Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Belvedere? Here's What to Do
When the loft is shared with other homes, or access is through someone else's property, a nest needs a little organising before the technician arrives.
When the roof space is not just yours
Some buildings have a roof space that runs over more than one home. A house converted into flats, a terrace with a continuous loft or a block with a communal hatch may have one nest affecting several households. Wasps do not care about the boundaries, and the hum may be heard in one flat while the nest sits above another.
If this is your situation, the first step is communication. Before anything else, find out who else is affected and who is responsible for the roof space.
Misunderstandings can arise because each person sees only part of the problem. A tenant on the top floor hears a hum, a neighbour downstairs sees a wasp or two at the window, and the landlord knows nothing. A single message pulling those reports together makes it clear that the matter is serious.
Who to contact
Work through the sensible contacts.
- Neighbours in the same building, who may have noticed wasps too.
- The managing agent or landlord, if the building is let.
- The freeholder or management company for a block of flats.
- A business owner or site manager for commercial buildings.
- The household that holds the hatch key, if access is shared.
Who is responsible, and who pays, depends on the lease, the tenancy agreement or the management arrangement, so check the documents. We cannot give legal advice.
A shared WhatsApp group or noticeboard can make the whole process quicker. Ask people to post what they have seen and when, and to avoid the loft.
Arranging access
The technician needs to reach the roof space. Find out where the hatch is and who has the key. It may be in a communal landing, in a neighbour's flat or in a cupboard. Agree a time when the right person can be there. If access is through someone else's home, they need to know a visit is planned and what is going to happen.
Tell us about the arrangement when you book. If several households are involved, give us one contact name and number, so the technician is not trying to reach several people.
If there is a caretaker or porter, they can be a great help. They usually know where the hatch is and who holds the keys.
Safety for everyone
Let all residents know about the nest, with a short note on the door or message to the group. Everyone should keep out of the roof space, keep any hatch closed, and avoid sealing gaps or spraying. Anyone with a known allergy to stings should tell the person arranging the booking, so that the appointment can be prioritised.
If wasps enter a flat, keep the door of that room closed and open the window to let strays out. If someone is stung, wash the sting, remove it if visible and use a cold pack; call 999 for swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing, dizziness or a widespread rash.
Do not leave it to the last minute. Allow time for the agent to give consent, or for a key holder to be found.
Think too about who might be affected beyond the building itself. Delivery drivers, visitors and postal workers use the same front door as residents, and a hatch left open in a communal hallway can put them at risk. A clear notice at the entrance, written plainly and without alarm, protects everyone.
If you manage a small block, keep a log of the date wasps were first reported, who was told and when treatment took place. The record is helpful for the next season and for new residents. Share it with the owner or management company.
Some buildings have a loft that is divided into sections by walls or boarding. A nest on one side may not affect the other, and the technician will want to check each part that can be reached. Tell us if you know of such a division.
Finally, agree in advance how any costs will be shared. We charge per nest, not per flat, and the price is fixed. Whether residents divide it, the freeholder pays or an agent covers it is decided by the lease or the management agreement, not by us.
Booking and cost
A fixed £120 covers each nest, an additional nest on the same property is £60 extra, and there is no call-out charge. One visit is guaranteed and the technician is fully insured and qualified. Opening runs seven days a week, with same-day service and a choice of evening and weekend appointments.
Phone 01622 410 019 or use the form on the contact page. We cover Belvedere, in the London Borough of Bexley, and the surrounding area, for homes and commercial premises. Agree beforehand who will pay, so that there is no delay on the day.
Commercial units in the same building should be told too, since they share the same roof. Staff and customers will want to know.
Afterwards
When the technician has finished, let everyone know it is done and when the roof space can be used. Dead wasps can be cleared from landings and sills with a vacuum or brush. Raise the empty nest when you book, since it may be possible to have it taken down.
Keep a note of the date and the work done, and share it with the managing agent or other residents. In spring, agree who will glance at the roofline, so early signs are not missed.
If the building is old or unusual in layout, tell us. Roof spaces can be connected in ways that are not obvious from below, and the technician will plan accordingly.
Wasps on your property in Belvedere?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.