Clear up after death

R0B75

R0B75

R0B75

Soldato
Joined
15 Aug 2003
Posts
5,867
Location
Burton-upon-Trent
Though it's probably unlikely anyone here can properly help me, I'm at a loss of where to turn for advice without being met with legislation or legal road blocks regarding an ongoing issue. I don't even think it's appropriate to talk about this on a public forum but it's stressing me and my family out so if anyone has any advice I would be happy to hear it.

Bit of background;

I live (as a tenant) in a small block of flats where the building is owned by the local authority and recently our neighbour opposite passed away. He was a lovely bloke and probably the perfect neighbour, very quiet and always friendly. Sadly he lived (and died) alone and has no next of kin that we or the police know of.

We called the police when there was a strong smell coming from the flat and we hadn't seen the owner for at least 2 weeks that we recalled. The police attended immediately, gained entry and discovered their body. If you know what can happen to a body after death when left to decompose you can imagine what was left behind once the coroner had removed it. No actual clean up was done. They opened a window...

A week or so after the body was removed there is once again a very strong smell (the same death smell) coming from the flat and it's horrific, makes you heave just walking past to get to your own door. My partner, who has a stronger stomach than me, looked through the letterbox said she could see what was either a big dark pool of blood or bodily fluids on the front room carpet where the body was found. The front room door was shut before the body was found, but the police left it open when they left.

I have spoken to the housing department and they can do nothing because the flat is owned by the deceased and because there is no next of kin they have no rights to enter the property. They have passed this on the department that looks after lease holder properties, but legally have to serve a notice of 28 days to gain entry for any reason.

I've spoke to environmental health who have said that because there's no risk of infection, just an odour, they have a similar process. They have to serve a notice under the public health act before they can gain entry. Whilst they have said they will look at what possible legislation they can to try and speed it up, maybe with police permission, it's unlikely it will be done any time soon, it could be 21 days.

I'm sure some might advise using vicks or to man up (I would usually agree) but it's also the psychological effect it's having on us, especially my son. He's been quite upset.

TL;DR Flat owner dies with no next of kin, building owner or environmental health won't clean up without having served notice to gain entry. It smells awful.
 
That's very sad :(

I know there are forensic cleanup companies that do this sort of thing. If you are really concerned, why not contact them yourselves for a quote? Seems like a fairly typical operation.

Otherwise, is there anything you can do to limit the odour yourself?
 
dirtychinchilla said:
That's very sad :(

I know there are forensic cleanup companies that do this sort of thing. If you are really concerned, why not contact them yourselves for a quote? Seems like a fairly typical operation.
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I doubt they'd be able to do anything, since the OP doesn't legally have access to the flat.

In your position my primary concern would be my son - I'm guessing he's youngish? Is there anywhere you(or at least he) can stay temporarily until the cleanup?

Maybe consider contacting your local MP, who may be able to put pressure on the council, or harsh as it sounds, I'd be tempted to contact the press, again to try and put pressure on the council

I find it very hard to believe that one or other govt. body doesn't have the power to enter the property and cleanse it, also very surprised that environmental health have said there's nothing they can do and that there's "no risk of infection" from a pool of "something" - surely it's going to attract vermin?

Doubt you're the only residents who have a problem with it - maybe worth getting a group of you together and start making a nuisance of yourselves.
 
Alarming that this isn't a bigger priority to your local authority in a shared living enviroment. I hope you can get this ironed out without having to dig in to your own pocket!
 
dirtychinchilla said:
I get that, but no one is taking any responsibility for the property and the police left the door open...who's going to care?
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I think they left the door to the room he was in open, but the front door closed?

Would suggest breaking in and dousing the place in bleach yourself, but potentially could land yourself in big trouble for "interfering"...
 
neil_g said:
gaffer tape the air gaps around the door until someone sorts it?
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This is probably your only legal option I suspect.

I'm surprised in these cases that the council isn't able to clean the premises immediately and claim the cost back of the estate.
 
Seems crazy that they can't sort it out sooner, there may not be a risk of infection but still, who wants the smell of death/bodily fluids while you're sat down eating tea.

I'd be sticking plug-in's all over.
 
Jokester said:
This is probably your only legal option I suspect.

I'm surprised in these cases that the council isn't able to clean the premises immediately and claim the cost back of the estate.
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Bet they would get it sorted quicker if they wanted to rent out a flat in the same block.

Potential Tenant: What's that smell ?

Local Authority: Oh it's just the smell of death, an old man died and we can't clean his flat which still has his bodily fluids all over it.
 
neoboy said:
I think it's more a case of legally gaining access to the property.
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Exactly, I keep being met with "legally we have no right" etc etc without notice.

Haggisman said:
In your position my primary concern would be my son - I'm guessing he's youngish? Is there anywhere you(or at least he) can stay temporarily until the cleanup?

Maybe consider contacting your local MP, who may be able to put pressure on the council, or harsh as it sounds, I'd be tempted to contact the press, again to try and put pressure on the council

I find it very hard to believe that one or other govt. body doesn't have the power to enter the property and cleanse it, also very surprised that environmental health have said there's nothing they can do and that there's "no risk of infection" from a pool of "something" - surely it's going to attract vermin?

Doubt you're the only residents who have a problem with it - maybe worth getting a group of you together and start making a nuisance of yourselves.
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Unfortunately no, my son has nowhere else to go. He's 12 so just about understands it all, but it's not been pleasant for him.

I used the same words when speaking to both ENV Health and the housing people this morning that no one in a scenario like this can take responsibility for it without jumping through hoops, especially when this is likely attract vermin.

As we live on the same floor as the neighbour who died, the top floor, no one else comes up there and you can't smell it below.

Liquiduk said:
Alarming that this isn't a bigger priority to your local authority in a shared living enviroment. I hope you can get this ironed out without having to dig in to your own pocket!
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Indeed, I find it incredible there is no contingency for rare scenarios like this other than the normal serving notice to no one before gaining entry.

neil_g said:
gaffer tape the air gaps around the door until someone sorts it?
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This very conversation has been had this morning with the missus.
 
byeo said:
Bet they would get it sorted quicker if they wanted to rent out a flat in the same block.

Potential Tenant: What's that smell ?

Local Authority: Oh it's just the smell of death, an old man died and we can't clean his flat which still has his bodily fluids all over it.
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Particularly if the flat they were renting out was the one in question :D
 
Maybe buy a big tarpaulin and tape it over the door. Perhaps drop a load of air fresheners between the tarpaulin and door as well. Cheap to do and also perfectly legal I would imagine.
 
Haggisman said:
I think they left the door to the room he was in open, but the front door closed?

Would suggest breaking in and dousing the place in bleach yourself, but potentially could land yourself in big trouble for "interfering"...
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Correct. The front door was secured after the police broke it down. Can't be opened without breaking it down again. The front room door was left open.
 
Burnsy2023 said:
Does this surprise you?
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It does actually, I really didn't know what the procedure was following a death until I watched a documentary on it, but I'd have thought there would have been some sort of clean up. Clearly not.

russell664 said:
I can only assume that this would be your only 'legal' option to be honest, it could work quite well too. Worth a shot?
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Think we are going to try this first, but we really shouldn't have to.
 
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