'We clean up drug dens, crime scenes and hoarders' houses'

The owner of a specialist cleaning company says he has seen an increase in houses left in a "terrible" condition by squatters, drug users and hoarders.

Clean N Bright Cleaning Services is a Doncaster-based business that works with individuals, councils and the NHS to clean crime scenes, biohazards and homes.

Director Wayne Barlow says he is is getting "more and more calls to these types of jobs" since the end of the Covid pandemic.

He adds: "Sometimes it is drug-related, sometimes it's mental health. We've done jobs where people have been taken advantage of because they're vulnerable."

His company is contracted to tackle "difficult" clearance and decontamination jobs.

"We've been employed sometimes by the NHS, so the person can get back into their home and live there safely.

"The increase in mental health issues has also led to this problem. We're finding more people are beginning to hoard and collect things and they don't know what to do – that's when we get the call."

Mr Barlow is speaking to the BBC at a property in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, which has become vacant after a drug user was removed by police.

Clean N Bright has been contracted by Bassetlaw Council, who expect to receive a bill of £10,000 for disposal of the waste inside.

Four skip loads of rubbish were being taken away, and the landlord of the rented house will be told to cover the costs.

Mr Barlow adds: "It's not just our price, it's the price of getting rid of the waste. This is a lot of money to fork out for a property like this.

"We're probably going to do about six days, two people for six days; it's quite a lot of work for a little house."

There are around 80 tonnes of waste in the two-bedroom terraced property.

He is taking on the job with his employee, Ilana Ungureanu - who has gone from cleaning offices to more challenging work.

"Coming here was so different. But I enjoyed it because there were different things to do," she says.

"You get to see loads of other things and you get to see the person who used to live here's backstory. It's very satisfying to see the end result."

Their presence is welcomed by a neighbour on the street, Mariusz Luszcynski, who describes the former drug den as an "eyesore" that attracted crime.

"We were scared because the drug dealers would come to buy or sell and he (the tenant) would take off the radiators and copper. There was stolen bikes, flowers, he was shoplifting as well. We were scared of fire. We were very afraid.

"I slept with one eye closed, one eye open.

"The cleaning team are perfect, I respect them. The rubbish was up to the ceiling. It's much better, it's quiet now."

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