Wasp Nest Removal for Landlords and Rental Properties in Drapers Green

If you have only just started letting a property, a wasp nest can feel like a crisis; this checklist walks you through the first day and the steps after it.

You have just become a landlord, and this has happened

Perhaps you inherited a house, bought a flat to rent or moved abroad and kept your home. Either way, you have a tenant, an agreement and, now, a message about wasps. You are not sure whether you or the tenant should be doing something, and you would like to get it right.

Take a breath. A wasp nest is one of the more manageable problems a landlord faces. It has a fixed price, a quick visit and a clear set of steps. The only complication is that it should be dealt with soon, because wasps start building from late April, depending on the weather, and the colony grows until it peaks in August, when a nest can hold from 2,000 to 10,000 wasps or more.

If your rental is in Drapers Green, the steps below apply as they would anywhere. Work through them in order.

Even long-standing landlords find wasps a nuisance. The difference is only that they have a routine, and you are about to build yours.

Day one: the first hour

Do these things first, in this order.

1. Reply to the tenant, thank them and say you are dealing with it.
2. Ask where the wasps are entering, since when and whether anyone is allergic to stings.
3. Tell them to stay away from the nest, keep children and pets clear and keep nearby windows shut.
4. Tell them not to block, knock or spray the nest. Wasps that feel their nest is under threat can swarm and sting.
5. Ask when someone will be at home.

Keep the message short and kind. You do not need to know everything yet. You need to know where and whether anyone is at particular risk, so you can pass that on.

Do not worry about getting the wording perfect. A tenant would rather receive a short, clear message in a minute than a polished one the next day. If you are unsure about something, say so and promise to come back to it; a landlord who is honest and quick is a landlord tenants are happy to report to.

Day one: the booking

Next, book. Book by phoning 01245 327274 or use the online booking form on the contact page. The business is open seven days a week, has same-day service available and deals with domestic and commercial work. The service is fully insured, and the service is described as safe and effective.

Have the following ready: the property location, where the wasps are entering, a contact number for the tenant, how access will work and whether anyone is allergic. Allergies matter: mention any to the office so the booking can be prioritised. You cannot be promised a time, so avoid promising one to the tenant.

The cost is fixed at £90 per nest, and the price graphic carries the words one visit guaranteed. A second nest on the same property costs £35 on top. It does not change with location or time of day, so you can tell the tenant the figure straight away.

Keep a note of the number you rang and the date. If you need to change the appointment, a quick call to the same number is all that is needed, and the details you wrote down will save you repeating yourself to anyone.

Reading your agreement

A first-time landlord often worries about being in the wrong. Look at your tenancy agreement to see what it says about the building, the garden and pests. Who pays for a wasp nest depends on that wording. This is not legal advice, and no article can tell you what your agreement means. If the wording is unclear, ask whoever drew it up or an agent.

Do not delay the booking while you read. Book first, then settle who pays with the facts to hand. Be fair and polite, and record whatever you agree in writing. A fixed £90 is not a sum worth falling out over.

If you hold insurance, read the policy, because whether it covers pest problems depends on its wording.

If your tenant offers to pay or to arrange the visit themselves, thank them, but make sure it is done safely and that you are told what was agreed. Keep any receipt with your notes.

The visit and the days after

Tell the tenant the day once it is confirmed, and ask them to keep clear. After the visit, ask whether the wasps have stopped. Raise at booking whether the empty nest can be taken down.

Write a short note: date of report, location, booking, visit, cost, who paid. Keep it with your tenancy documents. If the tenant reports more wasps later, treat it as a new report and repeat the steps.

Thank the tenant for reporting. Good tenants are what a landlord wants to keep.

What to do before next summer

Put a reminder in your diary for April. Send tenants a short message asking them to tell you early if they see wasps going in and out of one place, and to keep away from it. Walk round the outside of the property when you visit and look at the eaves, shed and hedges from a distance.

You will soon find that a wasp nest is a routine matter. Most landlords never need to think about it again once they have a process, and you now have one.

Keep a copy of this checklist with your tenancy file. When you take on another property, you will have a ready-made process, and you will be surprised how rarely you need to think about it.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Drapers Green