Hoarding and the Protection of Your Valuable Investment

During the pandemic, condo owners and investors saw double-digit price growth in their units. This prompted some people to sell their investments and use the proceeds to upgrade their own living spaces. But what if - in the process of inspecting your investment to prepare it for sale - you discover your tenant is a hoarder?

Oh, the “hoar-er”!

I have dealt with a number of these situations as a real estate agent and they are more common than you think. An estimated 2-6% of the population suffers from hoarding disorder. A recognized mental disorder, hoarders have a strong and persistent resistance to discarding belongings and/or a need to accumulate an excessive amount of ‘things’. The result is a cluttered living space, that in severe cases can lead to fire hazards, mould, insects and other infestations. In extreme cases, hoarding can lead to significant property damage.

How do you protect one of your most valuable assets from damage caused by hoarding?

Obviously, it starts at the tenant screening stage. But how do you know if a person has a hoarding disorder?

The only way to know for certain if someone is a hoarder is to see the state of their current residence. Since they have to put their current residence on their application form, you could do a drive-by to check for signs. However, if they live in an apartment, this might not be possible. If you are showing your property to them in person, take a quick peek at their car. If it’s filthy and piled with junk, they might treat your property the same way.

Proper screening is important whenever you are renting, so be sure to check with all references and previous landlords.

Screening is not foolproof, so it’s also important to regularly inspect your property, say every 6 months or so, to ensure it is being taken care of. If you suspect your tenant might be a hoarder, talk to them right away and remind them of their lease obligations, especially relating to health and safety issues. However, be aware that if issues are not resolved, you can’t simply evict the tenant.

Hoarding is considered a mental illness and, therefore, your tenant is protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code. However, when there are issues of public safety, you may have grounds. And where you think there may be a fire safety risk, inform your local fire department as they are a resource that can help. It is important that you carefully document what you find in case you reach the point where you need to apply for an eviction order.

Your tenant is out and you want to sell. Now what?

Getting a property cleaned out and ready for showings is no easy task when hoarding is involved. Junk must be disposed of, disinfecting and sanitizing will need to be thoroughly done, extermination services might be required and repairs likely made. Depending on the state of disrepair, you may want to consider hiring a professional cleaning service experienced in these situations.

As someone who has dealt with several of these situations, I can help you sort out what needs to be done and find you the best resources to help get your property back to pristine condition. Give me a call today to see how I can help.