At Saffron Housing, we understand that hoarding is a complex and sensitive issue that can affect anyone. It’s not just about clutter or untidiness—it is it is a recognised mental health condition and is considered part of the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) spectrum. Our approach is centred on empathy and practical support, with one clear goal: helping you to stay safe and remain in your home.
What is hoarding?
Hoarding is when a person struggles to let go of possessions, often resulting in a build-up of items that can, in excess, make everyday living difficult and greatly impact health and emotional and mental wellbeing.
It’s important to recognise that hoarding is not a choice or lifestyle preference. It often develops as a complex response to underlying emotional, psychological, or life experiences.
It is nothing to be ashamed of.
Supporting someone who is experiencing hoarding-type behaviours is a process that focuses on building trust over time. From experience, we understand that lasting change cannot be rushed.
Our teams work alongside you at a pace that feels manageable for you. We listen, we understand individual circumstances, and we work collaboratively to agree realistic and achievable steps. This approach helps ensure that you feel respected and supported, rather than judged.
The impact of hoarding
Hoarding affects more than just the individual - it can have wide-ranging consequences. For example:
- Increased risk of accidents in the home, such as trips and falls
- Blocked exits and walkways
- Exposure to dust, damp and mould, or pests
- Poor sanitation in severe cases, increasing exposure to diseases
- Social isolation
- Exposure to fire hazards.
Hoarding often goes hand-in-hand with:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
Its effect on an individual’s mental wellbeing is complex and far reaching, often leading to feelings of shame, isolation, and overwhelm. Those affected by hoarding often experience anxiety and distress about letting others into their home; access can therefore be difficult to obtain. We recognise that agreeing to a Neighbourhood Officer entering your home can be a significant and difficult initial step. Our staff work sensitively to support this important first step, helping to guide you on your journey.
Positive mental health and a ‘new property’: a tenant’s story of progress
Patience, trust, and the right support have significantly improved one Saffron tenant’s quality of life. Read on to discover how their life has quietly transformed.
When a colleague raised concerns about the condition of a property, we reached out to the tenant, who appeared to be experiencing hoarding behaviours. They shared that they would feel more comfortable engaging with us if a female Neighbourhood Officer attended visits. We were able to accommodate this request; however, it took time to build trust and gain their confidence.
Initial visits focused on welfare checks, reassurance, and creating a supportive environment. During these early conversations, they explained they felt embarrassed about the condition of their home, which had become significantly cluttered.
As the relationship progressed, a rapport developed. Small, manageable changes began to slowly transform their home and, most importantly, their wellbeing.
A gradual and structured approach was agreed, taking one small step at a time. This included sorting belongings into bags for donation to charity shops and others for disposal. Over multiple visits, and with full involvement in all decisions, they made steady progress. With additional support from their friends, most rooms have now been cleared to a safe and tidy standard.
At a recent visit, they were proud to show the progress they had achieved. They shared that the changes had positively impacted their mental health and remarked that they now feel as though they have a “new property.”
How we can support you
We have clear procedures in place to respond to hoarding while offering support. These procedures are designed to balance two important priorities:
- Your wellbeing and independence
- Safety for you and the wider community.
We also support applications to access funding to cover clearance costs, skip hire, storage, waste disposal and other practical costs.
Where there are risks—such as fire hazards, blocked exits, or structural concerns—we work with you to reduce these risks while keeping you involved every step of the process. During our initial assessment we use the ‘clutter rating scale’ - a visual tool used to measure the severity of hoarding in a home and help keep track of progress.
We recognise that hoarding often requires specialist support. Because hoarding can be complex, we work with a range of partner organisations such as health services and support agencies to ensure you can access the help you need. This approach helps ensure that any physical risks, mental health needs, and housing concerns are all addressed together, rather than separately.
Specialist support may include:
- Referrals to tenant support services and advocacy groups
- Access to hoarding support groups, where individuals can connect with others facing similar challenges
- Signposting to services such as adult social care services, fire service, environmental health services, mental health and NHS Teams, specialist support and cleaning services, and occupational therapists.
What to do if you feel you need support
For tenants, the first point of contact is always your Neighbourhood Officer. They are available to listen, offer advice, and guide you towards the right support. You are not alone - help is available.
If you are worried about your own situation—or concerned about a friend or neighbour—please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Early conversations can make a big difference and help prevent situations from becoming more difficult over time. By working together with tenants, support services, and the wider community, we can create positive, lasting change.
When extra support isn’t enough
In most cases, we can help you manage hoarding in a supportive and practical way.
However, in serious situations which pose significant risks that are unable to be managed, we may need to consider other ways to help keep you safe, which are only considered after all other options have been explored - we will always try to resolve situations informally whilst offering as much support as possible.
Hoarding support groups