Birds nest

AlecEiffel

Hi all.

We have a birds nest in the guttering/eaves of our rented house. Before I phone the agent, can anyone advise whose responsibility it is to check it or make repairs once they've moved on?

The contract says we're responsible for dealing with pests like ants or wasps, but birds aren't pests and there's no mention of it.

Thanks.

debsue

if there is damage it will probably be the LL. It also depends on the birds, if they are housemartins i think you cant touch the nest.

G_M

If the birds nest is blocking the gutters it will need clearing. Standard property maintenance that the LL is responsible for. Wait for the little ones to fly, then drop the LL a friendly note to let him know.

AlecEiffel

Thanks for the replies. I phoned the agency and let them know. They said they'd phone the LL and see what they want to do about it.

Cheers again.

MobileSaver

G_M wrote: »

If the birds nest is blocking the gutters it will need clearing. Standard property maintenance that the LL is responsible for.

Is this the nanny state we live in that a tenant can't clear their own gutters?!?

RabbitMad

G_M wrote: »

If the birds nest is blocking the gutters it will need clearing. Standard property maintenance that the LL is responsible for.

I'd disagree. Clearing guttering is a small task and one that a tenant should do if acting in a tenant like manner.

tbs624

RabbitMad wrote: »

I'd disagree. Clearing guttering is a small task and one that a tenant should do if acting in a tenant like manner.

Discussion on this issue in a previous thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1053643

RabbitMad

tbs624 wrote: »

Discussion on this issue in a previous thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1053643

And I agree with Premier - and I feel that most judges would too.

Fortunately I'm no longer a LL so don't have to put this to the test.

tbs624

debsue wrote: »

if there is damage it will probably be the LL. It also depends on the birds, if they are housemartins i think you cant touch the nest.

The aim of the Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981 is to protect birds, their eggs and their nests. It's an offence to" deliberately take, damage or destroy" the nest of any wild bird whilst it is being built or is in use although there are some exceptions ( pigeons being one of them IIRC)

AlecEiffel

The landlord has decided to leave the nest/s in the guttering for now as they aren't causing a problem.

We now however have one in the vent on the cooker extractor! It's a covered vent - sort of three flaps that open when there's airflow and my wife spotted a blackbird perched on the outside of it, lifting the vent flap and feeding a young'un.

She spotted that on Monday morning so I phoned the agent that afternoon who agreed it wasn't good and said they'd phone the LL. Last night the kitchen started to smell a bit (lovely) and the cooker extractor has stopped working.

So it's obviously a hygiene and health & safety issue. How quickly can we expect this to be dealt with (we won't cook in the kitchen now and will keep the door closed as it stinks)? Who gives 'authority' to move the nest? Obviously it's the LL's responsibility but I would like to be a bit more informed when I chase them up today!!

Thanks.

AlecEiffel

Well the letting agency had little interest.

We spoke to the RSPB who confirmed it's illegal to touch the nest regardless. To stop the stench (at the RSPB's advice) I've had to tape polythene over the internal vents of the extraction system. That's stopped the worst of it for now.

Can anyone confirm who's responsibility it is in the long term? My argument would be that the birds have circumvented the external protection for the venting system and therefore it's a structural issue - it's not like an ant hill in the garden, the only way to clear it is to pull bits off the house externally and maybe internally and clear out the nest, then fit a basket grill over the outside.

Can anyone confirm on this please??