A pensioner lay dead in his home for six years until his “skeletal” remains were discovered by housing officials who forced entry to the property to carry out a gas safety test, an inquest heard.
Retired bookkeeper Robert Alton is believed to have died in 2017 aged 70 but his passing went unnoticed by his landlord.
A court order to enter Mr Alton’s address on Hemsworth Road Bolton, Greater Manchester, was obtained by landlord Bolton at Home for the visit on 9 March.
Officials forced entry and used an angle grinder to cut through a security chain.
A large pile of unopened post - about half a metre high - food with 2017 expiry dates, and a TV guide dated 4 May 2017 were found inside.
Mr Alton was found at the top of the stairs to his first-floor flat, dressed in jeans, a grey jumper. Housing officials subsequently called the police.
Dominic Beaver, detective sergeant of Greater Manchester Police, said neighbours had not seen anybody at the flat for years.
The force said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
Bolton at Home, which continued to collect Mr Alton’s rent automatically through housing benefit, apologised for missing opportunities to establish that something was wrong with the elderly man.
Bolton Council said it would launch an internal inquiry to identify how it also failed to spot any issues despite Mr Alton’s council tax arrears.
Mr Alton was identified through personal items but no relatives have been traced.
Dr Patrick Waugh, pathologist, said it was “not possible to determine a cause of death”.
Coroner Peter Sigee said: “On the balance of probabilities Mr Alton died in May 2017. I’m satisfied the appropriate conclusion is an open conclusion.”
Noel Sharpe, Bolton at Home chief executive, said: “We made many attempts to contact Robert over a number of years to arrange gas safety checks. It’s clear that the action taken by us to understand why we couldn’t contact him didn’t go far enough.
“Opportunities were missed in spotting that something was potentially wrong. We should have done more to check on Robert’s welfare.”
Bolton Council confirmed Mr Alton had run up council tax arrears since 2017.
A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “This is a tragic case which has had a profound impact on the whole Bolton community.
“We are currently reviewing Mr Alton’s account to identify any potential missed opportunities to act sooner.”
The spokesperson added: “Pending the outcome of this review, appropriate additional measures will be put in place with a view to preventing similar tragic cases in the future.”
Extreme isolation appears to have been a factor in the case of Mr Alton and his remains being discovered may reopen debate about how it is possible for people to die at home and not be found.
There have been a number of similar cases in recent years including that of Sheila Seleoane, who had to be identified by her dental records when she was found in her flat in Peckham, south London in February last year.
Residents of the estate where she lived had repeatedly complained to Peabody of bad smells and maggots as far bad as 2019.
Peabody apologised to Ms Seleoane’s family and residents of the estate.
