Who lives with Bats?
Discussion
We moved to a new house back in October last year, it's fairly modern built in 1996 and was a bit of a dream home given what it offers and where.
Had all the usual surveys and searches done, nothing particularly alarming on there but some work needed but mostly cosmetic. Now on the survey, it stated clear as day, 'No evidence of bats'. Move in, unpack load of stuff to go in the loft and all the lagging and boarded area is covered in droppings. Assuming they're rodents not bats due to the survey I get a chap in to look at it but he explains they're bat droppings and of course I'm not allowed to do anything about it.
I had a few bits of work needed with the facias and soffits before I realised they were bat droppings, along with putting a load of boxes up in the loft and having cleared up their mess. Well I popped my head in the loft to have a look the other week and new droppings there, today I had another peak to actually see the bats up there - 3 that I could spot.
So, it looks like I have new members of the family! haha
I just wondered, does anyone else have a house with bats? Have you had any issues having work done or a loft conversion etc?
It's funny as I moved from a quiet sub-urban area to a very rural one. Not only do we have tonnes of birds around the house, we have at least one hedgehog in the garden and residents in the loft.
Had all the usual surveys and searches done, nothing particularly alarming on there but some work needed but mostly cosmetic. Now on the survey, it stated clear as day, 'No evidence of bats'. Move in, unpack load of stuff to go in the loft and all the lagging and boarded area is covered in droppings. Assuming they're rodents not bats due to the survey I get a chap in to look at it but he explains they're bat droppings and of course I'm not allowed to do anything about it.
I had a few bits of work needed with the facias and soffits before I realised they were bat droppings, along with putting a load of boxes up in the loft and having cleared up their mess. Well I popped my head in the loft to have a look the other week and new droppings there, today I had another peak to actually see the bats up there - 3 that I could spot.
So, it looks like I have new members of the family! haha
I just wondered, does anyone else have a house with bats? Have you had any issues having work done or a loft conversion etc?
It's funny as I moved from a quiet sub-urban area to a very rural one. Not only do we have tonnes of birds around the house, we have at least one hedgehog in the garden and residents in the loft.
Bats are an extremely protected species and do not even contemplate any activity or work in the loft until they’ve been dealt with appropriately. This will take money, and particularly time. You may be required to create a suitable alternative habitat for the bats if you want to evict them legally - people have paid over £30,000 for such things. And the bats may choose not to use it!
This is one situation where everything needs doing by the book, because it can get really painful if you don’t.
This is one situation where everything needs doing by the book, because it can get really painful if you don’t.
I might be pressing the surveyor for the photographs from the clean loft. And asking if anyone knows how to date the bats occupation. The whole thing smacks of a deliberate act of hiding the fact, but whether you could prove it, and ask the seller to fork out , is a piece of string question.
I'm not actually planning any work, the reason we bought the house is the space so no plans to extend upwards but one day the roof would need replacing. I understand doing so is legal but there are considerations. I believe you have to apply for some kind of consultant or survey of their environment etc.
Ultimately, it seems they're not that much of a nuisance other than leaving dusty poop on the boxes I've put in the loft.
Ultimately, it seems they're not that much of a nuisance other than leaving dusty poop on the boxes I've put in the loft.
randlemarcus said:
I might be pressing the surveyor for the photographs from the clean loft. And asking if anyone knows how to date the bats occupation. The whole thing smacks of a deliberate act of hiding the fact, but whether you could prove it, and ask the seller to fork out , is a piece of string question.
Unless the seller was explicitly asked about bats (and lied) then they have no liability (unless maybe you could prove they disturbed the bats while trying to eradicate evidence of them).However further questions could be asked of the surveyor, but if they state there was no evidence when they looked then there’s no much (practically) that could be done. Worth checking the survey to see if they cla they actually bothered to open the loft hatch…
randlemarcus said:
I might be pressing the surveyor for the photographs from the clean loft. And asking if anyone knows how to date the bats occupation. The whole thing smacks of a deliberate act of hiding the fact, but whether you could prove it, and ask the seller to fork out , is a piece of string question.
I had wondered at the time. Personally I don't think the surveyor probably even looked in the loft. I'd got to know the seller and he was going through a divorce, just wanted shot of the house, to the point he pointed things out on the property to knock money off the price as his ex was a nightmare and he just wanted the house gone. Trouble is, I saw the evidence within a couple of months of moving in but didn't know how current it was. So cleaned up and then waited to see if it came back. It did but we're 9-10 months in so I'd imagine hard to prove it was there before I moved in.
Jimjimhim said:
Robin?
Unavailable for questioning at the time of posting! hahaI was in the loft two houses back when something whooshed past my head, scaring the sh*t out of me at the time. Once I saw what it was, a single bat, I stood and watched it for 20 minutes or so, mesmerised at the way it flew around me and in and between the timbers; a very skilful flyer.
I don't know what happened to it or whether it was joined by more. I sold the house several years later; no idea if it was still 'batty'.
I don't know what happened to it or whether it was joined by more. I sold the house several years later; no idea if it was still 'batty'.
Me apparently! See my Bat, man! thread of earlier today.
I've since spoken to a certified bat expert, who says in my case, catch it in a tea towel and release it after dusk tonight. Hopefully mine is just a lonesome idiot who got in by mistake and doesn't have a million mates hiding in the loft!
I've since spoken to a certified bat expert, who says in my case, catch it in a tea towel and release it after dusk tonight. Hopefully mine is just a lonesome idiot who got in by mistake and doesn't have a million mates hiding in the loft!
GiantEnemyCrab said:
I wonder how many bat problems that could cost the owners £££ just quietly get sorted with a long broom handle or bat annoyed device.
Not that it's right, but if it's going to cost Joe Bloggs 10k, or commit a crime no one will ever see or know about..... But still wrong.
I do wonder the same. I mean ultimately I've not reported it formally to anyone and could in ignorance shoo the things away. Not that it's right, but if it's going to cost Joe Bloggs 10k, or commit a crime no one will ever see or know about..... But still wrong.
I also wonder how many people have them in their lofts and if they don't see evidence of them have zero idea they have them. I know my mum has spotted them flying around near her house (120 miles from ours!) and hasn't been up in the loft in her house in 20+ years.
Riley Blue said:
I was in the loft two houses back when something whooshed past my head, scaring the sh*t out of me at the time. Once I saw what it was, a single bat, I stood and watched it for 20 minutes or so, mesmerised at the way it flew around me and in and between the timbers; a very skilful flyer.
I don't know what happened to it or whether it was joined by more. I sold the house several years later; no idea if it was still 'batty'.
They are fascinating. I watched these ones today from the loft ladder and what amazed me was how they're completely silent. No wing noise like you get from birds flying around! I don't know what happened to it or whether it was joined by more. I sold the house several years later; no idea if it was still 'batty'.
Sideways Tim said:
Me apparently! See my Bat, man! thread of earlier today.
I've since spoken to a certified bat expert, who says in my case, catch it in a tea towel and release it after dusk tonight. Hopefully mine is just a lonesome idiot who got in by mistake and doesn't have a million mates hiding in the loft!
I did, that's what inspired me to post. As you say if you find one, you're meant to carefully box it up with water available then release it early evening. I've since spoken to a certified bat expert, who says in my case, catch it in a tea towel and release it after dusk tonight. Hopefully mine is just a lonesome idiot who got in by mistake and doesn't have a million mates hiding in the loft!
You may have some around, seems they can come in an open window more likely at dusk.
Speaking with the pest guy that came out last year, he said the droppings aren't harmful they're just messy and dusty. He actually said you're better off with bats over mice, rats or birds as bats aren't destructive in any way, just leave a mess.
My plan is to perhaps put a tarp up in the loft at some point later in the year to cover the boarded area where we have some stuff.
Alex_225 said:
I'm not actually planning any work, the reason we bought the house is the space so no plans to extend upwards but one day the roof would need replacing. I understand doing so is legal but there are considerations. I believe you have to apply for some kind of consultant or survey of their environment etc.
Ultimately, it seems they're not that much of a nuisance other than leaving dusty poop on the boxes I've put in the loft.
How long do you anticipate the roof lasting?Ultimately, it seems they're not that much of a nuisance other than leaving dusty poop on the boxes I've put in the loft.
Alex_225 said:
I did, that's what inspired me to post. As you say if you find one, you're meant to carefully box it up with water available then release it early evening.
You may have some around, seems they can come in an open window more likely at dusk.
Speaking with the pest guy that came out last year, he said the droppings aren't harmful they're just messy and dusty. He actually said you're better off with bats over mice, rats or birds as bats aren't destructive in any way, just leave a mess.
My plan is to perhaps put a tarp up in the loft at some point later in the year to cover the boarded area where we have some stuff.
I love watching them fly around the garden of an evening. This is the first time we've ever had one or evidence thereof indoors though.You may have some around, seems they can come in an open window more likely at dusk.
Speaking with the pest guy that came out last year, he said the droppings aren't harmful they're just messy and dusty. He actually said you're better off with bats over mice, rats or birds as bats aren't destructive in any way, just leave a mess.
My plan is to perhaps put a tarp up in the loft at some point later in the year to cover the boarded area where we have some stuff.
The room he/she/they/them/f
king pronouns is in only ever has the windows open of a summer, so they've been firmly shut so far this year. As I said in my thread there's a flue for the wood burner but how it got down there and out of the firebox I do not know.AIUI bats are very well protected.
My neighbours had a breeding colony in their cottage's roof two years ago. Over 100 were counted. Our friends were not allowed to disturb them until the breeding season was over.
The noise and stench from the colony was so bad that the neighbours abandoned the bedroom adjacent to the roost for months.
As so as the bats had departed they blocked all entrances to the roof space. However, as the authorities had been alerted, they were obliged to provide a suitably capacious bat box nearby in the event of the bats' return.
My neighbours had a breeding colony in their cottage's roof two years ago. Over 100 were counted. Our friends were not allowed to disturb them until the breeding season was over.
The noise and stench from the colony was so bad that the neighbours abandoned the bedroom adjacent to the roost for months.
As so as the bats had departed they blocked all entrances to the roof space. However, as the authorities had been alerted, they were obliged to provide a suitably capacious bat box nearby in the event of the bats' return.
PositronicRay said:
How long do you anticipate the roof lasting?
I'm no expert so really couldn't say. That said, there's no missing tiles or daylight to be see from inside and no leaks so no reason to assume it needs any attention just now. Sideways Tim said:
I love watching them fly around the garden of an evening. This is the first time we've ever had one or evidence thereof indoors though.
The room he/she/they/them/fking pronouns is in only ever has the windows open of a summer, so they've been firmly shut so far this year. As I said in my thread there's a flue for the wood burner but how it got down there and out of the firebox I do not know.
I think they prefer BA/AT as their pronouns hahahaThe room he/she/they/them/f
king pronouns is in only ever has the windows open of a summer, so they've been firmly shut so far this year. As I said in my thread there's a flue for the wood burner but how it got down there and out of the firebox I do not know.Definitely an odd one how yours got in. Apparently they can fit through a gap the width of a thumb so not an easy job to make a house completely bat proof it seems.
Blib said:
AIUI bats are very well protected.
My neighbours had a breeding colony in their cottage's roof two years ago. Over 100 were counted. Our friends were not allowed to disturb them until the breeding season was over.
The noise and stench from the colony was so bad that the neighbours abandoned the bedroom adjacent to the roost for months.
As so as the bats had departed they blocked all entrances to the roof space. However, as the authorities had been alerted, they were obliged to provide a suitably capacious bat box nearby in the event of the bats' return.
Yeah bat boxes seem to be the alternative if you do try and move them on. I suppose it's not the end of the world. 100 or so bats is a lot though, thankfully there's 3 in our loft. My neighbours had a breeding colony in their cottage's roof two years ago. Over 100 were counted. Our friends were not allowed to disturb them until the breeding season was over.
The noise and stench from the colony was so bad that the neighbours abandoned the bedroom adjacent to the roost for months.
As so as the bats had departed they blocked all entrances to the roof space. However, as the authorities had been alerted, they were obliged to provide a suitably capacious bat box nearby in the event of the bats' return.
We've got bats. I don't know why anyone would choose to try to get rid of them. They don't cause any problems. It's not like having squirrels, mice or rats in the loft.
If you want to get building work done that might disturb them, yes, there are a couple of hoops to jump through, but they're no big deal and rather simpler than trying to re-home them. You'll need a bat survey to find out what you've got and you'll need to do the work at a time of year that won't disturb them.
If you want to get building work done that might disturb them, yes, there are a couple of hoops to jump through, but they're no big deal and rather simpler than trying to re-home them. You'll need a bat survey to find out what you've got and you'll need to do the work at a time of year that won't disturb them.
We have bats in our attic and have done since we moved in 20 years ago.
Old 17th C farmhouse and we have had the roof done.
Council sent out their Batman and he agreed with the Roofers how to seal off their roost with heavy duty polythene with roof air holes and then move it again when they needed to then access that part of the roof.
We also had to agree to having 3 bat tiles installed along with the rest of the new tiles.
I dimly recall there was a time of year we couldn’t do this but this was academic in our case.
Old 17th C farmhouse and we have had the roof done.
Council sent out their Batman and he agreed with the Roofers how to seal off their roost with heavy duty polythene with roof air holes and then move it again when they needed to then access that part of the roof.
We also had to agree to having 3 bat tiles installed along with the rest of the new tiles.
I dimly recall there was a time of year we couldn’t do this but this was academic in our case.
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