The Neighbor....

Lau2046

Lau2046

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A couple of weeks ago, I was royally sick with the flu and over one weekend, my neighbor, a lovely lady, was I assume visiting family for Easter. We had to look in on her cat while she was away. She dropped off the keys and said "The place is a mess and I'm ashamed." I replied, "I'm cleaning my place today, don't worry." (I meant it like don't feel bad, we're all tired.) After she left my parents and I went over to see the cat. She left a note not to touch it as I guess it wasn't a cuddler. How to put this - she's a hoarder, which I've suspected for some time now. She gets a lot of packages nearly every day and when you go to give her cookies or to talk, she guards the door so you can't see in. I know why the cat acts that way now; it may as well be feral. What's really scary is that she removed the fire alarms, not sure why. I worry about my parents and I, my cats, my Hong Kong film collection, guitar, firearms, me sleeping against the wall next to her....just wow....

My mother spoke to her like a mother to a daughter that she needed to "make this right" and get counseling. If you've seen the TV series: "Hoarders" - you know it's not that simple. No fire alarms...I don't know what's worse..neighbors removing live Christmas trees in February or this....Lord, I wish we could move but I'm back buying lottery tickets.

Laura
 
wow... interesting that she removed the fire alarms. I know the feeling of seeing a hoarder, it isn't that simple as you said. I have a friend like that- was pretty bad last year but with some help from me and another of their friend, the place was cleaned up except for the master bedroom (that's their area- personal etc).

Unfortunately I just found out that it's back to "sorta" the same mess...:( even though their progress was great until a couple of months ago. It's tough to deal with. The 2 cats were overjoyed to have space to run around in last year lol.
 
This woman wants to get a Ragdoll cat and I dearly hope she doesn't. Judging by the behavior of the one she has, the living conditions would be absolutely cruel to put a little kitten into. Her cat had a hairball which has been there on the floor for some time. I can only wonder if it's done it's business elsewhere in the condo other than the litter box and she hasn't bothered to look, much less clean. Cleaning doesn't seem to be anything she does - just collects more stuff....I was actually concerned for my health being in there. The fire alarms being removed is what's keeping me up at nights now...and did I mention the shades are always drawn and the curtains shut tight. So no open windows for the cat...it looks like a tomb which is a terrifying word to describe it considering this is an accident waiting to happen....what a nightmare....
 
You might want to check with your complex manager to find out if you have interconnected alarm systems. Your neighbor could be endangering you all. I'd be worried about bugs, too. It's a sad situation.
 
I think you may have to call the fire department and report your neighbor b/c she is putting everyone at risk . I had a neighbor who lived right across the hall from me and
she never let anyone see inside her unit. It always smelled of real cheap perfume and when she left her unit the whole hallway stinks like hell! I find out when she had to move that she was a hoarder and her niece said her aunt went off her meds. The niece said both bedrooms were so full of junk she couldn't get to the windows to
open them! I saw the kitchen and there was broken down cot my neighbor slept ,and there paper and crap all over the floor and bottles of oil for lanterns
on the floor too. :eek2: We were lucky there wasn't a fire in our building . If I had seen my neighbor unit I would had reported her , she was very guarded about
not letting anyone see her unit and I was told she saved her poops bay rubbing it all over her bathroom walls ! :barf:This was why my neighbor was using so much cheap perfume ! And we also had a tenant that kept her very dead Christmas tree until June , it was brown and looked like it never had any water .
I feel bad for the poor cat and concerned about you and your mother health and safety . This can also attract rodents .
 
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No don't call the show. People who hoard, allow things to pile up or just doesn't maintain the place are already embarrassed and ashamed (in many cases) that this happened to them in the first place and don't know what to do. Depression sometimes is a key factor in why it happens.

I don't know if reporting the neighbor would do anything. I know it can be done if there are children at risk because the living space is not habitable or if the person is very elderly. If Lau's neighbor is renting then yes, would look into letting the manager know (especially if the fire alarms were taken down).
 
Maybe it would be easier for you and your family to move out, find a better place. I used to watch Hoarders, too and I doubt the lady will change anytime soon, unless she seek therapy, and even then it is not known if she wouldn't fall back into her old ways sooner or later.
Either way I would move, asap.

Fuzzy
 
People who hoard doesn't always mean they're depressed, mental illness plays a role too. Some people won't let go of things... other cases one loves cats or dogs too much that they don't want to see them being put down for not finding homes.

It takes a lot of psychology and patience to deal with hoarders.
 
Why all the labels? I say leave them alone, they are not hurting anyone.
 
Audiofuzzy said:
Maybe it would be easier for you and your family to move out, find a better place. I used to watch Hoarders, too and I doubt the lady will change anytime soon, unless she seek therapy, and even then it is not known if she wouldn't fall back into her old ways sooner or later.
Either way I would move, asap.

Fuzzy
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Easier said than done. I got the impression that her family is not financially able to move.
 
Sometimes Human Resources might help. Or whatever department you US guys have responsible for helping with such stuff.
It worth a try, anyway.

Fuzzy
 
Cappy said:
Why all the labels? I say leave them alone, they are not hurting anyone.
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actually they do, since their mess brings forth the pests and rodents thus germs, viruses and hence possibility of serious disease
into a building.
there is always an increased danger of fire, since they store so much old, dried up stuff.
in this particular case it's even hundredfold worse as the lady removed the fire alarms.

Fuzzy
 
I had a similar issue with a condo at a complex I was prepping for paint. The woman didn't throw anything out and the garbage in the master bedroom was 4 feet high. The woman's attic above the bedroom had a bee hive in it and they had been in there for almost 10 years, so there was in excess of 1,000 lbs of honey and the hive in the attic and nothing on her balcony could be fixed because of the bees. I did have to go on the balcony to see if it was damaged and I could see rodent holes through the screen door(patio door was left open) and you could see tunnels burrowed through the trash in the room. The president of the HOA called the city and the fire department and was told they could do nothing and it was a civil manner and if they wanted anything done they would have to get a court order. Nobody wanted to do anything so now it's five years later and the bees are still there. So count your blessings, it could be worse!
 
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Audiofuzzy said:
I think yes :)

have you ever seen "Hoarders"?

Fuzzy
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I never heard of the show , that is why I asked if it was a reality show. I can't stand realize shows ! My neighbor was running of room to hoard crap in her unit so she was putting it in her car.
 
Audiofuzzy said:
actually they do, since their mess brings forth the pests and rodents thus germs, viruses and hence possibility of serious disease
into a building.
there is always an increased danger of fire, since they store so much old, dried up stuff.
in this particular case it's even hundredfold worse as the lady removed the fire alarms.

Fuzzy
Click to expand...
Just because there is a mess, does not equal..pests, virus, rodents, and all that. Do not judge, lest you be judged too.
 
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