Rotten smell in hallway, neighbours away and I’m concerned about missing cat

[ohyesido]

Just that really. I’ve noticed a nasty fishy smell in the hallway of the apartment building I live in. My neighbours are away, they regularly go to their home country in Eastern Europe. Haven’t seen them for a couple of weeks.

This is relevant because they have a very friendly cat who I have not seen for a while and I know they won’t have taken her with them

i am thinking the worst, what should i do? DH says I should ring 101, would they care?

Why would American police be here, arresting Brits in Britain for American crimes?

That’s something a burglar would say when caught

Sounds horrible. This needs dealing with quickly - it won’t be long before those maggots become flies and a fly infestation (from experience) is extremely unpleasant.

Glad to hear it’s not the cat though.

I wouldn't imagine any decent cat owner would go away without making arrangements for their pet. The animal is probably in a local cattery, being looked after.

The rotting smell could be anything.

We came back from a fortnight abroad, to find there had been a power cut and the contents of the freezer had defrosted and spoiled. The smell was horrendous - if we had nearby neighbours, they would have probably thought either we were dead, or that we'd killed someone.

Have you had a few?

Should never have tried gaining access to the flat. That's something you contact the authorities for and let them make the decision.

Op hasn't found anything. She said an elderly neighbour downstairs said that's what it was even though he hasnt been in the flat either. She hasn't a clue about anything and won't just call the landlords or police to check.

Its all nonsense if her dh had broken into the flat how was he going to lock it again? What were they gonna tell the neighbours about how their flat had been unlocked for weeks because he broke in? That's one serious charge right there.
Just some bored individual winding people up cos she has nothing else to do.

That’s NEVER a good idea.

Let’s say he got in. He found multiple dead bodies.

then the police will be extremely suspicious as to why you’re there?

I actually know someone who had that exact outcome. Got arrested and all sorts. Huge issues.

please don’t break in people always call for a welfare check. The police will do it all for you. It’s really simple. You really only have to call. Please don’t be stipid and try and break in. To someone as house….

Makes sense that it is a wind up - seems a lot of drama over a 'fishy smell'! 😂

We had a very fishy smell in work this week, there was a dead rat under a drain cover 🤢

Either call the police or Environmental Health to report the smell. Don't say anything else, because you don't actually know what it is.

If we found multiple dead bodies we would call the police and say we accessed the flat to find out what the source of the stench was.

It’s not a wind up if it was I’d concoct a better story

@Thebookofcarolagain
“Just some bored individual winding people up cos she has nothing else to do.”

💯

Surely it's too early for maggots, assuming you're in the UK? I haven't noticed any flies yet - it hasn't been warm enough yet.

It's churned out AI crap from him, that's why it doesn't make any sense. Ppl clogging up mumsnet with AI monologue 😆 still makes about as much sense as Maggotgate

Wouldn’t the Management company/landlord have telephone number and if no response continue to mobile number and then NOK or friends number especially if a fishy smell means electricity short circuit and risk of fire. Landlord has the right of entry in case of emergency.

So ring the Man. Co. first

@ohyesido
Read your text and thought how irresponsible to leave an defenceless animal on its own like that
Is there not a landlord/caretaker who can open their front door?
Or would a neighbour have a key??

Wasn’t this in Slow Horses where whatisnmame looks at a house and says ‘there’s someone inside’ and proceeds to shoulder the door open - to an empty house 😄
Seriously I’d be furious if a neighbour got into my flat claiming there was a smell instead of contacting the landlord or police. I’d be checking to see what was missing.
Likely the occupants have a friend with a key and the Man Co has their phone number who would check.
Theres always a nosey neighbour who wants to take charge instead of following proper procedures

Lmao

If you think the smell is very strong, I would contact either the landlord, or better still, the police. I would doubt the old man downstairs has a good sense of smell but if he still realises somethings amiss, I would take it seriously. I called the police before concerning a possible breakin of my neighbour's house, and the police were very understanding and didn't embarrass me and it turned out to be fine. This exactly the type of thing they should be called about.

I was going to suggest a food bin.
I would suggest calling the police though let them take the responsibility for breaking in. Just say there is an awful smell and you've not seen them for a while.

OP it is astonishing how everyone is jumping on your back for such a reasonable concern. On my local next-door app recently, a man was taken to prison and his two cats were locked inside his flat by the police. After three days a neighbour was alerted to it and it took another two days of reaching out to absolutely everyone for the RSPCA and police to finally open the door. When people are taken away by the police or for medical emergencies, pets are commonly shut inside flats by the emergency services with no thought given to them - this is a fact. Pets die, this is a fact. People like you are observant, other ones who usually step in to help. I hope kitty is okay