What you can do if you suspect someone is hoarding

If you think a family member or someone you know has a hoarding disorder, try to persuade them to come with you to see a GP.

This may not be easy, as someone who hoards might not think they need help. Try to be sensitive about the issue and emphasise your concerns for their health and wellbeing.

Reassure them that nobody is going to go into their home and throw everything out. You're just going to have a chat with the doctor about their hoarding to see what can be done and what supportis available to empower them to begin the process of decluttering.

Your GP may be able to refer you to your local community mental health team, which might have a therapist who's familiar with issues such as OCD and hoarding. If you have difficulties accessing therapy, the charity OCD-UK may be able to help.

It's generally not a good idea toget extra storage space or call in the council or environmental health to clear the rubbish away. This won't solve the problem and the clutter often quicklybuilds up again.

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018