Neighbours work together after body find

Neighbours of a 62-year-old Wellington man left dead in his armchair for 10 months plan to set up a residents' register to stop another similar incident.

Broadmeadows residents said they were shocked to hear the body of Timothy Miles was left decomposing in his flat until last month after his closest living relative - a sister-in-law - raised the alarm.

Senior Sergeant Peter McKay of Johnsonville said the Taupo woman visited his flat after she had not heard from him. When she could not rouse Mr Miles she contacted police, who broke into the property.

The man's closest neighbour - who also keeps to himself - had continued to collect Mr Miles' mail.

His exact date of death is unknown; he had attended a doctor's appointment in October 2004, but not a dental appointment later that month, said Mr McKay. The case has been referred to the coroner.

One neighbour organised a gathering of residents after the death. "It was a great, great shock to think it could happen in your neighbourhood."

While she knew Mr Miles by face, the 30-year resident had never spoken to him. She said he was quiet and reclusive. "I never even saw him walk up the drive."

His flat, beside another at the end of a long drive, also meant he was less visible, she said.

Residents would set up a voluntary register of contact details to increase awareness of one another, she said.

"We all get on with our lives, but there wouldn't be one person around here, who if anyone needed it wouldn't help out."

Fellow resident Lutfun Quddus, who moved in with her family five months ago, said it was horrible the man had been dead the whole time they lived there. She supported the neighbourhood register.

Mr McKay said it was not uncommon for elderly people to be found dead in their flats, but not usually for such a long period.

He said where possible residents should make themselves known to one another and contact police if they had concerns about an address.

- NZPA