Hoarding
is a sad mental issue held by people across the country. Not only is
hoarding debilitating for the individual, but it can also create a
major health concern on the property. If you own or manage a property
rented by a person with a hoarding complex, you need to know how to
handle the situation.
The
following is some information about hoarding and how to best remove
the mess left behind.
What
Is Hoarding?
Hoarding
refers to when someone does not get rid of possessions, whether or
not the items actually hold any sort of value. Those who hoard often
have an emotional and physical attachment to items that would
otherwise seem useless to those around them.
Those
who hoard collect massive quantities of various items, from
magazines, paper bags, food, household supplies, clothing, and more.
Many times, these items pile up to the ceiling or collect on the
floor until there is no room left to move around.
What
Can You Do as an Owner or Property Manager?
As
a property owner or manager of a unit where a hoarder lives, you do
have some options to clean up the mess. If you intend to evict the
tenant, be sure to check your lease. You cannot evict a tenant
specifically for hoarding due to the Fair Housing Act, as hoarding is
considered a disability. However, if your lease has clauses on how
the property is to be maintained, you may be able to evict on those
grounds.
You
have to allow the hoarder time to move off the property if you intend
to evict the individual. You may also want to check your tenant's
rental insurance policy to see if there are some options to have the
property cleaned professionally while the tenant lives there or after
eviction.
How
Do You Begin the Cleaning Process?
If
you cannot have the property cleaned professionally, you need to make
plans to clean it yourself. You need a solid strategy, a team of
people to help, and the right resources to ensure the property is
properly discarded. To get started on your strategy, break the
project into small sections and only work on one thing at a time.
Take
an overall assessment of the property to see what you are dealing
with. You will need to rent a dumpster to place the garbage, much of
which may include bulky items. Walk around the property to determine
if any items are salvageable. If some items are still in good shape,
consider what you want to do with them, such as donate or sell to
recoup some of the expense.
When
you rent a dumpster, be sure to check the sizes available and choose
the dumpster to best fit your needs. You also need to consider how
long the project will take so you will have a timeline to get the
project complete. If any of the items consist of hazardous materials,
be sure to find out how to dispose of them properly rather than
placing them into the dumpster.
Once
you have the dumpster on site, gather your team to begin moving items
into the vessel. Begin with the largest items first so you can create
a clear path through the rest of the property. Be careful when you
remove the unwanted items. Prepare yourself and your team with proper
safety gear, including gloves, protective glasses, and face masks.
Once
all the items have been removed from the property, you next need to
sanitize the property. The kitchen and bathrooms are typically the
most in need of sanitization, but do not overlook the rest of the
rooms of the home. Also, prepare to replace flooring, baseboards, and
possibly some drywall or insulation. You may also need to repaint the
property.
If
you have a large clean up job and you need a dumpster to remove the
refuse, please contact us at ESP
Waste Disposal Service
.
We are happy to help you choose the right dumpster for your cleaning
project.
