Squirrel problems in flats and shared houses stall more often than any other kind, and it is almost never because the work is difficult.
It is because responsibility is divided and nobody is certain which part is theirs.
The structure of the problem
In a converted or purpose-built block, the roof and the structure are commonly the freeholder's responsibility rather than any leaseholder's, and the roof space above a top-floor flat is frequently not part of the demise at all. So the person hearing the noise often has no control over the part of the building it is happening in.
Add a managing agent, a leaseholder, a landlord who is the leaseholder, and a tenant, and there are four parties before anybody has picked up a phone.
The order that actually works
- The tenant reports it to their landlord or agent, in writing, with dates and times
- The landlord or leaseholder reports it to the freeholder or managing agent, in writing, because the roof is generally theirs
- The freeholder or agent commissions the work for the building
- Everyone keeps the correspondence, because service charge questions follow later
The step that gets skipped is the second one, and it is the one that actually matters. A leaseholder arranging roof work themselves may be paying for something that is not theirs to arrange.
Why it is usually a building-wide job anyway
In most conversions and many purpose-built blocks the roof space is one continuous volume over several flats, or divided by walls that stop short of the roof covering. An animal entering at one end can be above any of the dwellings, and closing the openings on one part of the building achieves very little.
Which means the sensible unit of work is the building. That is not a complication to be worked around; it is the finding, and identifying it early saves a round of work that was never going to succeed.
Houses in multiple occupation
A shared house adds its own considerations. Licensing regimes for HMOs carry conditions about the condition and management of the property, and the requirements vary by local authority, so the current position is worth checking with the council rather than assumed. Practically, a house with several separate households in it also has more people to arrange access with and more belongings in the loft.
How to stop it stalling
- Put everything in writing, dated, from the first report
- Identify who owns the roof before commissioning anything
- Ask other residents whether they are hearing it — it establishes the shared-space question in one conversation
- Deal with anything electrical immediately, whoever is responsible for the rest
- Do not let the ownership question delay the electrical safety question
Questions
Who is responsible for the roof of a flat?
In most leases the roof and structure are the freeholder's, so the managing agent is usually the right first call. Check the lease.
Can I arrange the work myself as a leaseholder?
You may be paying for something that is not yours to arrange, and it may not solve a shared-roof problem. Report it to the freeholder first.
What about an HMO?
Licensing conditions vary by authority and carry management requirements. Check the current position with the council.
Squirrel Control Mildenhall
Squirrel control in Mildenhall is £280 fixed cost. Proofing work, where it is needed afterwards, is £180. Call 01502 630 122 and tell us what you have heard or seen.
For squirrel control in Mildenhall, call 01502 630 122, or read the Mildenhall squirrel control page.