Possible dead body smell in new apt building?! (sublet, apartments)

[Sbudsky]

I just moved to a short-term studio sublet in Manhattan for the month. The unit is very nice and the building overall is well-kept, but there is a terrible smell coming from one of the units. I've never smelled a dead body before, but that was the first thing I thought of when I smelled this.... My second thought was that it could be a hoarder.

The smell hasn't traveled to my unit or anything, but I cannot stop thinking about it. The building is large and all studio apartments and the super isn't on site. It's the type of place where people live alone and don't know their neighbors and I doubt anyone would notice if a tenant wasn't seen for a few days. Anyway, I'm less concerned about the smell and more concerned that someone died alone and no one noticed.

So, my question is-- What the heck do I do? Is there a number I can call anonymously for someone to do a wellness check on the unit? I don't want to call the super because we're subletters and I'm not 100% positive that that's kosher... Any advice would be very much appreciated!

[Saltatrix]

Call the police, I'm sure they would recognize the smell if they checked it out.

[Sbudsky]

That's what I was thinking, but didn't want to overreact...I'm brand new to the building, so it could be that this is a known issue and people have already called before, but I don't really have any way of knowing.

Ask people in the building, if there are no cameras in the building- write on a big white piece of paper in sharpie marker- WHAT IS THAT SMELL? and tape it on the stank-units door. See if it comes off or sets off any conversation.

"I don't know why but my hallway always smells like potatoes.

[ShayLove]

OMG that reminds me of one time my aunt's neighbor disappeared for days. We was so worried because he was old. We started smelling a horrible odor from his apartment. I was getting scared so I called the police. They came and broke down his door and found meat he left out to defrost. He had been in the hospital all that time and the meat was rotting in his kitchen. I felt much better knowing it was not him rotting in the apartment. Do a little research first. Ask maintenance workers about the smell. Is it consistent? How long has it been stinking? The reason why we did call the police is because we knew the guy next door was very old and has not been seen for a while.

[Fred314X]

If it was me, I'd just go ahead and call the police. What's the worst thing that could happen...they'd tell you it wasn't a dead body? They certainly wouldn't hold your concern against you. As to everyone else in the building, if they're living with that smell and not saying anything about it, I don't think I could make myself worry about them.

[henry1]

call the cops to see if the person is all right in the place..

[Sbudsky]

Thanks for the input everyone. I think we're gonna start by telling the super, and call the police if that doesn't result in anything...