Customer’s health and wellbeing improved after Longhurst Group helps crack hoarding issues

A customer who admits that hoarding in her flat had become out of control has thanked Longhurst Group for clearing her home and transforming her life.

The lady, who lives in the Skegness area, says that the situation had “become horrible” but that she was too frightened to ask for help.

But after Housing Officer Mark Lancaster stepped in alongside some local charities to transform her flat, her health and wellbeing has improved.

The flat had become overrun with belongings including newspapers, books and other items. Sofas were not able to be sat on, the kitchen was almost out of bounds and the bedroom was not able to be used for sleeping.

Now, the flat has been cleared out and the customer is able to live a happier lifestyle.

She said: “It has become horrible. It all escalated from about 2009 when my partner died and like everything else, you don’t see it coming.

“I was regularly going to look after mum and dad and I would come back tired and think ‘I’ll do that tomorrow’ and over time – and I am mortified to say it – the flat got more and more out of control.

“I’ve always loved this flat but I was heartily ashamed. I got to the stage where I was so ashamed, I daren’t tell my parents and mum was livid when she eventually found out.

“After dad passed away, everything escalated out of control as I was going to help mum more regularly. The number of times I used to come back home and could have cried was huge.”

The embarrassment stopped me from asking for help. I thought about asking Longhurst Group but I was frightened to do that. I tried to ignore it.

The issue came to our attention after a contractor was unable to gain access to the loft area and it was reported to the Housing Team.

The customer, who wishes to remain anonymous, added: “I couldn’t see a way out. I didn’t know what to do.

“The embarrassment stopped me from asking for help. I thought about asking Longhurst Group but I was frightened to do that. I tried to ignore it.

“When I looked at it and thought about if there was a fire, I knew I would be stuck. I was wondering ‘what have I done?’

“That is when Longhurst Group did step in and helped me massively.”

Mark arranged for some help from local charities to come and clear the flat and between them, managed to make it a much nicer place for the customer to live.

She added: “I can now happily walk out the door and know I am not a fire risk.

“I can now go to mum’s with a happier heart and when I come back, I can eat what I want, watch what I want and I am extremely grateful.”

Mark added: “We are all about wanting to help people sustain their tenancies and improving lives.

“Now, this customer can get to her bedroom and sleep in her bed, which has had a positive impact on her health, and she can also get in her bathroom now too.

“There are no limitations for her and her wellbeing has improved as a result.

“We worked closely with local charities in this case and we are pleased to see the positive impact it has had on our customer.”

Do you have too many items in your home and you're worried about it becoming a fire hazard like the lady in this story? If you need help to sort the problem, contact Longhurst Group today - we can and want to help you. Call us on 0300 123 1745 and speak to a member of our team.