Wasp Nest Removal for Landlords and Rental Properties in Colwick
The gap between tenants is a busy time for landlords, and a wasp nest found during a check or viewing is easier to deal with when nobody lives there.
The nest you find when nobody is home
Nest discoveries are not always reported by tenants. In the weeks between one tenancy ending and the next beginning, the landlord or agent is often the only person visiting the property. A routine check, a visit by a tradesperson, a viewing or a meter reading can all reveal a few wasps at a window or a steady flow of insects at a gap in the wall. There are good and bad sides to this. The good side is that nobody lives there, so the job is easier to arrange and nobody has to be warned or moved. The bad side is that an empty building gets less attention, and a nest that starts in May can be large by August without anybody noticing.
Letting agents sometimes assume that wasps can be dealt with at the last minute. An unnoticed nest has a way of announcing itself at the worst moment, such as a photographer, an inventory clerk or a cleaner arriving to find a cloud of insects at the back door. Checking the outside of an empty property in good weather is as important as checking the boiler.
What to do on the day you spot it
If you find wasps while you are at the property, remain calm and move away steadily, without swatting. Close any windows and doors near the activity and leave the area. Do not go back to take a closer look, and do not let a tradesperson or a prospective tenant wander round to that side of the building. Note down what you saw before you forget it: the position of the activity, roughly how many insects, and whether it looks to be inside or outside the property. Take a photograph from a good distance if that can be done safely. That is plenty to give us on the phone. If viewings are booked, think about what to do with them. A viewing in a house with an active nest near the front door is uncomfortable for everyone. Moving or rearranging a viewing for a day or two is usually kinder than hoping nothing happens.
Clearing up after yourself matters too. If you have been into the property, take any food waste out with you and keep bins closed, as scraps and sweet drink residue draw wasps in and make the situation worse. A tenant who left a jam jar on the windowsill can accidentally encourage a nest that has begun in the wall outside.
Practical benefits of an empty property
With no occupants, access is straightforward. You or the agent hold the keys and can be there when the technician arrives, or can make arrangements for a nest in the garden to be reached without anyone attending. There are no children, pets or allergy concerns to manage in the house itself, although you should still tell us if you or someone helping you has an allergy. Another advantage is that you can take your time over the aftermath. If wasps got into a room, you can clear and clean it before the next tenants arrive. Ask the technician when you book whether the empty nest can be taken down, since a clear gap in the wall or soffit is something you will probably want to inspect and repair before anybody moves in.
There is also an honest conversation to be had with the next tenant, if they ask. Being open that a nest was found and dealt with before they moved in is better than having them discover it later. A short note in the move-in paperwork, giving the date it was treated, shows that the property was looked after.
Timing it around the new tenancy
A move-in date is a hard deadline, and a wasp nest is not something to leave to the last minute. Book as soon as you have found it. Same-day service is offered, so there is no need to wait for a convenient moment, and the job is intended as a single visit. If you are looking at a long void period, the sensible approach is to deal with the nest, then check the building again a few days later to see whether wasps are still around the same place. If they are, ring us and describe where. Think about the garden as well. Nests are sometimes found in the garden of an empty house only when the grass has been cut for the first time. A walk around the grounds from a safe distance before the lawn is mown could save a nasty surprise for whoever is operating the mower.
Should the property be a flat above a shop or a small unit, the same advice applies. We cover commercial premises as well as homes, so tell us what kind of building it is and whether anybody else, such as a neighbouring business, shares the access. The technician can then plan the visit around the layout rather than finding out on arrival.
Cost and booking in Colwick
A single nest is £95 per nest with a further £35 for each additional nest at the property, and the price is confirmed on the phone before the technician attends. There is no call-out charge, and nothing goes ahead without your agreement. We cover Colwick and neighbouring areas seven days a week, for domestic and commercial lettings. Call 0115 937 5117 or complete the booking form on the contact page. Who bears the cost between landlord and outgoing tenant, if there is any question about that, is for the tenancy agreement and any deposit arrangements to settle, and not something we can advise on.
It is worth repeating that nobody should go looking for the nest up close. A landlord keen to be useful who climbs a ladder to peer into the soffit is the person most likely to be stung. Wait for the trained technician, and let them find it.
Wasps on your property in Colwick?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.