Clutter and hoarding

The clutter can pose a health risk to the person and anyone who lives in or visits their house. For example, it can:

• make cleaning very difficult, leading to unhygienic conditions, encouraging mice, insects and other pests
• create a fire risk because hoarded items can block fire exits and escape routes
• stop important repairs
• cause trips and falls

Hoarding can sometimes be a sign of an underlying condition like:

• obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• anxiety
• depression 
• dementia