Wasp Nest Removal for Landlords and Rental Properties in Bentley

When a tenant reports a wasp nest, the first call matters. This guide covers what to ask, what to tell them, and how to get it sorted without fuss.

The message that arrives on a Sunday

It is usually a text or a phone call: the tenant says there are wasps coming in through the bedroom window, or flying in and out of a gap above the back door. They are anxious, perhaps a little cross, and they want to know what happens next.

The way you respond in the first hour sets the tone. A calm, practical reply, with clear instructions and a plan, takes the pressure off the tenant and keeps the situation from getting worse.

The advice below applies to rented houses and flats in Bentley and nearby, though the steps are the same wherever the property is.

It also helps to remember that tenants are not always sure what they are looking at. A report of wasps might turn out to be bees, or a few foraging insects from a neighbouring garden. A couple of questions will usually sort that out quickly.

Questions to ask the tenant

Ask enough to understand the problem, but do not turn it into an interrogation. The answers help whoever treats the nest and let you decide how urgent it is.

• Where exactly are the wasps going in and out, and roughly how high is it?
• Have wasps got into the home, and if so, which room?
• Has anyone been stung, or does anyone in the household have a known allergy?
• Is there a baby, young child or pet who uses that part of the property?
• What are the best times of day for access, and is there a gate or lock?

If the tenant sends a photograph, that is helpful, provided they took it from a distance.

Keep a note of the answers. If you pass the details on to an agent, a caretaker or a technician, you will not have to ring the tenant a second time.

What to tell the tenant straight away

The most important message is to stay away from the nest. Wasps can swarm and sting if they are threatened, and a nest can hold as many as 2,000 insects at the peak of the season in August. Tell them not to knock on the wall, spray the opening, block it or try to knock the nest down.

They can shut windows and doors near the activity, keep food and sweet drinks covered, and keep children and pets away. If someone is stung, they should wash the sting, take the sting out if it is visible and use a cold pack. Swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash means calling 999.

Anyone with a known allergy should speak to their GP.

If the wasps have come indoors, ask the tenant to shut the door of that room and put a towel along the bottom of it, rather than trying to swat them. Nests inside a ceiling or wall cavity can release wasps through light fittings or gaps around pipes, and the room is better left alone until the visit.

Getting the job booked

Once you have the key details, make the booking the same day if you can. The Wasp Exterminator offers same-day service and works seven days a week, so a weekend report does not have to wait. A wasp nest is treated for a fixed £70 per nest and a further nest on the same property is £25 extra, with no call-out charge.

The price is confirmed before the technician visits. It might be higher in difficult places where special access equipment is needed to reach the nest, and you will be told first. Nothing is done without agreement, so you or the person you have authorised can say yes or no.

You can ring 07798 792 774 or use the online booking form. Tell the tenant what time the technician is expected, and who will be on site.

If the tenant works away during the day, agree a time that suits them. Many nests can be treated from outside, so a convenient time often exists without anyone needing to take time off.

Who pays

The tenancy agreement usually determines who is responsible for arranging and paying for pest treatment. We can not give legal advice on this, so check the agreement, or ask your agent or another suitable adviser. If it is not clear, agree it with the tenant at the start rather than letting the question hold up the treatment.

A short, friendly confirmation by text or email of what was decided is useful for both sides.

If the tenant has already paid someone, or is thinking of doing so, ask them to pause and talk to you first so that nobody ends up arranging the same job twice.

After the visit

Ask the tenant to confirm that the wasp activity has stopped, and keep a note of the date, the address and what was done. If wasps return to the same spot, or a second nest is found, get in touch again.

If the empty nest is in a spot that bothers the tenant, such as above a door, ask the technician at booking whether it can be taken down. And if the property is let to a commercial tenant, the same steps apply, as domestic and commercial premises are both covered.

Following up shows the tenant that you take their concerns seriously, which is good for the relationship and for the condition of the property.

Finally, think about prevention. During your next routine inspection, look at the roofline and walls near where the nest was. A broken tile, a missing piece of mortar or a gap beside a vent is the sort of thing a builder can repair once the wasps are gone.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Bentley