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An open inspection was called off earlier this month after prospective tenants discovered the previous tenant’s corpse in the bedroom.
According to Rebecca Hayward, an overpowering smell was evident from the moment she and her boyfriend stepped inside the one-bedroom apartment with the property manager, a report in The West Australian revealed last week.
The 18 year-old said they were being shown through the living room when another couple discovered the dead tenant in the bedroom.
Ms Hayward told The West Australian that no one from ACTON Hills, the agency leasing the property, had checked the unit before the home open.
"The boyfriend of the other couple was walking into the bedroom when he turned, grabbed his girlfriend on the shoulders and turned her away," Ms Hayward told the newspaper.
"The real estate agent gave us all a funny look but then when she saw the body, she turned around and there were tears in her eyes. She said 'everybody out' and then went to the balcony and shouted to the other agent waiting outside: 'The viewing has been cancelled - don't let anybody else up here'."
ACTON managing director Graeme Baxter told The West Australian that all proper procedures were followed under their requirements as a managing agent.
Real Estate Institute of WA (REIWA) president David Airey told The West Australian that it appeared the agent had given enough notice and had done nothing wrong.
“The relevant Act requires that agents give 'reasonable notice' if showing a buyer or prospective tenant through a leased property,” he said. “In this case notice was given.
“Under the circumstances, it’s understandable that the agent turned up with clients when she did. She wasn’t to know that the existing tenant had unfortunately died in the previous few days.”
Police believe the 35 year-old tenant, a Brazilian man, had been dead for a few days.
There are no suspicious circumstances and police are preparing a report for the coroner.
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