The dead man, Denis Pring, 73, had been living with a city council tenant Alan Derrick, who has learning difficulties.
The inquest heard Mr Derrick did not want to tell the authorities that Mr Pring had died because he was worried he would be evicted.
The coroner recorded an open verdict into Mr Pring’s death at the hearing in Flax Bourton, near Bristol.
Mr Pring, a former warehouseman, is believed to have died at some point between April and June 1998.
The inquest heard that he had been living in the flat unofficially.
Full story: Body lay undiscovered under sofa for 10 years – Telegraph