Queanbeyan Police are investigating the death of a man at a home in Banksia Crescent, after his body was found in an "advanced state" of decomposition.
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The smell was what alerted a neighbour to call police.
It would appear, police said, the man was dead for at least four weeks before he was found.
The man, aged in his 50s, is likely to be identified as the sole occupant of the home, however police have not yet been able to confirm this.
"He was in a pretty advanced state of decomposition," Detective sergeant Mick Handley said.
Police were called to the home about 3.30pm on Sunday, December 13.
They canvassed the neighbourhood and spoke to residents who reported they had not seen the man for weeks.
"We're assuming it is him [the resident], as he was inside the lounge room," detective sergeant Handley said.
One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said she thought the smell was from the man's bins.
She described him as friendly, and said it had come up in neighbourly discussions that no-one had seen the man recently.
Detective sergeant Handley said an investigative team did not find anything to indicate the death was untoward.
"At this stage, we're expecting [the post-mortem] to come back as natural causes, or something similar," he said.
Police said they have spoken to the next of kin, who live interstate.
Inquiries are ongoing, and a brief of evidence has been prepared for the coroner.
