Volunteers clear Yishun hoarder's house multiple times for nearly 10 years to no avail

A flat in Yishun was so cluttered its contents spilled into the corridor outside the flat.

A reporter from Shin Min Daily news, acting on a tip-off, paid the unit a visit and saw the area outside filled with boxes and miscellaneous items.

Over 20 umbrellas, discarded strollers, and second-hand appliances were seen among the clutter.

A neighbour, Lin, said an elderly couple and their daughter have lived in the unit for around 10 years, with their son moving out several years ago.

Lin also said that over the past few years, many volunteers, charities and town council members have cleaned up the flat over 10 times:

"But it always returns to its usual state in under a month."

Lin further said the couple had argued over throwing the items away, with the man wanting to get rid of them and the woman refusing.

Another neighbour, however, said both of them had piled their belongings in the corridor about three years ago, and they had agreed to move the items after neighbours spoke to them.

Despite this, there was still clutter in the surrounding area.

A town council note informed the owners that they had to clean the mess by a stated date, or the items would be confiscated.

According to Shin Min, the town council said the authorities, including the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and other agencies, had been monitoring and following up on the unit's clutter issue.

They added that while they would enforce the rules on removing clutter, they also handle individual cases in a more considerate manner, all the while ensuring the safety and passage of public spaces.

Image from Shin Min