Risks Associated With Hoarding

Hoarding disorder is a pattern of behavior that is characterized by the compulsive purchasing, acquiring, searching, and saving of items that have little or no actual value. Hoarding often causes individuals to fill their home with valueless junk to the point where their quality of life suffers as a result. This behavior typically has many harmful side effects for a hoarder and his or her family members, including emotional, physical, social, financial, and even legal repercussions. If your loved one is a hoarder, discuss these risks associated with hoarding and contact a hoarding cleanup company in Tampa to help your loved one turn his or her life around.

Health Problems

A home full of junk is not a safe environment for anyone. In addition to the risk of injury resulting from falls or accidents and the inability of emergency personnel to enter the home and remove an ill 

or hurt person, clutter, garbage, and human waste can cause respiratory and other health problems. If hoarding has resulting in unsanitary living conditions, contact a hoarding cleanup company that specializes in biohazard cleanup and waste removal.

Homelessness

If hoarding gets out of hand, the local Department of Public Health may order the person out of the house or condemn the dwelling if the landlord demonstrates in court that the level of hoarding seriously violates the lease. Some shelters have been known to refuse individuals whose hoarding puts other guests at risk. The sooner you contact a hoarding cleanup company in Tampa, the sooner you can help your loved one cope with their mental disorder to avoid living on the streets.

Legal Repercussions

Hoarding can also lead to steep fines and even jail time if conditions pose a risk to children, dependent adults, and animals. The Department of Children and Families can remove children from a home that poses serious health and safety risks due to hoarding and bring child endangerment charges against the hoarder. Improper care or neglect of animals can also bring felony-level charges, fines, and imprisonment.