Wasp Nest Removal for Landlords and Rental Properties in Walderslade
Nobody lives in a void property, so nobody notices the nest until a viewing, a contractor or a neighbour mentions it. Regular checks are the cure.
The problem with an empty house
An occupied home has people in it who notice odd sounds, see wasps in the window and report them. An empty rental has none of that. Between tenants, a property may be visited only for a viewing, a clean or a repair, and in the weeks of high summer, a nest can grow from the size of a golf ball to something far larger without anyone being the wiser.
The nest often reveals itself at an awkward moment: a prospective tenant steps out of the back door and finds wasps pouring from the eaves, a decorator opens a window, or a neighbour tells you they have seen a lot of activity at the property. Any of those can derail a let.
Wasp Exterminator Kent covers Walderslade, near Chatham, and the surrounding villages. A nest is treated for a fixed £120 per nest, with one visit guaranteed and no call-out charge.
A short routine for void periods
You do not need an elaborate system. A quick visit once a fortnight in the season, from late April to the end of September, is enough for most properties. Arrange it with whoever holds the keys, or do it yourself.
- Walk round the outside and look at the eaves, soffits, fascias and the gaps around pipes and vents.
- Check sheds, garages and any outbuildings, from the doorway if you see wasps.
- Look at hedges, bushes and any bare patches of ground for a steady line of wasps.
- Listen at the loft hatch, without opening it, for a faint buzzing.
- Note the date of each visit, even if you saw nothing.
If you see wasps repeatedly going to and from one place, step back and book. There is no point waiting until you have a better view.
Take a second person along if the property is large or the garden overgrown. Two sets of eyes see more, and if anything goes wrong, someone else is there. Wear closed shoes and avoid brushing against hedges and long grass where a ground nest might be, since the entrance can be a small hole that is easy to miss until wasps appear.
If your checks are done by a managing agent, ask them to send a line after each visit saying what was seen. A one-word answer such as “clear” is enough, as long as it is dated.
What to do about viewings
If a nest is active, postpone viewings that involve the area near it, or move them to a time when the technician has been. Tell the lettings agent clearly where the nest is, so staff and visitors can be steered around it. Do not hide it; a viewer stung in the garden is worse for the let than a short delay.
Same-day service is offered, and evening and weekend appointments are available, so the interruption can be short. When you book, say that the property is empty, say who holds the keys and say whether access is needed indoors or just to the outside wall. An empty property is often the simplest kind of visit, because nobody has to be in.
Ring 01622 410 019, or send the online form from the contact page.
Access and keys
Because nobody is in residence, you will need to organise entry. Either you or your agent can meet the technician, or you can leave a key arrangement, such as a key safe, with a code given to the business. Do not post the code in an email thread that others can see; give it by phone when you book.
If the nest is outside, the technician may not need to enter at all, and you can just confirm that the gate is unlocked. If it is in the loft or a wall cavity, tell the business what you know about access to the hatch, any stored items and whether there is a ladder on site.
Check that the electricity is on if the technician is likely to need lighting in a loft or cupboard.
Damage to look for after the nest is treated
A large nest in a roof void or wall cavity can leave marks on the ceiling below, or a smell, and an empty property is where these can build up unseen. Once the nest has been treated, go round the rooms and look for stains, flaking paint or damp-looking patches near where the nest was.
Do not open up a ceiling or wall yourself to look inside. Ask the technician to advise whether the area is safe to disturb, and then have a tradesperson do any repair. Note anything you find in the property file, along with the date of treatment, so you have a record if a new tenant mentions it.
Condensation and damp can look much like nest staining, so do not assume the cause. If you are unsure, ask the technician what they saw in the roof or wall when they treated it, and let a tradesperson assess any repair that is needed afterwards.
Money and records
Treating a nest in a void is a landlord cost in almost every case, since there is no tenant, but check any management agreement if an agent is involved. The price is fixed: £120 per nest and £60 for each additional nest on the same property, with no extra for time of day or location.
Keep the invoice and a short note of what was found. If you use a letting agent, send them a copy so that they can reassure applicants that the matter has been dealt with. And put a note in your calendar for next April, because the easiest and calmest time to find a nest is while it is still small.
Wasps on your property in Walderslade?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.