Nathan Stafford is helping a western Sydney social housing tenant clean up his hoarder home.
The stench of neglect hangs heavy over a quiet street in Western Sydney, where a social housing property, under the purview of Housing NSW, has become a horrifying testament to systemic failure.
For years, a vulnerable tenant has been left to languish in conditions so extreme they defy belief.
Piles of rubbish, human waste, rat droppings, and rotting food have transformed his home into a private tip, a shocking exposé of a man abandoned and a social housing program seemingly blind to the suffering within its own properties.
This grim situation in public housing stands in stark contrast to Sydney’s booming private property market, where even dilapidated homes in sought-after suburbs are fetching millions. Recent sales include a property in Hunters Hill for $4.925m despite major overgrowth and cracking paint, and a Bronte home described as “probably the worst condition house ever auctioned” selling for $3.835m.
The figures highlight a peculiar market where buyers invest heavily in rundown properties, while the public housing system struggles to maintain its existing assets, leading to both human suffering and significant future repair costs.
The three-bedroom home is covered in piles of rubbish, old food and overrun with rats.
Empty pie boxes litter the kitchen floor. Picture: Tim Hunter.
The kitchen is unusable…and has been for years. Picture: Tim Hunter.
Nathan Stafford, a local hero known for his community work with Nathan’s Lawns and Gardens, has taken to social media to shine a spotlight on what he describes as one of the worst cases of neglect he has ever witnessed, whilst also taking aim at Housing NSW over its failure as a landlord.
His confronting videos reveal a scene of utter despair: every inch of the two-level, three-bedroom home is swallowed by garbage, save for a single mattress on the floor – the sole resting place for its heavily obese occupant, seen wearing the only pair of shorts he owns.
Mr Stafford’s grim discovery began two years ago while scouting for homes in need of assistance in the housing commission area.
A quick glance through a window back then revealed a hoarder’s paradise, complete with rats scurrying across the floor.
So far, around $3000 worth labour has gone into cleaning up the home…but there’s still so much more to be done.
Piles of rubbish wherever you look. Picture: Tim Hunter.
Nathan Stafford inspects his handy work. Picture: Tim Hunter.
A return visit last year showed no improvement, only a worsening situation with heavily overgrown gardens.
“Nothing looked different, just worse,” he recounted, adding that neighbours confirmed Housing NSW, the local MP, and the council were all aware of the dire circumstances.
Earlier this week, Mr Stafford’s persistence finally paid off.
After knocking on the door to no avail, he scaled an adjoining roof to speak with neighbours, who expressed their disgust.
He then knocked on the upstairs windows, which were open, and introduced himself.
“I told him who I was, what I do and that I wanted to help him and if he could please trust me and come downstairs.”
Five minutes later, the door creaked open.
“It was a shock to my system when he opened the door. I didn’t know what was going to be behind that door,” Mr Stafford admitted.
The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, was shirtless, his only clothing a pair of shorts. After sharing some of his own life story, the tenant, overwhelmed, broke down in tears.
More piles of rubbish sit next to a fan in another room. Picture: Tim Hunter.
Even the bathroom looks like a room straight out of a horror movie. Picture: Tim Hunter.
No thanks, we think we can hold it. Picture: Tim Hunter.
It emerged that the man’s health, both mental and physical, had spiralled during Covid, leading to an intense fear of the outside world and a retreat into the squalor of his home. While Mr Stafford has already commenced the arduous task of cleaning the front of the property – an effort valued at approximately $3000 in labour – he stresses that this individual tragedy highlights a much larger, systemic issue.
“Why would you give a man a three-bedroom, two-level home when there are so many families needing a roof? Who made that call? Why were inspections not done here?” Mr Stafford questions, his voice laced with frustration.
He estimates that years of neglect have left the property in such disrepair that it would require at least $100,000 to restore it to a liveable standard.
“If someone did turn up then why did they not do a follow-up a week later if they couldn’t get inside or he didn’t answer? Why did they not do a welfare check and call police and be present when the police were there? This is a human being, this man needs urgent help. This is a safety hazard…and unliveable. Why is he still alone in there sleeping in those bottles filled with his own urine?”
Mr Stafford is forced to wear a hazard suit for parts of the clean up, which he’s doing for free.
A peak into the bedroom. Picture: Tim Hunter.
Nathan Stafford says the home is the worst he’s ever seen. Picture: Tim Hunter.
Mr Stafford has contacted NSW’s Minister for Housing and Mental Health, Rose Jackson, along with local MPs and the council, demanding immediate action.
On Wednesday, two Housing NSW staff members reportedly attended the property – marking the first time in years a staff member had entered the home.
Mr Stafford claims they deemed the property a “major safety hazard” and promised immediate crisis accommodation.
Yet, as of Thursday, the man remains in his home, unassisted.
The situation has ignited a firestorm of outrage online, with many applauding Mr Stafford’s efforts to raise awareness about inadequate inspections of community housing and the lack of assistance for vulnerable tenants.
“This is another reason why all public housing properties need to be inspected just like the private market. It ensures public assets are being looked after and can identify when someone needs help. This should not be allowed to happen,” one commenter wrote.
Another lamented, “The system doesn’t care… certain individuals within that system may… but the overall system doesn’t care… period.”
Even the garden is overgrown. Picture: Tim Hunter.
Others shared their own experiences, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem.
“During a housing inspection of my home it was discussed that housing would refer me for assistance. That was about 18 months ago. They have forgotten me. I’ve also been on a waiting list for 12 years to move on medical grounds due to frail health. Everyday I have to deal with stairs. I’m far from the only one who is experiencing this,” one person commented.
Another recounted a similar tragedy.
“Seen this with my brother, he was in Housing Trust House in SA he got evicted from his house for hoarding, he had some help, but the wrong help, he ended up living with my Mum for roughly 10yrs, Mum cared for him as best she could. He passed away last year when he was 60yrs old.”
Minister responds to Western Sydney case
Responding to the mounting criticism, Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Rose Jackson, offered a detailed perspective on the challenges faced by Homes NSW.
“People in social housing deserve to be treated with dignity – especially when they are experiencing vulnerability or complex personal challenges,” she told News Corp via a statement.
“Over the past year, Homes NSW has made several attempts to engage with the tenant…, including referrals to specialist support services. On multiple occasions, access to the property has been refused and support services have been declined, which makes progress incredibly difficult.”
NSW Minister for Housing, Rose Jackson, said Homes NSW has made several attempts to engage with the tenant. Picture: Jeremy Piper
The Minister highlighted the distinct challenges faced by government as a landlord.
“There is a misconception that government can simply step in and remove someone. A private landlord in this situation could move quickly to evict. But when the government is the landlord, eviction means something very different,” she said.
“It means sending a vulnerable person into homelessness and potentially involving police to forcibly remove them from their home. I do not take that lightly, and I do not want that to be the outcome.”
Minister Jackson also clarified that resources are not the issue.
“This isn’t about money. We have made a record investment in social housing maintenance and support services. We have money for housing maintenance and are more than willing to spend it. This is about what happens when repeated offers of assistance are refused and our legal options become very limited in circumstances.”
Acknowledging the scale of the system, she added, “Social housing is a large and complex system, supporting tens of thousands of people across NSW. While I can’t personally manage every individual tenancy matter, I do expect Homes NSW to handle each case with care, professionalism and compassion – and there are formal processes that must be followed when issues arise.”
However, the Minister also stressed the balance of responsibilities.
“At the same time, we have responsibilities to neighbours and to ensure properties are maintained in a safe condition. That’s why formal warnings have been issued and the matter has been progressed to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal so enforceable steps can be taken. We will continue to engage and offer support services alongside this formal process.”
Concluding her statement, Minister Jackson expressed gratitude for community involvement. “These are difficult situations. I do want to thank Nathan for his care for positive outcomes and dignity for our tenants – it’s a passion I share. I have spoken to him personally to hear his feedback and provide reassurances we take these issues really seriously.”
English (US) · 