DECEASED ESTATE CLEANUP

Unattended deaths in rental properties present complex challenges that require careful consideration and cooperation among various stakeholders. When a tenant passes away unnoticed, it can lead to a multifaceted situation involving emergency services, family members, legal representatives, real estate agents, property owners, and insurance companies, each with their own responsibilities and concerns.

Initially, emergency services respond to the scene, focusing solely on the deceased. Their role does not extend to managing personal belongings or cleaning the area, which is crucial to understand. Once they have cleared the scene, our services can step in to assist you at any stage, and calling us for support incurs no cost.

The deceased’s family often seeks access to the property to retrieve personal items such as:

➜  Superannuation documents
➜  Wills
➜  Car keys
➜  Wallets
➜  Phones and computers
➜  Jewelry
➜  Funeral clothing

Given the potential distress from the scene, we recommend that families allow us to help retrieve these items at no charge, helping them avoid confronting the situation directly. If family members do enter the property, it’s advisable for them to be accompanied by someone experienced in handling grief and trauma.

A trauma clean should be conducted to eliminate odors and contamination as soon as possible, making the space more manageable for the family to search for specific items. Important decisions must be made regarding the handling of large furniture, the potential donation of items, and the cataloging of belongings for legal purposes.

For real estate agents, it’s crucial to ensure that family members have retrieved their desired items before arranging for a specialist cleaner to handle the final clear-out. Last-minute changes can lead to complications and increased costs.

The final cleaning process will depend on the level of malodor present. All surfaces will need to be treated with specialized solutions to combat any lingering smells, and a detailed scope of work must be established to meet everyone’s expectations effectively.

We are here to guide you through this delicate process and provide the best advice possible.

In cases of unattended deaths in rental properties, several legal obligations arise for various parties involved. The key aspects include:

1. Notification of Authorities: Emergency services, including the police, must be notified immediately upon discovery of the deceased. They handle the initial investigation and ensure that the proper legal protocols are followed.
2. Handling the Deceased: The property owner or agent must cooperate with law enforcement and any coroner’s investigations. This may involve granting access to the property for investigators.
3. Legal Documentation: Once the scene is cleared, there may be a need to manage the deceased’s personal effects, including ensuring that any wills or legal documents are handled according to their wishes and applicable laws.
4. Insurance Notification: The property owner must inform their insurance company about the incident, as this may affect coverage and liability issues.
5. Cleaning and Restoration: The property owner may have legal duties regarding the cleanup of the property, especially if it involves hazardous materials or health risks.

Each of these obligations can vary by jurisdiction, so it’s essential to consult legal experts familiar with local laws.

Real Estate Agents

If you are looking for a specialist Trauma Cleaners to come in and separate items, pack them and empty the Property so it can be re tenanted, make sure that the family has been through, they have taken items they wish or marked items they wish to be kept before you get the quotation for the final clear out. Making changes to processes mid job can prove time consuming and therefore costly. 

The Final Clean

Depending on the amount of malodour present (if any) this will affect how the final clean is completed. 

At a bare minimum, all surfaces will be required to be wiped over with specialised solutions, this will remove and control the recurrence of any malodour. 

Do you require:

➜ removal of curtains or blinds
➜ are light fittings made of a porous material and need to be removed?
➜how have the carpets been affected?
➜do walls and ceilings require a full heavy duty treatment
➜ what are doors and frames made out of and how are they painted 

A detailed scope of works with clearly defined outcomes is essential for the job to be completed and everyone’s expectations met. 

If we can be of help call us to arrange an appointment.