Apparently neighbours DID complain to Christie about the smell. It would have to be really bad for English people to actually confront the person, they're much more comfortable grumbling to themselves than addressing the person.
AND a police officer mentioned the smell to Christie.
Christie blamed it on "the coloureds and their spicy cooking", LOL.
If you've ever left scraps of raw meat and fat in a bin overnight in summer, you'll know how strongly that can smell.
Imagine how bad whole decomposing bodies must have smelt!
Some people have a high tolerance for stench, it was a slum after all. Perhaps they were used to bad smells and thought it was bad, but not unbearable.

Thanks for clearing that up, steven-87.

Ludovic Kennedy's book states that Christie was in the habit of applying liberal does of Jeyes disinfectant throughout the ground floor of the building. If you've ever come across that liquid, you'll know how it will overpower almost any other odour!

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