HOMEOWNER IS A HORDER

I am on the BOD and two years it was called to the Boards attention that one of the homeowners at our condo has a serious hording problem.(FYI- Hording can be anywhere from hording objects to garbage.) The problem was known when the resident abanond their unit because the a/c was broken and had to move to a hotel. Apparentey they came home and open the windows due to the heat, and that is when the Board became involved, due to the smell. In fear of their well being, we call the police to open the door. It was horrifictic! We got in contact with her, long story short, a has-mat team was called in, at her expense, and cleaned the unit out. The reason we were able to go in the first time was because she had left the unit and our concern for their saftey.
Two years later, (they were hording garbage) we are very concerned they are doing the same thing. Although, our docuements allow us to enter, for maintenance, or any thing effecting the common elements, it is only speculation at this point. We call an attorney, but they said our hands were tided until we could prove they were hording. We do not want to harrass them, but by the time we have prof it will be back in the same shape. She had a $8000.00 cleaning expense. They would not have that kind of money again nor do we want them or us to go thur that expericence again, pertaining to the clean out. We have talked with a friend but were unable to really give details on how bad it really was. They did not seem concern, because of what the unit owner had told them story about their unit not having a lot left in it.Any thoughts?

One thing you have to remember is that the Board is not the caretaker of the people. The Board's responsibility is to the common element. And while this is a very sad thing, it is not the domain of the Board.

Now having said that, there is nothing that says that you as concerned citizen can't try to become involved. But you must do so at the pleasure of those who you are trying to involve with. If you have contact information for the resident's family you could start there. If not, then you will have to either try to gain the resident's favor, or work through the social agencies. But make this your personal work and not that of the Condo or HOA Board.

Could be a symtom of ocd but not necessarily so. How 'bout fire danger? Can you call the fire marshall and say you received an anonymous complaint?

Just by coincidence there was a program on TV about people like this, and yes, they were called hoarders. OCD was not mentioned but the people were referred to counselors and mental health providers. It is a sickness even if, in this program, they don't call it OCD. Actually I've known a few people with this "sickness" and their mannerisms were very similiar to many of the symptoms of OCD. OCD is not just having to wash the paint off the walls 20 times a day (a compulsive action)! There are many, many symptoms of OCD -- you may have it but don't realize it. FYI, the Mayo Clinic has a good
article @:

www.mayoclinic.com/health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/DS00189/DSECTION=symptoms