The collection and storing of excessive numbers of belongings significantly affects a resident’s ability to live in their home.

It creates a fire risk in over 70% of cases and often appears to be an intractable management problem. A clear understanding of the principal characteristics of hoarding behaviour is necessary to enable a robust and achievable management strategy that addresses its consequences and prevents repetition.

This course transitions from understanding to identifying key elements for a management strategy. It provides a way forward through the legal process if a voluntary approach has not produced the necessary improvement. Managers, team leaders and frontline staff will benefit from the learning offered by this course.

Module 1 - Hoarding on context -This module covers: what hoarding is. hoarding diagnosis and other underlying psychological issues, formal diagnosis, support through GP, signs of hoarding, including hoarding scales, why landlords should get involves and examples of hoarding

Module 2 - Effective management of hoarding - This module covers: Landlord’s legal responsibilities including fire safety and property risk management, tenancy agreement clauses, effective management and support, including action plans, hoarding and mental health, legal action and mental health, mental capacity.

Module 3 - Hoarding and legal action - This module covers: Equality Act 2010 – Discrimination arising from a disability, what is ‘justification’ as a defence, considerations prior to taking legal action, legal action including injunctions and ground for possession