| Hoarding Clean Up |
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By Theresa Borst Of BioClean Of Seattle Washington Sometimes a routine inspection of an apartment or home can be a shock to a landlord. They find out that they have rented to a hoarder. So, what’s the big deal? Who doesn’t have “too much stuff”? It seems we are always hearing people say that their house is a mess, or that they really need to go through and get rid of some stuff. Does it really cause problems? People who hoard often don't see it as a problem. People who engage in hoarding typically collect items because they believe these items will be needed or have value in the future. An individual may hoard items that he/she feels have important emotional significance — serve as a reminder of happier times, represent a beloved person or pet. People who hoard may report feeling safer when surrounded by the things they collect. Hoarding is the excessive collection of items, along with the inability to discard them. In residences of people who engage in compulsive hoarding, countertops, sinks, stoves, desks, stairways and virtually all other surfaces become stacked with stuff. And when there's no more room inside, the clutter may spread to the garage, vehicles, yard, etc. Hoarding has several safety and health issues that can be of concern for the tenants, neighboring units and landlords. The risk of fire increases, structural damage from mold, or rodent infestation, disease and/or injury to the hoarder. Problems start to occur from the lack of general maintenance to the residence, problems like the loss of running water and heat; plumbing issues such as plugged sinks and toilets. Safety issues from piles and pathways throughout the residence can cause falling, tripping and may also prevent emergency personnel from helping the injured or sick individual. This way of living can create an inability to perform daily tasks, such as cooking or bathing, causing unsanitary conditions. These unsanitary conditions can cause serious health risks to the tenant. Living in a residence with piles of trash, spoiled food and even sometimes human or animal waste can promote the growth of bacteria, rodent and insect infestation. Some signs of hoarding can be extreme collection and storage of items in residence and in the yard. Blocked exits such as doors & windows, narrow pathways inside the home, and long term neglect of the residence.
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