Mother and daughter found dead in London council flat 'had not been seen by neighbours for seven months'

3 March 2023, 15:20 | Updated: 3 March 2023, 15:29

The block where the mother and daughter lived
The block where the mother and daughter lived. Picture: Google Street View

By Kit Heren

A mother and daughter who were found dead in a north London council flat had not been seen by their neighbours for seven months, according to reports.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Zarinn Adatia, 84, and her daughter Tasneem, 48, were discovered in their flat in Barnet in November last year after attempts to carry out a gas safety check.

A devastated neighbour in the Barnet Council block said she had not seen the pair since April or March that year.

"We would still say hello to each other if we saw each other on the stairs or whatever, but the last time I remember speaking to them was around March or April last year as I had some friends around, and they called and asked us to keep the noise down a bit,” Cristin Niculae told Inside Housing.

Ms Niculae said she had raised concerns with the landlord, and was told they would be sent a letter.

Nick Ferrari speak with Christan Weaver on Awaab Ishak inquest verdict

She said: "Obviously nobody knew what had happened then but how were they going to read that?

Neither of the women were known to social services or were known to have serious health conditions that could cause them to die suddenly, although Tasneem had asthma and Zarinn had diabetes. Police said they were treating the women's deaths as unexplained.

Read more: Woman lay dead in London flat for over two years after police said she was 'safe and well'

Read more: 'This wouldn’t have happened if we were British': Parents of boy, 2, killed by mould slam 'racist' landlord

Ms Niculae added: "If her mum had died first, Tas would have been able to do something about it. She loved her mother and did everything for her."

Barnet Homes, the council's in-house landlord, said it was liaising with authorities to work out how the Adatias had died.

Ross Houston, leader of Barnet Council, said he was "deeply shocked and saddened by the distressing circumstances of the passing and discovery of Mrs and Miss Adatia”.

Housing solicitor says Awaab Ishak's death was '100% avoidable'.

Extending his condolences to the family, he added: “Barnet Homes was the family’s landlord and their rent payments were made regularly and were up to date. They did not have any known vulnerabilities and were not known to Barnet Council’s social services.

"The deceased were discovered during a routine gas safety check, whereby Barnet Homes officers were able to obtain entry to their residence. 

“We are working with the relevant authorities to determine the circumstances around this tragedy and are committed to supporting those who have been affected.”

A spokesperson for the police said: "The deaths are being treated as unexplained. They have been investigated and the circumstances are not believed to be suspicious. A file will be prepared for the coroner.”

It comes after a woman was found after lying dead in her flat for two-and-a-half years, following the Met police wrongly reporting that she was "safe and well" and a housing association failed to fully investigate neighbours' concerns.

Sheila Seleoane, 58, was discovered in the recovery position at her "extremely tidy and well-kept" one bedroom flat years after she died, an inquest at Southwark coroners court heard last year.

Ms Seleoane had to be identified by dental records after her decomposed body was discovered in Peckham in February 2021, after her death in August 2019.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Rolf Harris has died aged 93

Paedophile entertainer Rolf Harris died penniless after 'wiping out £16m fortune to make it harder for victims to access'

Exclusive
Captain Sir Tom Moore's daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore

Money 'reasonably expected' to reach Captain Tom's charity never did, commissioner tells LBC

Which? has revealed the best and worst deals for Black Friday. (stock image)

Black Friday 2024: Which? reveals deals to avoid - and the best alternatives

File photo dated 16/04/20 of the then 99-year-old war veteran Captain Tom Moore, with (left to right) grandson Benji, daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and granddaughter Georgia, at his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire

Salary demands, book payments and a doomed spa block: Key findings of the Captain Tom Foundation inquiry

Captain Tom's daughter is facing questions about a hefty book payment

Captain Tom's daughter faces questions over £1.5m book payment after none of the money went to charity

Captain Tom's daughter Hannah and her husband Colin 'significantly' benefited from the foundation personally

Captain Tom's daughter and her husband saw 'significant personal benefit' from father's charity, inquiry finds

The tourist died in the Patong are of Phuket.

British tourist found dead in Phuket storm drain after going missing on night out

Marcus Fakana, 18, is facing 20-years behind bars.

Brit teenager, 18, facing 20-year jail sentence for 'holiday romance' with 17-year-old girl in Dubai

Taxi driver Urfan Sharif, 42, made the dramatic admission under cross-examination in court today

Sara Sharif begged for forgiveness for 'being rude' in letter to parents, court hears

Simone White, Holly Bowles, Bianca Jones

British tourists 'in hospital with methanol poisoning' after drinking toxic shots in Laos holiday spot

Soldiers from the 13th counter intelligence battalion, 2nd reconnaissance platoon of the Swedish Armed Forces, participate in military exercise in Kungsangen

Britain must learn from Sweden to boost defence as tensions with Russia rise, military chief says

Exclusive
Errol Musk called on Starmer to resign

Elon Musk's father calls on Keir Starmer to resign as he claims Labour have 'sent England back 400 years'

Sky Television HQ

Sky employee dies after 'falling from height' at London headquarters

Halyna Hutchins was shot dead on the set of Rust

Alec Baldwin's Rust film premieres 3 years after cinematographer shot dead - but her mother refuses to come

Schoolgirl, 14, and pensioner, 71, fighting for their lives after van ploughs into crowd of Christmas shoppers

Schoolgirl, 14, and pensioner, 71, left fighting for their lives after van ploughs into crowd of Christmas shoppers

Three men have been arrested after a bomb scare in Glasgow

Three men arrested after bomb scare at bus station