Wasp Nest Removal for Landlords and Rental Properties in Meopham Green
Outbuildings, garden walls and lawn edges give wasps plenty of places to nest away from the house, so landlords need to look beyond the roof.
Nests away from the house
When people picture a wasp nest, they imagine one tucked under the eaves of a house. In a rented property with a garden, the nest is just as likely to be somewhere the tenant rarely goes: inside a garage, behind the shed, in a compost heap, in a hedge or in a hole in the ground. Wasps start building from late April depending on the weather, and they choose sheltered, quiet spots.
For a landlord, that matters because the first sign may not be a nest at all. A tenant sees wasps going in and out of the garage door, or finds them rising from the lawn when the mower passes. Those are the clues that matter, and they are easy to dismiss until someone is stung.
Wasp Exterminator Kent works on domestic and commercial premises and covers Meopham Green and the villages around it. Each nest costs a fixed £120 per nest, wherever on the property it sits.
Walk the whole plot once in the season, not just the house. Start at the building and work outwards, looking at fence lines, the base of trees, old stumps and the corners where garden waste collects. A few minutes on a mild afternoon is all it takes, and it should be done at a distance of several metres from anything that looks busy.
Ground nests and what they look like
A nest in the ground is often noticed only by the traffic. A small hole, perhaps the size of a coin, with wasps flying in and out in a steady line, is the typical sign. The soil around the entrance may look slightly disturbed, but the nest itself is below the surface and can be much larger than the hole suggests.
The danger lies in not knowing it is there. A tenant mowing the lawn, a child playing near a bank or a dog sniffing at a hole can disturb the colony, and wasps defend the nest in numbers. Ask tenants to watch from a distance for a few minutes and tell you exactly where the wasps go, without going closer.
Do not pour anything down the hole or cover it. Those actions can push wasps out in other directions, including into the house. Leave it to a technician.
Take a mental note of the time of day. Wasps are most visible in warm sunshine, when workers leave to forage, and quieter in the cool of the evening. A tenant who watches for two or three minutes on a warm afternoon can usually give a very clear description of where the entrance is, which is just what the booking needs.
Sheds, garages and lean-tos
Buildings that are rarely entered make good nesting sites. Wasps may use a gap in the roof of a shed, a space behind shelving in a garage, or the ceiling of a lean-to. A tenant who opens the door and hears a loud buzzing should step back, close the door gently and report it.
- Do not go into the building to check; close the door and keep others away.
- Tell the business whether the building is attached to the house.
- Say if the building holds the tenant’s stored belongings or a vehicle.
- Check whether the door can be unlocked for the technician.
- Note whether the building has power or lighting.
Because the building is separate from the home, access is often easy to arrange without anyone being indoors.
Booking and what to tell the business
Call 01622 410 019 or send the online booking form from the contact page. Describe the exact position of the nest, how to reach it and whether there is anything in the way. If there is more than one nest, say so; an additional nest on the same property is £60 extra.
Appointments run seven days a week, including evenings and weekends, and same-day service is offered. There is no call-out charge and no added cost for location or time of day, so a nest at the far end of a garden is the same fixed price as one by the front door. If the tenant or anyone who visits is allergic to stings, mention it when booking.
If the nest is in a spot that is awkward to reach, such as under a pile of timber or among brambles, say so. The technician can plan for it, and you can ask the tenant to clear obvious obstructions from a safe distance beforehand, but only if that does not take them close to the nest. When in doubt, leave the clearing to the technician.
Keep any children’s play equipment, washing lines and pets’ areas in mind. If any of those sit near the nest, tell the tenant to avoid them until the visit has taken place.
Who is responsible for outbuildings and garden
The tenancy agreement usually sets out who is responsible for the garden and any outbuildings, and whether pests are mentioned. Some agreements treat the garden as the tenant’s to maintain, others do not. We cannot interpret the wording for you, so read it carefully or ask your agent.
If the tenant is responsible for the garden, you may still want to arrange the visit yourself. A wasp nest is a safety issue, and a landlord who deals with it promptly is protecting both the tenant and the property. Settle any question about cost afterwards.
Reducing the appeal of the garden to wasps
You cannot make a property wasp-proof, but you can take sensible steps. Keep bins lidded and away from doors, clear fallen fruit from the ground, and tell tenants not to leave sweet drinks or food out. Keep shed doors closed and repair obvious gaps in outbuildings once any nest has been treated.
Tell tenants to be careful when mowing or strimming near hedges and banks, and to stop and keep clear if wasps appear. Ask whether the empty nest can be taken down when you book; the technician can tell you. Never try to remove one yourself.
Wasps on your property in Meopham Green?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.