Wasp Nest Removal for Landlords and Rental Properties in Blackmore

The check-out visit often reveals what nobody reported, and a wasp nest found then needs treating quickly, recording clearly and handling fairly with the leaving tenant.

A surprise at the final inspection

The check-out is when a landlord or agent sees the property properly, outside as well as in. It is also when things nobody reported come to light: a damp patch, a broken fence panel, and sometimes a wasp nest at the back of the shed or under the eaves.

A nest at this stage creates a mixture of problems. The tenant is leaving, so may not care. The new tenant may be moving in shortly. The deposit discussion is under way, and a nest raises the question of whether anyone should have reported it earlier. Meanwhile, the colony continues to grow: wasps start building from late April, depending on the weather, and a nest can hold from 2,000 to 10,000 wasps or more by August.

If you let a home in Blackmore, a nest found at a check-out needs a calm, practical response, and the order in which you do things matters.

First, safety

Before anything else, make sure nobody goes near the nest. Whoever is carrying out the inspection should stand back, note the position and move away. If a tenant is still packing, tell them where to avoid.

• Do not complete the inspection in a room next to a nest entrance until it has been treated.
• Keep the leaving tenant and any removal people away from the affected area.
• Keep doors and windows nearby closed.
• Do not attempt to knock down or block the nest.

A live nest can swarm and sting if it is threatened, and removal vans and people carrying boxes make noise and vibration. Where a sting happens, wash the area, take out the sting if you can see it and apply a cold pack. Swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash all mean call 999.

Booking before the next tenant arrives

A property at check-out is usually empty or soon will be, which makes access straightforward. Reach the office on 01245 327274 or complete the online booking form on the contact page. It is open seven days a week, provides a same-day service and works on both domestic and commercial properties.

The price is a fixed £90 per nest, and the price graphic carries the words one visit guaranteed. A second nest on the same property costs £35 more. The cost is unaffected by location or time of day. The service is fully insured, and the business describes the service as safe and effective.

Tell the office the property is vacant, how the technician will get in and where the wasps are entering. If the incoming tenant is due soon, say so, though you cannot promise a time. Book as soon as you have the facts; a nest found in July only grows further.

The deposit and the question of fault

A nest found at check-out can bring up the question of whether the leaving tenant should bear the cost. This is a delicate area, and nothing here is legal advice. Whether a tenant is responsible for a pest in the garden or building depends on the tenancy agreement and on the circumstances; and any deposit arrangement has its own rules that you should read or take advice on.

What can be said is practical. Document what you found, with a date, a description and a photo taken from a safe distance. Check whether the tenant ever reported wasps. Read the relevant clauses. If you are unsure, do not make a deduction on a guess.

Keeping the treatment itself separate from the deposit discussion helps. The price is fixed and low, so there is no need for the nest to wait while the paperwork is sorted out.

Telling the next tenant

A new tenant is entitled to a safe garden and building. If a nest was found and treated shortly before they move in, a brief factual note is sensible: where wasps were seen, the date of the treatment and a request to report any new activity quickly.

Do not overstate the position. Wasps may build again in a new season, and no one can say a property will never see one. Honest, plain communication sets a good tone for the tenancy.

If the new tenant is allergic to stings, tell the office when booking or, if the booking is already made, let them know so the visit can be prioritised.

Adding it to your check-out routine

Next time, add an outdoor wasp check to the check-out list: eaves, shed, garage, hedges and any bank or lawn edge, viewed from a distance. A note saying nothing seen is as useful as a note saying something was.

Write up the incident in the property file: the date found, how, the booking, the visit and the cost. Consider adding a clause to your welcome information asking tenants to report wasps early. A nest reported in May is a small job; one first discovered at check-out in September may have been growing in secret all summer.

Consider also the practical side of handovers. If keys are passed on or contractors are due to arrive for cleaning or decorating, tell them about the nest before they come and ask them to keep away from the affected area until the visit is done. Cleaners and decorators often work in gardens and sheds without knowing what is there, and a nest that has just been found is exactly the thing they might walk into.

Make a note of who was told and when. It takes a minute, and it avoids the situation where a tradesperson is stung because a message never reached them. The same applies to the incoming tenant’s removal firm, who will be carrying furniture past doors and windows near the nest if it has not yet been dealt with.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Blackmore