One major hidden cost of hoarding is fire.
Hoarding is characterised by the excessive collection of things and difficulty with discarding things. There are varying levels of hoarding but as it escalates to severe levels it negative impacts on family and friends and often results in becoming socially isolated.
Hoarding Disorder (HD) is a disorder in its own right and it is estimated that it affects 2.5-5% of the population, some of those will have OCD but others may have other underlying conditions associated with it. 5% of hoarders at any one time develop a level of severity that requires professional intervention (83,750-167,500 nationally). Nationally, 1/3 of fire fatalities involve people who hoard. These kind of fires tend to be particularly dangerous for fire fighters. There is something called the Clutter Rating Index which enables fire officers and other professionals to assess the level of clutter from 1-9 out of 9. 1/9 being low level clutter through to 9/9 when rooms are roughly three quarters rammed full of stuff.
A recent Freedom of Information Act survey of 31/45 Fire Brigades fire risk assessments was undertaken. In the year leading up to March 2020 there were 243 fatalities from fire in England. Nationally, it is reported that 25% to 30% of these fatalities involve people who hoard. The survey identified hot spots where fired posed the greatest risk due to hoarders. There were 1675 homes in Greater London, 6333 in Merseyside, 1089 in Wiltshire and Dorset with dangerous amounts of clutter among many other areas in the country. Central London Fire brigades did not appear to feature in this survey. However in Central London one might speculate that there is a lot more high density living within blocks of flats meaning that fire potentially poses a greater risk to more neighbours.
In the attached link there are useful video's from Fire Brigade Chiefs and CloudsEnd.
Turn Over A New LEAF is working with CloudsEnd to help improve outcomes for adults who Hoard.
Another hidden cost is that of the impact on the child development of children of hoarders.
The attached article highlights the impact on the American children of hoarders whilst they are growing up on this environment. There is little available literature about the impact of hoarding on children in the UK however I suspect there are parallels. The clutter can become a barrier to gaining a healthy attachment; The lack of space in the home poses an obstacle to intimacy and reflection and disagreements about the clutter can lead to disapproval and emotional abandonment. As the hoarding intensifies and life becomes all about the possessions and control of the home in a particular kind of way children can feel devalued, broken-hearted, angry, helpless, and exhausted. Social development is also affected leaving them with fear, shame, and embarrassment resulting in children hiding their living conditions from outsiders. There develops a boundary between their family and the outside world resulting in the beginnings of adult isolation. The impact on children into their adulthood is a risk of developing a sense of vulnerability, worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, disgust, embarrassment, and social isolation. There is a risk that they become hoarders too.
Another hidden cost of hoarding is structural damage.
As the hoarding escalates in severity it also increases the risk of structural problems due to mould development, plumbing problems, pet related damage, vermin infestation, weight of the clutter. These issues are not only costly for the individuals health and wellbeing, they pose an escalating financial cost to the landlord as well as the neighbours who are affected materially and emotionally.
In all cases above the hoarding is best and more efficiently resolved when all concerned and multi-agencies work together.
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