Elderly neighbour in dilapidated/dangerous house

iieee

First of all, sorry if I am on the wrong board, but I have no idea where to post this. Also it's very long, sorry! Just looking for some opinions of what other people would do...

We have an elderly neighbour who lives alone (his wife, who had Alzheimer's, died 2 years ago, and they had no children). His house is completely chock full with books, as he used to sell books as a business from home, and wound up the business without getting rid of the stock. He also has 18 cats - he says, but having seen them about everywhere I am sure there are more than that. He won't neuter the cats citing religious reasons ~ he is white but converted to Islam in the 60s and gave me a lecture about eunuchs' places in society when I asked him about it. The house is also falling to bits and dangerous, for example, his toilet does not flush, DH (an electrician) fixed his lighting a few years ago and there were exposed live wires (which he sorted out - but still!). I have found out yesterday via a friend of his that he has no heating and is leaving the cooker hob on 24 hours a day, and keeping an electric heater by his bed which has already caused a fire once, thank god he woke up before any real damage was done. The friend also had sent round a gas fitter as he could smell gas in there, the guy said his gas fire in the lounge is dangerous and has labelled it as such, but the neighbour got angry at this point and shooed the gas fitter out, before going to his friend and giving him a mouthful.

He was awarded a grant by the council to sort the house out a few years ago but has never used it as he won't leave the cats or put them into boarding or anything. And to be honest it is difficult for anyone to do any work on the house as you can only just get into it. Added to which it seems he is now going to refuse anyone access anyway!

We did speak to environmental health about him a few months back - I felt terrible for doing so but he has a leaking waste pipe on the side of his house which leaks onto our shared driveway, and now that we have a DD we don't want her to be toddling her way around with that going on! And we asked him to do something about it but he didn't. Anyway EH told us they would send someone round to have a look/speak to him but they never did. We called them back quite a few times to be told the same thing and eventually gave up.

Since yesterday though I can't get the idea out of my head that one of his cats will knock something onto the oven, start a fire, ignite the gas... his house is a semi and the house joining his is owned by a young family so it's not just him to worry about. So my question is, what would everyone else do in this situation? It seems we have exhausted every avenue when it comes to getting the house fixed. He just doesn't want to. But if the authorities were to get involved then they would surely put him in a home and have the cats taken to the RSPCA (and I think they would put them down as they are basically ferral so couldn't be rehomed.) And I know that's not what he wants, and it seems cruel to just take his choice away from him. Ideas?

Welshlassie

Speak to Age Concern???

Sorry can't be of more help, but understand where you're coming from, especially having a little one of my own, I'd also be concerned.

starbump

I'd see it as him or the kids and I know who I'd choose. From what you say, his house is in a dangerous condition, he has become increasingly eccentric and he may not be adequately caring for his pets (as you suspect he has more than the 18 cats he is aware of). I'd feel that the authorities should be involved for everyone's sakes. Good luck.

pinkshoes

I would contact social services, and get them to come and assess his living arrangements. They may be able to arrange meals on wheels, or a carer to come in and help him. They'll also help him sort heating etc... out. I'm afraid if he won't cooperate with them, they may re-house him, as he will be deemed not capable of looking after himself. (This happened with my Grandmother - after a collapse, they wouldn't let her return home!)

I would also call the RSPCA, as if he's not looking after himself, he won't be looking after the cats sufficiently.

Loretta

Social services and Age Concern

astonsmummy

Again, deffo contact social services asap.

Oldernotwiser

pinkshoes wrote: »

I would also call the RSPCA, as if he's not looking after himself, he won't be looking after the cats sufficiently.

That's not necessarily true; lots of elderly people look after their pets really well although they neglect their own well being. Nothing the OP said would give me reason to contact the RSPCA.

milkybars

You've got to be cruel to be kind. I think you know and based on all the advice above what the right thing to do is, we can all sympathise that you don't really want to put him through this upset but it in long term it is best for him, the cats, your family and his other neighbours.

iieee

He has had the RSPCA round twice (I've seen them both times) not sure who reported him but they've left him to it both times so presumably they think the cats are being looked after okay.

Thanks for responses so far, food for thought, I hadn't thought of speaking to Age Concern.

MaximumImpact

You need to contact your local Police to express concerns for welfare. They can then inform all the appropriate agencies. It also helps the local officer to know that they have this issue on their patch, and before anyone jumps in and says that they wont be interested, they will...after all who has to deal with it when he doesnt answer his door for a few days and the milk is gathering on the doorstep.

Please don't assume that this will solve the problem as noone can force this man to leave his home due to human rights. It may be that the Mental Health teams and other agencies will have to do what is called an assessment and see what this mans MH state is....

All I can tell you is that it will take a lot of time as he doesnt have to let anyone in his house without a warrant and he does have an awful lot of rights thanks to the beanbag brigade who have caused as many problems as they have solved.

Hope this helps.

MrsTinks

The council CAN force him to fix the house - if it is a danger then they can arrange for it to be done and they will then bill him for it...
Anyone remember that TV program about the councils dealing with an elderly hoarder - Mr Trebor or something?
Keep hassling your council and maybe contact your MP?