Wasp Nest Removal for Landlords and Rental Properties in Rodley
Autumn is when many landlords relax about wasps, but it is the best time to check properties for gaps and note what happened this year before the next spring.
Why autumn is still worth your attention
Wasp activity usually eases as the season ends, and many landlords hope the problem has gone away. A nest that was active in summer is often abandoned in autumn, but that does not mean the job is finished. A landlord in Rodley who uses the quiet months to review what happened and to check the buildings will be better placed when the next spring arrives.
If a nest is still active, it can be treated at a fixed £90 per nest, with £35 for an additional nest on the same property. You will be told the price on the phone before anyone attends. This article is about what to do around it.
The quiet months give you space to think clearly, which is difficult in the middle of August when calls are coming in. A few hours of planning now saves a lot of stress later.
Reviewing the season
Look back over the year’s maintenance notes and ask a few questions.
- Which properties had wasps, and where were the nests?
- Were they in the same place as the previous year?
- How quickly were they reported and treated?
- Did any tenants try to deal with a nest themselves?
- Were any nests missed until late summer?
The answers show where to focus your attention. A property that has a nest in the same eaves every year probably has a gap that needs repairing.
Do not forget to include tenants’ own observations. They may have noticed wasps at a particular corner in June that never came to your attention. Even a vague memory helps you decide where to look.
Be wary of assuming that last year’s nest site will be this year’s. They may choose the same sort of gap again, and a property with one suitable cavity often has several.
Inspecting from the ground
Autumn is a sensible time for an outside inspection, because it is calmer and easier to see. Walk round each property and look up. Check soffits, fascias, barge boards, air bricks, the point where the roof meets a wall, and any gaps around pipes and cables. Look in sheds, garages and outbuildings for old papery nests. Check the garden for holes in banks and lawns.
Do not poke at old nests or disturb them in a loft or shed. If you are unsure whether a nest is still active, leave it alone and ask. Mention it when you book, and ask whether the empty nest can be taken down.
Binoculars are handy for looking at high gables and chimney stacks from the ground. Never use a ladder to examine anything that might still hold wasps, and avoid inspecting on warm, sunny days when any remaining insects are most active.
Repairs to do before spring
Wasps begin building from late April, depending on how mild the spring is, and they look for gaps. A tradesperson can seal or repair many of them over the winter. Typical jobs include:
- filling holes in brickwork and pointing
- replacing damaged or missing soffit and fascia sections
- fitting covers on air bricks and vents
- repairing sheds and garage roofs
- tidying hedges and removing piles of rubbish that provide cover
These repairs are separate from wasp treatment, and they are best agreed with owners in advance. They also bring other benefits, such as keeping out rain and birds.
Ask the owner for approval of repairs in good time. A written list, with addresses and a sentence on each job, is easy for an owner to approve in one go, and it means the work can be done before the weather warms up.
In a rented property, tenants should not carry out structural repairs themselves. Ask them to report visible gaps or crumbling pointing instead, and say that you will arrange the work.
Briefing tenants
A short note to tenants in autumn or winter, saying what happened this year and how to report a nest next time, costs nothing. Remind them that wasps can nest from late April, that they should keep clear of any nest, and that you will arrange a trained technician. Ask them to tell you if they hear buzzing in a wall or loft.
Mention that anyone with a sting allergy should let you know. People often forget to tell a landlord until a problem arises.
You might also remind tenants to keep bins closed, tidy fallen fruit from gardens and clear up pet food left outdoors. These small habits make a property less attractive to wasps.
Ask tenants to let you know in spring if they see a single wasp repeatedly returning to the same corner of the building. In April and May, a lone queen looking for a nest site can be a sign of what is coming.
Looking after your records and booking next year
Update your property files with the year’s events and any repairs you have agreed. If a nest was treated, note the date. When spring comes, send a reminder to your tenants and caretakers to look out for early nests, which are much smaller and easier to treat than a late-summer colony.
Responsibility for pest control depends on the tenancy agreement, so review it when you renew. To book a visit at any time, phone 0113 347 0014 or use the booking form on the contact page. Wasp Exterminator Leeds is open seven days a week, offers same-day service and covers Rodley and nearby areas.
Finally, keep the booking details for Wasp Exterminator Leeds somewhere your caretakers and tenants can find them. That way, if a nest does turn up next year, the first call is the right one.
Wasps on your property in Rodley?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.