Cannot sell house due to Hoarder next door

shot_down_in_flames

DaftyDuck wrote: »

I wonder if the church side of things could be of more help to them? If there's an active church community with which they are involved, there might be gentle help for them from that. A word with the vicar or church warden might be a start. Not my area of expertise, I'm afraid.

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thats a good thought DD
Thank you for your thoughts as your comments too are constructive..
I have to say its not something I had thought of until the other neighbour said he had seen them for months at church and feared nothing wrong!
I do not actually live within the same parish so I am not sure where I would stand in this possibly complecated sonario.
sorry to all if I spell words wrong but sure you good people know what i mean..

moneyistooshorttomention

shot_down_in_flames wrote: »

Thanks for that Jackyann,
Yet another call from SS today asking the same question - had we informed the neighbours about involving them? or did we want SS to contact them instead as apparently they cannot cold call so we agreed on the latter as it seems less likely to be taken the wrong way and not so provocative. Incidentally my husband spoke to a neighbour 2 doors down who sees this couple every week at church and he was shocked that they had been living in such appalling conditions with no basic facilities. He said if he had known the extent he would taken this same action himself!

That sounds very positive to me. If they are involved with some sort of church, then maybe just maybe (if you are lucky) that church is one that looks out for their members, as I would certainly personally expect any church someone is a member of to do. If that is the case then, now that they have been alerted to the situation, then maybe they will be having an input into this to try and resolve the situation.

Very good thinking to tell that person:T

Now that church has been alerted to the situation, then the matter should be out of your hands and they will deal with it. Fingers crossed...

shot_down_in_flames

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

That sounds very positive to me. If they are involved with some sort of church, then maybe just maybe (if you are lucky) that church is one that looks out for their members, as I would certainly personally expect any church someone is a member of to do. If that is the case then, now that they have been alerted to the situation, then maybe they will be having an input into this to try and resolve the situation.

Very good thinking to tell that person:T

Now that church has been alerted to the situation, then the matter should be out of your hands and they will deal with it. Fingers crossed...

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Well to be honest - it wasnt just a case of telling this man - he happened to be out and about and just said about the church thing when my hubby mentioned the problem about the neighbours and he said about his weekly contact with them - even tho i believe he has never been invited into their house for obvious reasons!. He made clear he hadnt got a clue about their dire situation even tho he did say he had seen a degree of strange behaviour as in their clutter in the rear lean to which is not only obvious to us but him also from back garden!
As he is a Church goer ( sorry if that sounds bad but I dont know how to put it as I am not) We will also speak to the Church going neighbour again about this awful situation for our neighbours and see if the Church members can do something!

BigAunty

shot_down_in_flames wrote: »

Yet another call from SS today asking the same question - had we informed the neighbours about involving them? or did we want SS to contact them instead as apparently they cannot cold call so we agreed on the latter as it seems less likely to be taken the wrong way and not so provocative.

Sorry, am I misunderstanding the SS response - did the social workers give you the impression that they require an introduction?! And that they cannot visit potentially vulnerable people directly?!

I wonder if I've misread your post. I'm not familiar with social services processes but when I read that they don't 'cold call', my mind boggled. How on earth does a case get initiated if they won't take the first step when an issue has been bought to their attention...? Sorry if I've misunderstood their response.

McBozo

I think you will stubble to get SS or any government agency to do anything. Church or aged/mental health charity might be better.

shot_down_in_flames

BigAunty wrote: »

Sorry, am I misunderstanding the SS response - did the social workers give you the impression that they require an introduction?! And that they cannot visit potentially vulnerable people directly?!

I wonder if I've misread your post. I'm not familiar with social services processes but when I read that they don't 'cold call', my mind boggled. How on earth does a case get initiated if they won't take the first step when an issue has been bought to their attention...? Sorry if I've misunderstood their response.

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My own thoughts also!
but that is exactly what we were told!
They cannot cold call as they call it.
It seems surreal that something as important and immediate as this has red tape surrounding it!
I know this is off topic but will say it anyway for what its worth - is it the same beuratic control that didnt help the vulnerable children in recent years? as in social services?

ognum

shot_down_in_flames wrote: »

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Thank you Money! Perfect and so true!!
I actually AM concerned for these elderly people apart from my own self centred interests as some would consider - given certain posts where they belive I am purely interested in monetory gain
- ( not by you).
I have not aggravated not harrassed as they are elderly and ill!
Purely tried to offer constructive help at our time and expense where necessary to save me facing a negative sale, the risk of my own property burning down, the possible enhancement of their own lives as we DO CARE!
All I asked for was constructive advice / help to tackle this problem and have received many constructive replies thank you - not to be told (by others) - you made a mistake , dont speculate, accept your loss, move on, in other words (be like me and never achieve anything - which is it seems to suggest - by others i mean!)

I am interested that you 'DO CARE' that certainly was not clear from your first post that seemed only to be concerned about your inability to sell and your need for money to pay bills.

Two other points, firstly the suggestion that you take the loss and move on may well be proved to be the right one, and secondly just because other posters have said move on does not mean they have not achieved anything (again quoting you) many of the people here who have said move on have extensive property portfolios, have chosen well and have learned when to buy and when to sell.

I am pleased you do care as this may take years to resolve.

jayss

Like MPs many vicars have weekly surgeries, if theirs does you should be able to speak to the vicar then, just check the church website.

Davesnave

shot_down_in_flames wrote: »

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I know this is off topic but will say it anyway for what its worth - is it the same beuratic control that didnt help the vulnerable children in recent years? as in social services?

Even when social services visit, it may be difficult to get an outcome that would appear 'satisfactory' to the average person.

My next door neighbour keeps his children under such close control they are never allowed off the premises, except with a family member, which averages around once a month. They do not attend school and the home is unable to provide a suitable learning environment. Months can go by when the children do not come out of the house at all. There is no home phone, so the only people these children can ever contact are my wife and myself.

I could go on.

The point is, social services are aware of all this, and still nothing happens, so what ognum says about timescales is worth bearing in mind. This one is measured in years.

moneyistooshorttomention

Off topic but = Those poor kids Dave, with only 2 friends in the world and no education:eek:. I do hope that matter resolves satisfactorily.