Wasp Nests Under Roof Tiles – A Common Problem for Middleton Homes
If you rent your home and find wasps nesting under the tiles, you need to act on safety first and sort out the paperwork alongside it.
The direct answer: tell your landlord and keep everyone safe
A wasp nest under the roof tiles of a rented property raises two questions: how to keep people safe, and who arranges the treatment. The first is yours to handle immediately. The second depends on your tenancy agreement, so read it or contact the landlord or letting agent. We cannot say who is responsible, and it varies from one tenancy to another.
Either way, do not leave the problem. A nest grows through the summer, peaking in August with thousands of wasps, and the longer it is left the worse the situation gets for everyone in the house.
This applies whether you live in Middleton, a suburb of Leeds, or anywhere else we cover.
Landlords and agents tend to be quicker to respond when they have a clear description and a photograph, so it helps to be specific. Say where the wasps are going, how long you have noticed them and that you are concerned about safety.
Do not be tempted to delay on the assumption that the wasps will go away by themselves. They do eventually die back in autumn, but by then a summer’s worth of risk has passed, and the same gap may be used again by a new queen the following spring.
What to do first
Before anything else, find out what you can see and make a record.
- Watch the roofline from a distance and note where the wasps go in.
- Take a photo of the area, from a safe place on the ground.
- Write down the date you first noticed the wasps.
- Contact the landlord or agent promptly, in writing if possible, so there is a record.
- Check your tenancy agreement for how repairs and pest problems are handled.
If your landlord says they will arrange the treatment, ask when. If they ask you to arrange it yourself, ask in what way you will be reimbursed if that is something the agreement provides for. Keep it factual and calm.
If you are worried about a vulnerable person in the home, such as a baby, an older relative or someone with a sting allergy, say so in your message. It helps to set out why the matter is time-sensitive. Keep copies of what you send and the replies you receive.
Keeping the household safe while it is sorted
The paperwork can take days. The wasps do not wait. In the meantime, keep windows by the affected part of the roof closed, keep pets and children away from that side of the house and keep the loft hatch shut. Do not go into the roof space.
Cover food and drink outside, close bins and avoid disturbing the roofline. If anyone has a known allergy to wasp stings, take extra care and tell whoever books the treatment so it can be taken into account. Do not try to deal with the nest with shop-bought products from a ladder; it is risky and may make the wasps more defensive.
If you have to leave the house for a night or two because wasps are getting into a particular room, keep that room closed and shut off, and do not try to clear the wasps with products from the shop. The nest is the source, and the wasps indoors will keep coming until it is treated.
What not to do to the property
Do not block the gap, pull off boards or lift tiles. As well as the safety risk, you may damage something that you are responsible for under your agreement. Whether or not that is the case depends on the wording of the tenancy and, if relevant, any insurance policy, so check both before doing anything to the fabric of the building.
Blocking an active nest’s entrance can also push wasps into the rooms. The roof should only be repaired once the nest has been treated and the landlord or owner has agreed the work.
If a repair is needed later, it is a matter for the landlord or owner to agree, and the cost will depend on your agreement. Do not arrange work on the roof yourself without checking.
What the treatment involves for you
The technician needs to see the position of the entrance and reach it. If you are the occupier but not the owner, make sure the person arranging access has told you the time, or that you have confirmed with the landlord who will be present. Keep pets inside, clear the route and stay away from the nest during the visit.
Afterwards, ask the technician whether the empty nest can be taken down, and let the landlord know the treatment has been done so the roof repair can be arranged. If you need paperwork, ask for what you require when booking.
Be ready to give the technician a clear view of the situation, including any wasps you have seen indoors. A tenant who has taken the trouble to observe the roofline and note the details makes the whole visit quicker, and it reduces the chance of the nest being missed. If the landlord has asked you to let someone in on their behalf, confirm the time and name in advance.
Booking
Treatment of a wasp nest is a fixed £90, with £35 for an additional nest on the same property, and no call-out charge. We work seven days a week, offer same-day service and take on domestic and commercial jobs. The work is done by trained technicians and is fully insured.
Ring 0113 347 0014 or fill in the booking form on the contact page. The price is confirmed on the phone before a visit, and nothing is done without agreement. Tell us if the gap is high, as access equipment may be needed, and let us know about any allergy. We cover Middleton and the nearby areas.
If you have paid for the treatment yourself, keep the confirmation and any message from the technician. It is useful to have a record if you later discuss the cost with the landlord or agent, and the details of what was done will be easy to relay.
Wasps on your property in Middleton?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.