What Happens to a Property After an Unattended Death: A Timeline for Property Managers

If you've never dealt with an unattended death at one of your properties before, the uncertainty is often the hardest part,  not just what needs to happen, but when, and in what order.

Here's a realistic timeline of how it actually plays out.

Step 1: Police and investigators finish their work. Nothing happens to the property until the scene is officially released. This is out of your hands and out of ours,  but once it's released, responsibility for the property comes straight back to the owner or property manager.

Step 2: Free site assessment (same day, usually within hours). Once you call us, we're on-site within a few hours to assess the full extent of what's affected. This includes checking whether contamination has reached flooring, subfloor, or walls, not just the visible area. You get a clear picture of what's involved before committing to anything.

Step 3: A realistic quote and timeframe. Off the back of the assessment, we give you an honest timeframe and cost. This varies significantly depending on what we find, a straightforward situation might be a day or two; something that's reached the subfloor or gone undiscovered for a while takes longer.

Step 4: The work itself. Full decontamination, removal and disposal of anything that can't be safely treated, and documentation throughout. We don't rush this step,  cutting corners here is exactly what leads to lingering odour or contamination resurfacing later.

Step 5: Sign-off and documentation. You get clear documentation confirming the property has been properly decontaminated,  useful for the owner, for insurance, and for your own records if anyone ever asks whether it was handled properly.

Step 6: Property is safe to re-let. Once everything's signed off, the property is genuinely safe and habitable again,  not just "looks fine."

Every day a unit sits empty costs the owner money, and every day of uncertainty is a harder conversation for you to manage. Having a realistic picture of the process makes the whole situation easier to handle on your end.

If you're facing this right now, get in touch,  the first assessment is free, and we'll walk you through the realistic timeline for your specific situation.