Wasp nests
Wasp Nests Around Hendon's Shared Houses
In a family home somebody usually notices the first wasps going in and out of a gap in May or June, when a nest is small. In a let house the garden may be nobody's job, the tenants may be away for the summer, and the landlord may not visit. The nest grows unseen. Where wasps build nests around houses lists the places to check.
Under the eaves of a semi
Hendon's interwar semis and terraces have soffits, fascias and tiled roofs with small gaps that wasps use. A nest just above a top-floor bedroom window is common, and the tenant in that room is often the only one who notices the steady line of wasps. If the nest is inside the loft, what to do about a wasp nest in the loft explains why it should be left alone.
The shed, the fence and the overgrown lawn
An unused shed full of old furniture from past tenancies is a sheltered spot for a nest. So is a compost heap, a hedge that has not been cut, or a hole in a lawn that has grown long over the summer. Ground nests are easy to disturb with a mower, and a wasp nest in the ground covers them.
Who notices, and who acts
In a shared house, five people may each see the wasps and each assume someone else has told the landlord. If you notice a nest, send the message yourself, say exactly where it is, and let the rest of the house know you have done it.
Back in September
Late summer is when colonies are at their largest and wasps are most likely to sting, as why wasps are more aggressive in late summer explains. That is the same time tenants move back in, open windows, eat in the garden and start clearing the shed. A nest that was harmless in an empty house becomes a problem in a full one.
What to Do When You Find a Nest
- Keep windows near the nest shut, and warn the other tenants
- Do not block the entrance, spray it or try to knock it down
- Keep children, visitors and pets away from that part of the garden
- Tell the landlord or agent, and say where the nest is and how busy it looks
- If you are not sure they are wasps, wasp or bee? helps
If you are stung, speak to a pharmacist or GP about swelling or pain, and call 999 for signs of a severe allergic reaction such as difficulty breathing or swelling of the face or throat.
Booking and What Happens After
When you book the visit, describe where the nest is, how high up, and whether it is reached from a tenant's room, the garden or the loft. Say who will let the technician in and whether the shed or side gate is locked. Wasps may still be about near the nest for a short while afterwards, which how long wasp treatment takes to work explains. If the nest is still active within 30 days, we come back at no extra cost.
Next Summer in a Let House
A quick check of the eaves, shed and hedges in late spring, while a nest is small, saves trouble later. Landlords can add it to the list for the summer changeover. Large flying insects in the loft that are not wasps may be worth a look for squirrels too, and swarms of winged insects on one hot day are more likely flying ants. For nests across the borough's lofts and outbuildings, see Wasp Nest Removal Barnet.
