Hoarding and Hoarder Properties

Hoarding has been termed as a mental health disorder that involves the compulsive hoarding and collection of items. Whilst sometimes the items collected are of no material value it often leads to severe clutter in a person’s living space. While many people may not fully understand hoarding, it’s important to understand and recognize that this is not simply a matter of poor housekeeping; hoarding is an overwhelming psychological condition that can affect an individual’s ability to dispose of items, regardless of their value.
The reason behind hoarding varies from person to person, but common triggers include emotional attachment to objects, a fear of losing things, or past traumatic events like rationing items during the war. Often, people who hoard find it difficult to make decisions about items, leading them to accumulate more and more possessions and then this gets out of control. This condition can be isolating and often hoarders try to conceal the fact they are hoarding and then this can create an unsafe living environment.
At Pied Piper Pest Control, we have encountered many hoarder flats over the years, and we feel its important to approach these situations with a sense of empathy. Hoarding is a complex issue, and it’s important to avoid stigmatizing those affected by it. The condition can affect anyone, regardless of age or background, and those who hoard often do so because of deep emotional or psychological reasons.

1. 1. Rodents: Mice and rats are common pests in hoarder flats due to the abundance of food sources and cluttered spaces where they can nest. Hoarders are not usually bothered by rodents and sometimes are not even aware of their presence in the property due to the large number of items. We have attended flats where mice have been living quietly in rooms full of newspapers and dried food items, with the hoarder acutely unaware that they are there.

1. 1. Cockroaches: Hoarder flats often provide the perfect conditions for cockroach infestations. Hoarders tend not to go out much and, because of this, normally have the heating on all day, which creates the ideal environment for cockroaches to thrive. Cockroaches can spread harmful bacteria, which can lead to health issues, particularly for residents with weakened immune systems or other health concerns.

1. Bed Bugs: Some of the worst bed bug infestations we have seen have been in hoarder flats. These pests are particularly problematic where clutter allows them to hide in hard-to-reach places. Bed bug infestations can be difficult for the resident to deal with, as they are usually directly affected by their presence. Often, items are rarely moved, and the infestation can build up very quickly. Depending on their lifestyle, some hoarders will usually sit in one place in the living room, and the bed bug infestation can evolve around them.

Dealing with hoarder flats presents a unique and complicated challenge for councils and housing associations. Hoarding can quickly escalate to a point where it affects the entire residential development, as pests spread from one flat to the next. Because of the secretive nature of hoarders, it is usually late in the game that the Housing Association and Council is aware of an issue. Dealing with a hoarder can be costly and time consuming and sometimes the difficulties the Housing Association and councils are faced with can put them off taking legal action.
Sometimes hoarder flats are already affecting the other neighbours around them and some Housing Associations are reluctant to treat the affected flats as the lease for the flats may not cover pest control but this is becoming an issue legally as this is no fault of the neighbours and the Housing associations and Councils have a duty to deal with hoarders and the problems they cause to other flats and there has been cases where they have taken the councils and housing associations to court and won due to the issues created by the hoarder flats.
At Pied Piper Pest Control, we’ve worked on hundreds of Hoarder properties over the years for councils and housing associations and provide solutions to these challenges. When dealing with these types of properties our technicians are aware of the signs of a hoarder flat and need to be compassionate in their approach to help both residents and property managers navigate the difficult realities of hoarding.
Cost Implications for Housing Associations
Hoarding not only creates significant health and safety concerns but is also a financial burden for housing associations. In addition to the costs of pest control treatments, there may be further expenses related to repairs, cleaning, and disposal of accumulated items. These costs can quickly add up, particularly if hoarding is widespread in a building or development. Therefore, councils and housing associations must approach hoarding cases with urgency where possible, as the longer they take to deal with these types of cases, the higher the cost of intervention will be.

Over the years, we’ve found that one of the key elements to successfully treating hoarder flats is the approach we take in dealing with a hoarder tenant. Tenants will use delaying tactics in order to prevent us from gaining access to their property in order to carry out pest control and you have to have patience, understanding, and respect in order to be successful. We recognize that the residents we work with may feel vulnerable or embarrassed about their living situation, and its important to make then understand that they are not being blamed or judged for their situation.
Hoarders may feel defensive or resistant about letting pest control professionals into their homes for obvious reasons, however, once we take the time to explain our aim and purpose the residents often feel a sense of relief. They understand that we’re there to help solve the pest problem and that we’re not judging them for their living conditions.
We’ve seen a wide range of hoarder flats in the 30 years we have been trading. Our team knows how to navigate these delicate situations with care. While pest control is crucial to eliminate infestations, it’s equally important to be understanding of the tenants concerns and allow them to come to terms with the need for intervention. Once we have achieved their understanding and co-operation this often lead to better outcomes, with residents being more open to the help they need.
Creating Trust and Cooperation
The most successful pest control treatments are often those that involve the cooperation of the resident. We’ve found that when residents are treated with respect and given the space to make their own decisions, they are more likely to work with us to resolve the issues. The key to success is creating an environment of trust, where the individual feels empowered to seek and accept the help offered to them.

Addressing hoarding is not a quick fix; it requires ongoing support and understanding from the people around them. As pest control professionals, our role is to treat the immediate pest issue, but long-term solutions must involve the cooperation of both residents and property management teams, their family and friends.
In some extreme cases, there would be a requirement to work with social services, mental health professionals, or local support organizations to ensure that residents get the help they need. Hoarding is a complex condition, and providing a supportive network of care can help the individual address the underlying causes of their behaviour.
For councils and housing associations, addressing hoarding requires a multi-faceted approach. Regular monitoring, early intervention, and offering resources for residents can help prevent hoarding from becoming a widespread issue. Additionally, ongoing communication with pest control specialists ensures that problems can be addressed before they escalate into larger infestations that affect the entire building.
Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world and hoarding is a continuing problem that people face on a daily basis. Television programmes and media articles have also highlighted the issue with hoarding but we feel that this may hinder rather than help people with hoarding issues as this media attention does not portray them in good way.