Sophie’s Professional Hoarders House Clearance Service In New Hartley – Northumberland
Sophie’s House Clearance and cleaning provide honest and reliable cleaners for all your housework chores in homes. Everything we do is designed to serve your specific needs with speed, convenience and quality.
At Sophie’s House Cleaning we have a proud reputation as the No.1 choice for Hoarders House Clearance Service, offering a professional recommended service to people across the North East.
Please CLICK HERE to see a full list of our cleaning services
Our Cleaning Services Include:
- End of tenancy clean
- One off house clean
- After builders clean
- Emergency clean
- Trauma clean
- Spring clean
- Move in/out clean
- Hoarders House Cleaning Service
- Bio-hazard Cleaning Service
- Student Accommodation Cleaning Service
- Deep clean & more…
Read what our customers say HERE
Sophie’s Hoarders House Clearance Service New Hartley
Client: Grandson of Former Resident
Location: New Hartley, Northumberland
Property Type: 2-Bedroom Mid-Terrace House
Service Provided: Hoarder House Clearance, Deep Cleaning, Biohazard Waste Removal, Pest Control, Sensitive Item Recovery
Duration: 5 Days
Team Size: 4 Cleaning Operatives + 1 Site Supervisor
Background
In July 2025, Sophie’s Cleaning Company was contacted by a young man who had recently inherited his late grandmother’s house in New Hartley, a quiet former mining village in South East Northumberland. The property, a 2-bedroom mid-terrace home, had been the grandmother’s residence for over 40 years.
Unbeknownst to the family, she had developed severe hoarding tendencies in her later years, resulting in a property that was not only filled with clutter but also suffered from unsanitary conditions, extensive mould growth, and clear signs of rodent activity.
The client’s goals were threefold:
Clear the house of all clutter and waste, safely and respectfully.
Recover personal and sentimental items such as jewellery, photographs, and important documents.
Prepare the property for future refurbishment and possible rental or resale.
Initial Assessment
A site inspection was conducted within 24 hours of the initial inquiry. The team found the following:
Front door partially blocked with stacked newspapers, carrier bags, and broken furniture.
Hallways and living areas had only narrow pathways—floor-to-ceiling piles of newspapers, books, and food packaging on either side.
The kitchen was inaccessible, heavily infested with fruit flies and evidence of rodent nesting in cupboards and behind appliances.
Bathroom fixtures were completely obscured under piles of newspapers, laundry, and plastic containers.
Both bedrooms were used as storage rather than for sleeping, packed with clothing, bin bags, unopened parcels, and miscellaneous hoarded goods.
The air was thick with the smell of mould, stale smoke, and ammonia.
Client requested that we look for a lockbox containing family documents, a gold necklace, and photograph albums spanning the 1970s to 2000s.
Given the state of the property and biohazards present, we classified this as a Level 3 Hoarding Clearance with biohazard cleaning requirements.
️ Day-by-Day Breakdown
Day 1: Entry Clearance & Safety Setup
Full PPE worn by all operatives (respirators, disposable coveralls, heavy-duty gloves, boots).
Established work zones with clear access paths through the property.
Removed over 70 bin bags of general waste and clutter from the hallway and living room.
Installed industrial air scrubbers and opened windows to begin ventilating the home.
Located and safely removed collapsed shelving and water-damaged ceiling plaster in hallway.
Day 2: Kitchen Biohazard & Pest-Control Phase
Kitchen revealed decomposed food, rusted tins, and insect infestations behind units.
Removed fridge, cooker, and microwave for licensed disposal—contents had spoiled beyond salvage.
Treated area with anti-microbial and pest control agents (approved under COSHH regulations).
Found two small kitchen tins containing jewellery and old coins—tagged and saved for client.
Day 3: Bathroom Clearance & Bedroom 1 Excavation
Cleared the bathroom of layers of newspapers and personal hygiene products.
Treated black mould along ceiling and behind toilet with fungicidal wash.
Deep-cleaned fixtures and tiled areas with industrial steam cleaner and disinfectant.
Bedroom 1 was excavated of furniture, hoarded clothes, and damaged storage boxes.
Found photograph albums and a shoebox containing documents, all intact—preserved for the client.
Day 4: Bedroom 2 & Loft Clearance
Bedroom 2 was entirely inaccessible at first—removed nearly 2 tonnes of assorted clutter.
Located client-requested gold necklace in a velvet pouch, inside a locked bedside drawer (forced open carefully under video recording for proof).
Loft was cleared of old insulation, bird droppings, and discarded suitcases.
Removed historic pest nests and applied insecticide treatment.
Day 5: Deep Clean, Deodorisation & Final Sweep
All floors steam-cleaned; skirting boards, windowsills, and light fittings sanitised.
Disinfectant fogging conducted throughout the home to eliminate residual odour and allergens.
Ozone generator run for 6 hours to neutralise all remaining organic and ammonia-based odours.
Final walkthrough conducted with client (on-site) to review progress and recovered valuables.
Before/after photos, inventory list, and official waste transfer documentation delivered.
⚠️ Key Challenges & Solutions
Odour Penetration: The home had been closed up for months with no ventilation. We used a two-phase fogging and ozone treatment to neutralise deep-seated smells.
Pest Contamination: Rodent and insect infestations had contaminated fabrics and kitchen surfaces. Our team applied multiple pest treatments and fully sanitised affected areas.
Sentimental Item Recovery: Through careful sorting and sifting, we successfully recovered all three priority items requested by the client—photos, jewellery, and legal documents.
Community Sensitivity: Due to the close-knit nature of New Hartley, all vans were unmarked, and disposal bins were placed discreetly behind the property.
✅ Results
After five days of coordinated, methodical work, the property was completely transformed. Over 6.5 tonnes of clutter and waste were responsibly removed, and the house was left clean, odour-free, pest-free, and structurally safe for its next phase.
Importantly, the team recovered all sentimental items requested by the client—intact, catalogued, and returned with care.
Client Testimonial
“I had no idea where to start. Sophie’s Cleaning Company didn’t just clear a house—they helped me close a difficult chapter in a kind, respectful way. I got back things I thought were lost forever. I’m so grateful for their care and professionalism.”
— Client, New Hartley
Conclusion
At Sophie’s Cleaning Company, we understand that hoarding clearances are never just “cleaning jobs.” They require compassion, precision, and patience. Whether you’re dealing with inherited homes, supporting a relative in crisis, or preparing a property for sale, we offer a non-judgemental, expert service every step of the way.
Proudly Serving New Hartley and All of South East Northumberland
Discreet & Confidential | Fully Biohazard-Trained | ❤️ Handled With Care