Neighbour died and home has not been cleaned since

[Frogponder]

Our elderly next door neighbour who lived alone died last month.

We and other neighbours noticed we hadn’t seen him about and his lights were on all night so we called the police who sent in a paramedic who found him. They took the body and told us he’d died a week earlier, which was shocking and sad.

Since then nobody seems to have been into the property, and we’re getting worried about rotting food, flies, rodents etc.

Another neighbour has written to the council and put a letter through the letterbox for the Executor (hoping there is one).

That neighbour is now suggesting we could all go in and just clear out the rotting food ourselves as the back door is unlocked.

Though this would be the quickest way to prevent a possible pest problem my instinct is that we should not go in, it would be trespassing (and unpleasant) and should be dealt with by the council. But the council may not deal with it quickly as they are over-stretched.

Any advice?

If there was any suspicion, that would have been done right away with the house secured as a crime scene..then it likely would have been done with the body in situ. The house absolutely would not have been left with an insecure back door

Your concerns are understandable. It's a pity there isn't an online forum somewhere where you can discuss the options without faux outrage 🙄 From the point of view of any executor, I guess the property being unlocked is the bigger problem. Would it be reasonable to take this issue to the police and they might advise if you need to approach anyone else re. the environmental concerns?

I think it's also possible to track down the executor of any will via https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/
This is probably OTT atm, and of course would look like being nosey, but might be something to consider down the line if there's evidence of a serious health hazard.

If these are unrealistic suggestions, I'm sure there'll be someone screeching along in a minute to point that out.

Yes, its very difficult to do, when your mum is only 57 and died 9wks from diagnosis. Its a huge job to clear her house, her daughter wanted to bury her mum before throwing out all her possessions. That’s pretty standard. People act like these things are easy. They are not.

Ring the council, see what they say, but I think if a couple of you went in to just clear up the old food, get rid of it and perhaps clean the kitchen then it might help

But I bothered to read your post properly first.

Yep, concerned neighbours who are now frantic about rotten food, didn't do anything for a week despite not seeing this fellah and noticing lights were on 24/7

Right!? I dont understand the issue here. When my elderly neighbour died. I checked that their doors were all locked and kept an eye out for that empty property. He never has any family members visit either in the 5 years I’ve lived next to him but sure enough a week or so later new faces and an elderly lady turned up and were regularly seen going in and out prior to a for sale sign going up. Made me quite sad really that they’d never visited previously. But anyway, we just as said kept an eye out and mowed the front lawn so it didn’t look obviously abandoned since hos own family couldn’t be bothered to do that.

Never, would I think, must let myself in and just do a quick tidy up to remove perishables? Like wtf? Jeez just leave the home alone. Like what is OP expecting? For there to be huge volumes of uneaten food on the floor that will create an apocalyptic pest invasion which will eventually bring down all adjoining properties also?

These neighbours and OP sound neurotic and just have too much time on their hands. If they want to help they should try to pressure the council to secure the back door that they say is unlocked. I’d be more concerned about squatters moving in and causing potential issues but in their hysteria, no one’s mentioned that 🙄

I can see that this is a very uncomfortable situation @Frogponder, I think you are getting undeservedly flamed on here🧯

I would worry OP, some absent relatives are sure to turn up as soon as they find out about his death and potential inheritance.

Most elderly people, particular those who are reclusive, tend not to have piles and piles of fresh food lying around. They might stockpile tins and packets, but most elderly people I know, to be honest, aren't that big on loading up the fridge (they can't afford to, and even if they do have money they don't tend to spend on food). I'd guess any old food would be limited to some mouldy bread and maybe a few eggs or a bottle of milk left out on the side.

I think you would probably be shocked to see how little food some elderly people actually keep in. Others will stockpile like preppers, but it's all non-perishable food, like tins of beans and jars of coffee.

Personally I would go in just look for a key and lock the door. Keeps everything secure

No, it's not burglary. There is no intention to steal, damage or commit GBH and event of the same.

@Seeyousoonboo given that you don’t know, have you reported for a welfare check? Awful to think he might be dead in his house with no one knowing!

I AM a particular person posting on MN. I would have been very particular about neighbours going into my dead mums' home. They would have no right there for a start and I would be concerned about theft.
So thank you for your comments, they are duly noted.

It doesn't really matter if it's a crime or not.

Going in opens OP up to accusations. If something goes missing or gets damaged, if the other neighbour nicks or breaks something and blames her.

Yes. That is a risk of going in. And, as with so many things in life, it's a matter of weighing up the pros and cons of the particular situation.

You can’t trespass because you’re worried about a few flies and rodents!

You sound hysterical! "huge volumes of uneaten food on the floor that will create an apocalyptic pest invasion which will eventually bring down all adjoining properties". No one's claimed that. However, anyone with a bit of common sense and experience of life can calmly explain to you that mice can indeed feed on food left on surfaces and in open cupboards, and that it is better to prevent infestations than try to deal with them once they are established.

How do you know the door is unlocked?

Legally the cannot leave it like that, we nearly bought a house like this. The back door was broken down by responders but have then been re-secured in place with wood to stop it being reopened.

If you enter the house to remove stuff (even 'rubbish' as you legally do not get to decide what that is) you will become thieves.

Don't be so utterly ridiculous.

There was a thread just the other day about a neighbor using a key to open her dead mams house to let people in.

The consensus from 100% of people (on the very long thread) was that it was the most shocking height of cheeky fuckery.

Everyone pointed out that it invalidated the home insurance too.

No. Not thieves. As has been explained before.

Yes thieve, taking something from a property regardless of what is theft.

Also OP would have zero proof she did not steal anything the legal benefactor claims should be there and isn't. She will be arrested on theft if its raised.

No, read the legislation. There is no 'dishonesty' in taking food waste and putting it in the bin in these circumstances: ergo it's not theft. And you don't have to prove your innocence in Britain, it's for the prosecutor to prove guilt to the required standard.