A man was found dead in a bin a short time after fleeing from a unit where a woman's remains were discovered, police said.

Detectives said the two deaths in the affluent Brisbane suburb of Teneriffe were being treated as a murder-suicide.

Officers went to the apartment building on Commercial Road at about 9:00pm on Saturday after neighbours reported a bad smell coming from a unit in the complex.

Police said when they knocked on the apartment door a man fled through a rear glass door and leapt over a balcony.

Blood stains were left on a fence where he jumped down to a laneway.

Officers later found his body inside a green commercial rubbish bin in Dath Street.

Meanwhile a woman's body parts were found inside the apartment.

"Police attended to the units at 113 Commercial Road, Teneriffe, conducting a welfare check because management were concerned about the welfare of some occupants," Detective Senior Sergeant Tom Armitt said.

"On attendance we've had cause to commence an investigation in relation to a murder-suicide."

Nearby residents described a huge commotion as a large number of officers and dog squad units scoured the area.

Forensic experts have been carrying out examinations at both crime scenes.

Teneriffe has undergone major residential development in the past decade and attracts a large number of young professionals.

Neighbour heard 'a commotion'

ABC journalist Dean Bilton, who lives nearby, said: "We told police we heard a commotion on Monday night.

"We think it was the apartment concerned. We weren't sure whether it had been a party or an argument but it now seems like it might have been something more sinister."

He said other people living in the building had noticed a bad smell for several weeks.

He also said he thought the man who lived in the apartment had two Bulldog puppies which had been heard barking loudly for much of the past week.

Courtney Reichart and her husband Alex, who also live in the building, said they noticed a smell in the basement last Sunday but that there had been an issue with sewerage pipes.

Sorry, this video has expired Neighbours complain of foul odour, before woman's remains discovered ( Andree Withey )

Ms Reichart said she had noticed a strong smell on the ground floor this morning.

"I've walked in and out of the building a couple of times this morning ... and the smell is quite pungent, it smells like rotting meat," she said.

"I think it's just from when they [police] keep opening the door to have a look.

"It's quite bad, I smelt it a couple of days ago but it just smelt like dog food - we've got animals in the building so you don't really think of anything.

"And as Alex said we've had sewerage issues."

Mr Reichart said they moved into the block about six weeks ago.

"It's worrying, having seen that, especially with all the turnout of the police last night," he said.

"When 10 police start heading into your building you think something's happening here."

Police scientific and forensic officers have been examining both the unit and the area where the man's body was discovered.