Search for the mysterious owner of ashes found by a landlord

Police are on the hunt after the ashes of a woman were found by a landlord who was cleaning a vacated rental property.

The urn containing the cremated remains of Marlene Charlesworth, who died a decade ago, were discovered by the British property owner after the tenants had departed the North Yorkshire address.

Police have tried to track down the tenants, according to the BBC, but have been unable to find them.

The landlord was also unsuccessful at locating the tenants and subsequently handed the ashes to police.

A funeral home was also contacted, but no leads emerged. Authorities and the home owner are eager to give Marlene a more appropriate resting place.

A statement released to the BBC by North Yorkshire Police encouraged the tenants to get in touch.

“We are of course keeping it safe at the police station, but we really want to reunite Marlene’s ashes with her family,” the statement said.

In Australia, a landlord can dispose of any belongings left behind by a tenant, when their lease expires, after providing them with proper notice.

This applies to both vacant possession, when the keys are returned at the formal end of a lease, and when a property is abandoned, without the paperwork to formally cease the arrangement.

Landlords must give notice to a renter that their goods will be disposed of if they don’t return to collect them, and state tenancy tribunals can get involved to advise and determine how items are taken care of.