Compulsive Hoarding & Domestic Squalor
Domestic squalor and compulsive hoarding have received national and international attention. There has been a growing appreciation of the complexities involved in each case and the difficulties presented when aiming to achieve successful, sustainable solutions.
The Council takes a holistic approach when resolving cases of severe domestic squalor, including an attempt to address the underlying causes rather than just the symptom (the squalor). Domestic squalor has the potential to severely impact on the health and wellbeing of both the person living at the affected premises as well as those in neighbouring properties. Public Health Act allows Council to declare a dwelling unfit for human occupancy if the conditions are likely to create public health issues.