'Smell of death' fills flats but resident claims Peabody failed to act

A tower block resident has accused Peabody of failing to act on concerns about a dead neighbour, despite the housing provider's shame over a tenant whose corpse rotted for more than two years. Residents at Foots Row Mansions in Battersea described a ‘dead fish smell’ and ‘the smell of death’ emanating from a one-bed on the fifth floor, with one resident claiming they first reported it to the concierge last Tuesday (February 25) after the stench apparently began some days earlier.

But, instead of an immediate intervention to check on the welfare of the elderly man, whose death has now been deemed non-suspicious, the disturbing smell continued, prompting the resident to call police themselves last Friday (February 28). This week Scotland Yard confirmed officers attended the development on New Mansion Square and entered the property with paramedics who declared the man dead.

While deaths at home are not uncommon, Peabody residents told MyLondon they were concerned about the social landlord’s response in the wake of Sheila Seleoane’s death at Lords Court in Peckham. The 58-year-old medical secretary is thought to have died in August 2019, but her remains were only discovered in February 2022. Meanwhile Peabody continued taking Universal Credit rent payments, despite neighbours reporting the foul smell, including one woman who had maggots come through her ceiling.

After Sheila’s death, an independent report into Peabody’s handling of the case found there were “no failures of controls and the policies and procedures”, instead shifting the focus to the police response. But the report also made 37 recommendations, first of which was to “be alert and curious” with “a proactive approach to welfare”. Later Peabody conceded: “We must and will learn from what happened to make sure we always put our residents first and that this never happens again.”

Peabody's merger with Catalyst in 2023 made the housing association the second largest in the UK, with more than 220,000 residents across 107,000 homes. The organisation said it has £11billion in fixed assets, with a turnover of £774m for social lettings in the previous financial year. Byline Times reports the highest paid directors netted more than £400,000 in pay and bonuses in 2022.

At Foots Row Mansions this week, a resident, who did not want to be named for this piece due to fears they would be kicked out, told MyLondon: “We basically had reported the smell. It got a lot stronger but no-one had come to check on it. I reported to a cleaner and concierge. I said there was an old guy and because of the smell, it smells like death.”

That same resident, who put air fresheners out to get rid of the “horrendous” smell, has questioned what the concierge did with their report, which they claim was made in person on February 25. During the conversation, the resident claims the concierge told them he would report it to the block manager, but there appears to have been no action before a resident made a 999 call last Friday.

“I wish I never moved here,” they added, “It feels a bit eerie really. I’m still scared now. I had a nightmare last night. It affects you when you see these things. It was a smell that you could not get rid of. You know when you smell a dead rat or mouse, when it’s decaying.”

Other neighbours said the smell was like “dead fish”, while everyone MyLondon spoke to had received no communication and reassurance from Peabody addressing the man's death or the lingering smell. Further details on the cause of death and exactly how long the man was thought to have been there may only emerge during a full inquest.

'I'm just saying I do not remember'

The concierge who assisted police with entering the flat last Friday, and who said he was working alone on the front desk last Tuesday, told MyLondon he could not remember having a conversation with a resident about the “smell of death”, but did not deny a conversation took place. “It might have been me but I do not remember,” he said, adding: “I’m not saying they have not, I’m just saying I do not remember.”

Recalling events, he claimed: “It was reported on the Friday. I’m the one who went in to deal with it. Paramedics came and the three of us went in… I have worked in the morgue before. It’s not a great scene to see someone like that.

“From what [the paramedics] said, he had not been there for too long. He was in hospital the week before. The smell was quite strong. He was not in there for a month. He might have been there for a week.”

Describing what he believes the usual process is for dealing with concerns, he said: “What we would normally do is report it to the neighbourhood manager and she would check it, unless we are 100 per cent sure. I can’t just have someone tell me there’s a smell so I smash in the door.”

The concierge said welfare checks are carried out by the neighbourhood manager, but could not confirm how often. He also said letters, for example to inform and reassure residents about a death on their floor, can only be sent out if they are signed off by senior management.

Asked if he had been given any emotional support since discovering the body, he said: “I have had people ask me, but I am alright. I have seen a lot of things. It was quite good I was on shift. Not everyone could see something like that.”

Asked about concerns at the apparent delay in performing a welfare check or calling the police about the worrying smell, he added: “If a resident had so much concern, they can call the police directly. That’s what they are there for, 24-hours, we are here 8am to 8pm. Residents are lucky we are here. It’s been dealt with.”

'We had no reason to be concerned'

Peabody told MyLondon the situation is 'not comparable' to Sheila Seleoane, while claiming the provider had 'recently' been in touch with the man who died. The social landlord also said the resident did the right thing by calling the police, and that they will clean the flat once the keys are returned from the Met Police.

Peabody's spokesperson said: “It’s very sad that this gentleman has died. We'd recently been in touch with him, and he was coming and going from his home last week. We had no reason to be concerned for his welfare and would have raised the alarm with the police if we did.

“While we understand his neighbours are upset, we did not feel it appropriate on this occasion to contact everyone in the building, because sadly sometimes people do die at home alone. Our neighbourhood team is available to speak with residents if they need some extra support.”

Residents say Peabody did not contact anyone in the building, including the floor where the man died. Given the contradiction between Peabody's statement and the residents' claim, MyLondon approached Peabody to clarify what they meant by 'recently' and provide evidence the deceased was 'coming and going from his home last week'. A Peabody spokesperson said they would not be adding any more to the statement. 

'His death is not deemed to be suspicious'

A Met Police spokesperson said: “Police were called at 9:24am on February 28 following the concern for the welfare of a man inside a flat on Sleaford Street. Officers attended with the London Ambulance Service and sadly the man was located deceased within the property. His death is not deemed to be suspicious and a file has been passed to the coroner.”

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 9.22am on Friday, February 28 to reports of an incident on Sleaford Street, Nine Elms. A paramedic in a fast response car and an emergency responder were sent to the scene where sadly a person was pronounced dead.”

Wandsworth Council declined to comment.

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