By Courtney Kruk

Copyright brisbanetimes

Police arrived that afternoon and confirmed Kern’s neighbour had died. They later told residents the man had no next of kin and the death was not suspicious, so the situation was no longer a police matter.

After the visit from police, the unit was left unattended, with the odour of death persisting around the complex.

Worried about health and contamination risks, owners reached out to the body corporate for assistance, and were told it was an issue for the next of kin.

In Queensland, the body corporate is not responsible for managing a deceased person’s estate or remains. But in the case of a person passing away with no next of kin, if decomposition causes a health hazard or unbearable odour, it may act to carry out the owner’s obligation – which can include engaging professional biohazard cleaning services. Reasonable costs can be recovered from the estate.