Landlord or tenants responsible for wasps nest?

[Deleted User]

So to my surprise, generally speaking, tenants are responsible if a wasp nests occurs in their rented accommodation.

The scenario is quite specific though, and I do wonder if it might change anything.

I live in an old brick school, 3 stories high. My flat is at the furthest end of the building to the nest and it is in a shared hallway, half way up some stairs which only provides access to the top floor flat. The only reason I even noticed this is because I took a package up for the tenant up there, and it certainly explained the increase of wasps I'm getting in my flat.

The nest is located in the corner of a window (skylight) frame with a big gaping hole in it. There is damp damage on the wall - I believe the window is unable to close and the landlord has neglected to resolve this within at least two years, the damage to the building is only getting worse.

Communication with the landlord has deteriorated over the 5 years I've been here and the last time I pulled him up on the matter of poor communication, he blew it out of proportion and suggested I submit my notice if I'm not happy with it. (this is after trying to contact him about something without a response for over a week, wasn't the first time though) He seems to only respond if you anger him! 

So, in short, this is affecting me - wasps in my flat. It is a shared hallway but I have no purpose for it as I don't live upstairs. It could have been caused by neglect from not fixing the window in the first place (not to say it couldn't have happened another way, but the wasps only apparent access is currently the window, dread to think what would happen at this point if it were closed)

What do you think?

trevormax

I would imagine the Freeholder/building landlord is responsible for any communal areas. This hallway is shared (and therefore communal) as none of the tenants have sole usage of this hallway. 

If your landlord only owns your flat in the building, then I do not believe they would be responsible for it. If your landlord owns the entire building, then they likely are responsible. 

You are correct in saying that you would probably be responsible if it were inside your flat, although there are times when the landlord may still be responsible if the wasps make the building unsafe to live in and you are not at fault. 

user1977

How are the wasps getting into your flat?

Newnoel

Raise it with your LL in writing

He cannot evict you on the basis that you have asked for a repair, such as addressing a wasps nest...

If you're being evicted because you asked for repairs - Citizens Advice

KxMx

I live in a council house, here they don't provide any pest control and it's down to tenants to engage and pay a private contractor. 

HampshireH

KxMx said:

I live in a council house, here they don't provide any pest control and it's down to tenants to engage and pay a private contractor. 

That's because you live in a house which you are responsible for.

Tenants in flats usually have the same responsibility within the property.

It's unlikely tenants are responsible for pests in communal areas? That's unusual.

As above the freeholder would normally be responsible

boxer234

I rent privately had a wasps nest in the garden the landlord paid for it to be removed it was sorted in days.  

Newnoel

The other option is to go and treat it yourself. You can pick up a bottle of wasp nest killer for under a tenner:
Rentokil Wasp Nest Killer Powder 6 Wasps Nests In & Around The Home Fast Action : Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

I've had wasp nests over the years, and I usually treat them myself

TBagpuss

Also the problem will fix itself fairly soon. Wasps die off in the winter and thy don't reuse the same nests each year.

[Deleted User]

Sorted.

I don't think DIYing such a thing is a wise idea right next to a nest seeing as a single sting could send the entire colony into a stinging frenzy. 30-40 stings is enough to land you in hospital even if you're not allergic.

In the end, the guy in the attic flat decided to close the window, which as you can imagine, made the issue of the nest substantially worse.

Landlord did get it sorted quite sharpish when this happened though.

Thanks everyone.

deannagone

Thanks for the update.  Glad it was resolved.