Concerns raised as woman lay dead in flat - inquest

The sister of a woman who lay dead in her flat for over three years had raised concerns with her landlord over her welfare, an inquest heard.

The body of Laura Winham, 41, whose family has previously said had schizophrenia and believed they were trying to harm her, was found by her brother in May 2021.

Her sister contacted New Visions Homes two months before, but when officials visited the property there was "no answer", Gerri Summers, a previous employee said.

It was "clear that [Ms Winham] was vulnerable", Ms Summers added in written evidence read out at Woking Coroners' Court in Surrey.

The inquest, which opened on Tuesday, also heard that the gas at Ms Winham's social housing flat in Woking was turned off in January 2019 due to a contractor not being able to gain access to complete an annual gas check.

Ms Summers said the contractor had made several attempts to contact her by phone and post with no response, before it cut off the gas.

The family believe Ms Winham died in November 2017 - three-and-a-half years before her body was found.

Ms Summers also said that responsibility for managing social housing has been moved back to Woking Borough Council and that there was now a "more customer-focused experience".

She added that Ms Winham had previously been subject to an eviction warrant in April 2014 after getting into rent arrears of £1,579 after she had stopped claiming housing benefit.

But the court heard Woking Borough Council later assisted her in making a new housing benefit claim and encouraged her to see her GP.

Ms Winham had been referred to social care twice in the years leading up to her death.

The inquest continues.