Pensioner's body lay in flat for six years before skeletal remains found

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The body of a pensioner lay in his flat for over six years before skeletal remains were discovered. Robert Alton, who was 70 at the time of his death, was found in an apartment on Hemsworth Road in Bolton in March.An inquest into the elderly man's death found he 'likely' died in May 2017, according to a coroner.

Mr Alton was only discovered when the landlord obtained a court order to enter and check the gas supply into his home, reports the Manchester Evening News.The housing association that manages his property say it was 'completely unacceptable' that it had happened on Bolton at Home's watch.

In a statement CEO Noel Sharpe says they took 'many attempts' to contact Mr Alton 'over a number of years'.The inquest heard there was no response from the occupant and rent was paid through housing benefits.

Greater Manchester Police did not find Mr Alton's death suspicious. Mrs Sharpe said the 'reason' Mr Alton's death wasn't discovered sooner was 'our previous procedure, while meeting legal requirements, wasn't strong enough to prevent something like this happening'.The company's policy, which was changed in July last year to allow for legal warrants to gain access to tenants' homes where they cannot be contacted.