Wasp nest in new house -where do we stand legally?

Treacle44

We bought our house 6 months ago and survey highlighted a huge wasps nest in the eaves of our garage (it has it's own loft) and that the vendor should remove it before exchange. Our solicitor requested this was done and the vendor completed and signed a form that it had been removed.

Now 6 months later our neighbour has knocked on the door to say they're pruning the hedge on their side which is by our garage and that the can see lots of wasps going into our garage. My husband had a look abd surprise, surprise there's a huge nest still up there!

Clearly the vendor didn't bother to remove it so where do we stand legally?

It's been constant problems and nasty surprises since we moved in ( radiators turned off for example because they leaked etc), I want to hit him where it hurts legally with this latest discovery. I'm sick of dishing out money.

thanks for any help you can give me.

ormus

can you actually prove its the same nest?

Alan_M_2

How quiclky can wasps build a nest?

If it is clearly the same one contracted to be removed then it's pretty straightforward, remove and approach the vendor for the costs to do so.

If it's been built again by the industrious wasps you've no alternative than to issue a wasp evection notice and do it yourself.

Alan_M_2

Thinking laterally, approach the vendor, ask them for details of who removed the nest on the grounds that it doesn't appear to have been removed completely/sucessfully.

You'll then get a full picture of what was done originally.

Swipe

They'll all be dead in 2 weeks' time. Is it really worth kicking up a stink just to p1ss the vendor off?

MrsTinks

If the nest was removed 6 months ago then it would have been just the right time for a queen to start building the new one... They usuallly start building them in springtime so by now it's had a good 6 months to be built... If you want to get picky I guess you could ask for an expert to tell you how old it is and proof the former owner had a nest removed...

Treacle44

It is absolutely massive, not an expert but I'd say it's the same one he's signed a legal form confirming it was removed. I'm not being vindictive but having phoned a removal company, they've said because of it's position 20ft above the ground in a garage loft, it could cost us hundreds to remove. That aside, having spent out £1400 on new radiators and plumbing that the vendor cleverly kept from us then I don't see why we should have to pay for this too when to remove it was a condition of sale.

Thanks for your replies, will speak to my solicitor on Monday. Can't speak to vendor direct, as I don't have his contact details.

globetraveller

I think you might be too late. You have been in for 6 months and summer is over and you haven't noticed it till now. I'll bet vendor will say he had had it removed and this is a new one. But its worth following up- but find out solicitor costs before you do. It might not be worth it.
Edit to add
Re radiators-Surely the contract that was signed would have had the proviso that everything was in working order?

googler

Alan_M wrote: »

How quiclky can wasps build a nest?

Very quickly.

My OH left two or three dresses lying in one of our bedrooms for a couple of weeks or so - the windows open on the latch. I walked into the room one day and saw one wasp come in and make a 'beeline' (sorry) for the dresses. Lifted them one by one, and discovered a nest of around 5 inches diameter attached to one of the dresses.

When the wasp re-appeared and buzzed me, I dropped it and ran; the nest broke open on the floor, and on closer inspection, there were four or five wasp pupae already developing - could see the little blighters twitching in individual nest cavities in the structure.

So, yes - they are quick workers. Also, they sometimes return to the same site to nest in subsequent years, but don't tend to return to the same nest, apparently......

ali-t

googler, that scenario is the stuff my nightmares are made of. My skin is crawling at the thought...

iamcornholio

Were do you stand?

As far away as possible