Empathy and Support: A New Approach for Hoarders in the UK

London, United Kingdom Jul 16, 2026 ALN: At one end of the table sits Tony*, who showers at his local leisure centre in Birkenhead every day. His landlord won’t fix his bathroom because of his hoarding. Then there’s Sarah*, who ended up homeless with her three teenagers after their landlord evicted them because of hoarding. In her new home, the problem has started again, but she says she’s petrified to ask for help in case she loses her property.

Sian Cowley, 35, who has struggled with hoarding for decades, says: “I’ve lived without central heating for two years. A lot of us live without the basics like hot water, heating, and cooking because we are too scared to get people in to do repairs because of the threat of eviction.”

Bringing Hoarders Together

The three shared their experiences during a Bringing Hoarders Together session, a fortnightly peer support group for hoarders in Wirral, Merseyside, run by Prima Group housing association, where dozens of people find a safe forum to open up about living with their mental health condition. This initiative represents a growing recognition of the need for community-driven support systems that prioritize empathy and understanding over punitive measures. The peer support group not only provides a platform for sharing personal stories but also fosters a sense of belonging among individuals who often feel isolated due to their condition.

A Guardian investigation has found that since 2020, UK fire services have recorded a 78% increase in fires involving hoarding, or where “dangerous and excessive storage” was noted. Across the country, fire brigades have logged thousands of homes as high-risk because of hoarding. Last year in London alone, there were more than 2,000 properties flagged by the fire service due to the level of hoarding inside, up from 1,200 four years earlier. This alarming trend highlights the urgent need for effective intervention strategies that not only address the physical clutter but also consider the underlying psychological issues associated with hoarding.

The Fear of Seeking Help

People affected by hoarding, which was formally classified as a mental health condition by the World Health Organization in 2018, say they are scared to seek help because they fear being evicted and feel trapped in dangerous homes. The stigma surrounding hoarding often exacerbates feelings of shame and isolation, making it difficult for individuals to reach out for assistance. Many who have tried to get support say there is little help available, and still a huge stigma attached to the disorder, which means they feel they will be turned away even by qualified mental health professionals. The societal perception of hoarding as a quirky or entertaining behavior, often perpetuated by reality television shows, further complicates the issue, as it trivializes the serious nature of the condition.

“You’re better off being a drug addict. You’re better off being an alcoholic,” says Laura Miller, 65, who was offered help after falling on the stairs over built-up clutter. “Programs about hoarders on TV have just perpetuated it as some kind of entertainment, taking the mick out of poor people,” she adds. This perception can deter individuals from seeking help, as they may fear being judged or misunderstood by both professionals and the public.

Chloe*, who began hoarding after her mother took her own life, says: “As soon as you say you’re a hoarder, people think you’ve got 10,000 cats and loads of cockroaches. But we’ve all got something that’s made us like this – some people might do sex, drugs, or drink. Ours is stuff.” Chloe’s experience underscores the complex emotional and psychological factors that contribute to hoarding behavior, emphasizing the need for compassionate approaches to treatment and intervention.

A New National Pledge

In an attempt to improve support, Prima Group has launched a first-of-its-kind national hoarding pledge for housing providers to instead of them spending thousands of pounds on enforced housing clearances or lengthy court battles for evictions, they promise to work with a resident and get them help. This pledge marks a significant shift in the approach to managing hoarding cases, moving away from punitive measures and towards supportive solutions that prioritize the well-being of residents.

Jenny Devon, a sustainment and cohesion manager at Prima Group, says: “What happens a lot is they get a skip and send people to clear the whole place. But it’s that person’s stuff. It’s such a personal thing; it’s not rubbish. It’s that trinket linked to the trauma, or to the parent who’s died. It just needs more empathy. It’s so badly dealt with. And it’s because people are not educated – the worst thing is that nobody understands.” This sentiment reflects a growing recognition of the need for a more nuanced understanding of hoarding and its implications for individuals and communities.

She says there is a need to keep residents safe, by ensuring gas safety checks can be carried out, for instance, but long-term solutions are better than short-term fixes. This approach acknowledges that addressing the physical dangers associated with hoarding must be balanced with a commitment to understanding and addressing the psychological aspects of the condition.

Understanding the Impact of Eviction Threats

Jo Cooke, the director of Hoarding Disorders UK, says that in the nearly 15 years she has worked supporting hoarders, she has never known an enforced clearance or eviction to help the person. “When the threat [of clearance and eviction] is looming, it will only increase hoarding behaviors,” she says. “It leaves hoarders feeling violated, and they will mistrust any professionals who could support them.” This insight highlights the counterproductive nature of eviction threats, which often exacerbate the very behaviors they aim to eliminate.

According to the Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (Iriss), almost 100% of people who experience a property clearance without behavioral therapy will regress to hoarding behavior more rapidly. This statistic underscores the importance of integrating behavioral therapy into any intervention strategy, as it addresses the root causes of hoarding rather than just the symptoms.

Cowley says social services became involved in her case, and hundreds of pounds were spent on mandatory cleaning. “They would be better spending their money on peer support groups like this, because this is the only thing that has made an impact on me in 20 years,” she says. This reflects a growing recognition that peer support can be a powerful tool in recovery, providing individuals with the understanding and encouragement they need to make lasting changes.

Cooke adds that the charity has supported countless people who have experienced hoarding-related fires, including a woman who lost her husband in a fire earlier this year. These tragic incidents serve as stark reminders of the real dangers associated with hoarding, reinforcing the need for effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Personal Stories of Recovery

Ruth Cookson, 53, a Prima resident, helped set up Bringing Hoarders Together four years ago. She has struggled with hoarding for decades and says she was thrown out of her family home aged 22 because of it. Her current home was flagged for hoarding after a gas safety check, but she ignored the letters from her housing association as she was scared of eviction. After the situation deteriorated during the Covid lockdown, she decided to get help. She says the smell in her house was so bad, any visitors had to wear a mask.

“I just couldn’t cope. I didn’t want to hoard, but I didn’t know where to turn,” she says. “I wouldn’t admit I had a problem; I buried my head in the sand.” Ruth’s journey illustrates the internal struggles many hoarders face, as they grapple with feelings of shame and denial while simultaneously longing for change.

She says having a housing officer she could trust was essential, as was going at her own pace. She had some setbacks. Workers who came to help clear the property were rude and told her neighbors about the condition of her home. “Before they could start pointing fingers, I put it all over Facebook myself. That was the turning point of me knowing I was going to get the help,” she says. This proactive step not only empowered Ruth but also helped to destigmatize her situation, allowing her to seek the support she needed.

Now her home is safe and clean, she can finally get the cat she has been desperate for, and spends time helping people in the support group. “I’m here to say: if you think you can’t do it, yes, you can do it. I’m living proof you can,” she says. Her story serves as a beacon of hope for others who may feel trapped in their circumstances, demonstrating that recovery is possible with the right support and resources.

*Names have been changed