Family house near York is overwhelmed by rubbish until extreme cleaners move in – who find a rotting carcass amid the mess

From the outside, the large five bedroom house looks like the perfect family home.

But when a team of extreme cleaners went through the front door they discovered scenes of chaos.

The home, near York, was overwhelmed with rubbish. Dirty clothes, litter and worse were found in every room, built up over five years.

After five years of living in these circumstances, home owners, Sarah and Stewart, invite in the team from Filthy House SOS – and viewers can see the results on TV tonight (Friday).

The health care professional and project manager, who have three children under the age of four, tell presenters Richard and Brennan of their emotional challenges.

They struggled to have children, and underwent several rounds of IVF treatment, before they had their daughter and twin boys.

During the programme Sarah reveals the toll this took on her. “Every aspect is tough. Emotionally, physically, the drugs make you feel pretty rubbish.

“Because it’s so all consuming it takes over and when you’re feeling pretty ropey on medication you don’t want to come home and clean and sort stuff.”

Worst discovery

Setting to work, Richard and Brennan realise the task ahead of them.

The living room is filled with toys and even discarded toilet roll tubes. Every surface of the kitchen is covered in clutter.

Here, they find a portable grill filled with fat and grime, butter that is four years out of date and oil five years past its sell-by date.

The worst discovery is in the living room – a rotting carcass which was probably dragged in by one of the cats.

“This isn’t good. The fact there’s a dead animal in the living room which is a family room is not great,” the team say.

Richard and Brennan set about the clean-up – and in just three days transform the filthy house into a gleaming family home again.

“The transformation is ridiculous. Absolutely incredible,” says Richard.

• Filthy House SOS is on 5 Star tonight (Friday, 9 April) and is available on catchup here