash affects neighbors; a hoarded home, therefore, is a public nuisance and is a code violation. If the home is uninhabitable due to unsafe conditions, it can be condemned.
Zoning regulations come into effect when the hoarder attempts to run a business from within the hoarded home; the individual may face zoning violations. Mold growth, pest damage, and water damage are additional code violations that can lead to the condemnation of the property.
What is the process of condemning the home?
Condemnation of the home starts with local authorities. They must provide evidence of code violations or serious property damage that makes it unfit for people to occupy the home. This triggers further legal processes, such as providing notice to the homeowner or giving them time to make repairs.
If eviction is imminent, the landlord must provide reasonable accommodations to the individual with the hoarding disorder before pursuing it. Since the Fair Housing Act (FHA) protects people with disabilities, the landlord is obligated to take this initial step before proceeding with eviction or condemnation.
Prior to this series of legal interventions, people with a hoarding disorder are given due process rights. The individual is advised to cooperate with local or government officials to arrive at solutions and prevent the further degradation of the property.
What can the individual do to prevent condemnation?
Local authorities can advise the individual with the hoarding disorder, thereby giving them an opportunity to rectify their behavior and avoid condemnation of the home. Officials can provide recommendations for cleaning services or decluttering companies.
The individual should also strive to manage their hoarding behavior with the help of professional counseling. By working with therapists, hoarding cleaning services, and social workers, the person with a hoarding disorder can create a safe environment for themselves and others.
If you or someone you know is affected by a hoarding disorder and is on the brink of property condemnation, ServiceMaster DRRs hoarding cleaning services are invaluable. We’ll create a customized cleaning plan to address the hoarded goods and restore the home to a safe condition.
Our specialists bring years of experience working with individuals living with a hoarding disorder. Cleaning crews approach the situation with sensitivity, compassion, and expertise. We give the customer control, allowing them to make the final decisions about their items.
Once we’ve established trust with the individual, our crews create a restoration plan tailored to the hoarded goods. Spaces are reorganized and items are either donated, recycled, or discarded. If you prefer, we can help deliver possessions to a preferred nonprofit organization.
Our comprehensive hoarding cleanup services include distributing goods to family members, whether locally or across the nation. We remove debris and coordinate recycling. If government agencies, trusts, lawyers, or other officials require paperwork, our hoarding cleanup specialists handle it, as well.
ServiceMaster DRR doesn’t stop there. We provide short-term follow-up to see if additional help is needed. By showing trust and sensitivity, we remain Northern California’s number one choice for hoarding cleanup. Call our friendly representatives today and start on the path to a clutter-free home.
