( dpa ) - A British man in his 70s lived with the corpse of his former lodger lying on his living room sofa for more than five years, police said Friday.
The corpse was discovered after neighbours reported a "foul smell" from the council flat in Bristol, south-west England.
The flat's tenant had failed to report the death because he suffered from mental health problems, the BBC said.
The deceased man, believed also to have been in his 70s, was the tenant's former lodger at the flat.
Bristol City Council launched an internal inquiry to establish how the corpse went unnoticed for so long.
"We are shocked and concerned by this discovery and are carrying out an urgent internal review of the circumstances of the tenant," said a spokesman.