Nothing is more painful for a landlord than to discover that a tenant has died in his or her rental property. This not only constitutes an emotional response, but can also be financially prohibitive. If a tenant dies while living in a home that you own, you must do everything by the book to ensure you aren’t found liable for any of the circumstances.

Step 1: Call the Police
If you discover that your tenant has died in your rental property, your first response should be to call the police. Even if there are no indications of foul play, you shouldn’t touch anything in the home, and you definitely shouldn’t move the body. Wait outside the dwelling until the police arrive—they will want to take your statement.

Step 2: Contact Next of Kin
Your residential lease applications should have a place where tenants can fill in next of kin. Look up the person or persons that your tenant listed and contact them as quickly as possible. After you’ve given your statement to the police, you should have time to make all necessary phone calls.

Step 3: Lock the Unit Securely
Even in cases of peaceful death, the medical examiner and police will want you to secure the unit when a tenant dies in your rental property. Make sure all doors and windows are locked, and stay out of the unit until the investigation is complete.

Step 4: Verify Relation
When your tenant’s next-of-kin comes to collect his belongings, make sure you don’t hand them over to just anyone. It is your duty as the landlord to verify relation when a tenant dies in your rental property. As for identification, at the very least, and you might also want to verify the tenant’s will for his or her executor.

Step 5: Talk with Other Tenants
If you own a multi-family property, you’ll need to deal with your other tenants as well. They’ll have questions, and they might want to honor the deceased with a memorial service. Do whatever feels comfortable for you, but don’t give away proprietary information during a police investigation.

Step 6: Hire a Restoration Company
If you intend to sell or rent out the property after a tenant has died, you will need to make sure it is thoroughly clean. Restoration companies can rid the property of damage from bullets and other violent damage, and also clean the effects of putrefaction. During the cleaning process, the property should be well-ventilated, and you shouldn’t allow prospective tenants to tour until it is thoroughly clean.

Steve Thompson, Yahoo Contributor Network

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