GROWING numbers of hoarders are living in homes packed with so much clutter it is putting them – and their neighbours – in danger.

Around 200,000 people in Scotland are believed to be affected by hoarding disorder, which leads to people storing vast amounts of seemingly worthless items in their home.

In some cases the clutter is so great it creates fire and vermin risk and can lead to the householder being unable to use the toilet, bath or kitchen sink, or find space in their home to sleep or even sit down.

While up to six per cent of the population is believed to be affected, it is thought many hoarders go under the radar of landlords, social services and local authorities.

The first UK conference on compulsive hoarding is to be held in Edinburgh in October, when organisations, including the the fire service and local authorities, meet in Edinburgh.

It comes in the same year the World Health Organisation classifies hoarding disorder as a mental health condition.

International Hoarding Conference organiser Linda Fay, founder of Life-Pod CIC, a social enterprise which helps people affected by the disorder, said its hidden nature has made it difficult to gauge the precise number affected.

“It’s not something people talk about. We estimate 200,000 people are affected, but it could be twice as many as that,” she said. “I have certainly seen an increase in referrals to me over the past five years as people become more aware of this as an actual disorder that can’t be changed overnight.”

According to Ms Fay, hoarding behaviours usually start in childhood and can be exacerbated by health problems and traumatic life events. If not treated, hoarding worsens with age and often leads to loneliness and isolation. The disorder is often misunderstood, and well-intentioned family members or officials who clear out homes may create fresh problems.

Ms Fay described a recent case in Edinburgh of a man in his 80s was found living in a home so full of clutter he had been unable to use his kitchen sink for 18 years. “There was no access to windows and doors, he didn’t have a working toilet and no access to his kitchen sink.

“When the council turned up and discovered he was in a very cluttered home, he was given two weeks to get it cleared or they would scrap it all. It led to him considering taking his own life.”

She added: “Hoarding doesn’t exist on its own, there will be other issues like bipolar, schizophrenia or autism. These people have so many struggles they focus on collecting or acquiring ‘stuff’.

“Until recently, health and social care teams were most likely to enforce clear-outs of people’s homes. This is quite possibly the worst thing to do. As well as being extremely distressing for the sufferer, the recidivism rate following an enforced clear-out is 97%, making it an ineffectual exercise.

“It is critical that those suffering with hoarding disorder are helped by trained professionals who understand the complexities of the condition.”

Ms Fay has worked with local authorities to help staff identify hoarders and to help make their homes safe without causing distress. The cost of clearing a house can be up to £50,000, while rehousing a child from a cluttered home can cost £250,000.

“Just clearing everything out is quite traumatising and we have had cases where people have attempted or considered suicide at the thought of everything being taken away. They put up with horrific conditions but for them it’s preferable to everything being taken away,” Ms Fay said.The international conference on hoarding will bring together a number of organisations, including the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Perth and Kinross Council, and look into adopting new approaches to helping hoarders.