A fire partially destroyed a two-storey public housing property in Sydney's inner-west on Tuesday, days after fresh concerns were reportedly raised with authorities about the notorious hoarding conditions at the residence.
The property had been repeatedly branded a "fire waiting to happen" by frustrated neighbors due to accumulated rubbish spilling onto neighboring properties and public footpaths. The cause of the blaze is currently under investigation, with arson not ruled out.
Shocking footage of the fire, posted online by gardener Nathan Stafford, who assists vulnerable individuals with cleaning neglected homes, showed the property engulfed in flames. Stafford's videos, which have gained significant traction on social media, also depicted the front yard overflowing with a large quantity of items including broken furniture, tents, bicycles, and electrical cords.
Stafford stated he had contacted fire authorities the previous week, convinced the property posed a serious safety risk. He noted he had been aware of the home for over two years and had previously assisted in removing rubbish that had spread beyond its boundaries.
"It's not fair that the community must live next to this and cop the abuse," Stafford commented on social media. "A single lady living in a 2 story apartment with serious mental health and a hoarding issue. What happens at rental inspections? I know personally as a renter I would cop it for dust on the fan."
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson confirmed that Homes NSW had been working with the tenant since May 2024, conducting regular inspections. "People in public housing deserve to live in dignity, particularly when experiencing complex mental health issues," Jackson told the Daily Mail. "But when their actions threaten the health and safety of themselves and of the community, we have a duty to step in. We recognise the severity of the situation, which is why the matter is subject to current orders from the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT). However, more recent outreach attempts have been rejected, which makes our job very difficult."
Stafford, however, argued that the situation should not have escalated to this point. "The same minister walked these streets a few years ago when I called her out and said things were going to get better. Clearly, nothing's happened. This stuff should have never been allowed to get to this point and Housing have once again failed miserably to the point. Thank God no one was seriously hurt."
Jackson described hoarding as one of the most difficult issues facing Homes NSW. "There is a strong link between mental health issues and housing insecurity," she said. "Our approach is always to work with tenants – sometimes for months or even years – to resolve situations like this because the alternative could mean sending a vulnerable person into homelessness. I respect Nathan's passion for these issues and I appreciate when he gets in touch with me."
The affected apartments are currently uninhabitable, and the public housing tenants have been temporarily relocated. The resident received medical attention at the scene. The property remains under the control of emergency services, and the investigation by NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW is ongoing.
A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesperson indicated that crews responded to the fire at 4:47 p.m. on Tuesday. The occupant safely evacuated, and the cause is under investigation. The spokesperson noted that firefighters had attended the unit several weeks prior but were denied a home fire safety inspection. In that instance, safety visits were conducted at neighboring properties, and the local council was notified.
"Concerns about hoarding or squalor that present a fire risk should be reported to the relevant local council," the spokesperson advised. "FRNSW has no regulatory authority to enforce action relating to hoarding and squalor."
This winter, six people have died in structure fires across New South Wales, and 19 have died since the beginning of the year. Fire and Rescue NSW has responded to 480 residential fires this winter and 2,025 so far in 2026.