The tragic secret that left me freezing without heating in my new flat

The executor who completed the property information put ‘sold as seen, rely on survey inspection’. Photograph: Yee Xin Tan/Alamy

I am living without heating or hot water because the previous owner of my flat died and his body laid undiscovered for six months. Therefore disconnection notices were not responded to.

Last year, the block was fitted with new gas pipes and meters, and each flat was issued with a notice requiring access. After the former resident was discovered, the solicitor, who is executor of the deceased’s estate, failed to redirect mail, so no one responded to the escalating requests, and the gas pipe ends outside my front door.