Treasures, Trash and Tenure: Hoarding and Housing Risk

Abstract

Hoarding, whether or not linked with squalor and self-neglect, can exact a high price on the well-being of the hoarder and the resources of agencies that become involved. This short discussion piece uses four case studies, drawn from English and Australian experiences, to highlight the relationship between tenure and housing risk. It also identifies the essential challenges that such cases pose and argues that it is time to increase public understanding of compulsive hoarding and to develop recognisable, predictable and holistic responses that address the issue as well as its impact.