{"id":2253,"date":"2012-07-16T05:00:52","date_gmt":"2012-07-16T12:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/?p=2253"},"modified":"2020-12-24T00:42:51","modified_gmt":"2020-12-24T08:42:51","slug":"handling-hoarding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/handling-hoarding\/","title":{"rendered":"Handling Hoarding"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Pile<\/a>Hoarding has affected multifamily housing firms long before any reality show.\u00a0 Also known as compulsive hoarding and cluttering, hoarding is the excessive collection of possession or animals. According to the International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, it is closely linked with obsessive compulsive disorder, a mental illness that affects nearly 3 million people throughout the nation. As a mental illness, tenants that hoard are protected under the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Disabilities Act, and must be cared for accordingly.<\/p>\n

On-site staff members\u00a0 face the delicate task of\u00a0 early detection, fair treatment, and effective recourse against non-compliant tenants to ensure the safety of property, staff and residents.<\/p>\n

Nearly 100 task forces and agencies have been established in the US to assist tenants with hoarding issues, as well as provide guidance for property managers. Task forces vary by state with multiple task forces present within some governmental and humanitarian agencies. Public health, mental health, protective services, fire safety, and animal control are just a few agencies that often support hoarding task forces.<\/p>\n

The Risks of Hoarding<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many owners and property managers are not equipped with the skills needed to asses and treat compulsive hoarding. It is advisable to request the assistance of a local task force to create a fair and accurate assessment of tenants\u2019 living conditions. These agencies can help to differentiate between a zealous collector of diverse items and someone whose collecting results in dangerous health and living conditions. The later creates an environment that is perilous to the hoarder, neighboring tenants, and the property. Some signs of a hoarding situation:<\/p>\n