The work takes a couple of visits. The paperwork takes an evening and it is what every subsequent conversation turns on — insurance, deposits, a sale, a recurrence, or a disagreement about who should have acted when.
What to record, and when
- The first report. Date received, from whom, what was described. Acknowledge it in writing without delay
- The tenant's notes. Times, rooms, kind of noise — ask for them and keep them
- Photographs before anything is touched. The loft from the hatch, the roof line from outside, any debris where it landed
- What was commissioned and when. Dates of instruction and of each visit
- What was found. Entry points, damage, anything reported back
- What was done. Control work, proofing, and each of the other trades
- Certificates. Anything from an electrician above all
- Photographs afterwards, including the closed points, for the annual comparison
Insurance
Read the policy wording rather than assuming, and read the exclusions. Damage caused by vermin is commonly excluded from buildings cover; consequential water damage from a gnawed pipe or a breached covering may sit under a different section. Where anything is potentially covered, an insurer will generally want to see that the cause was addressed promptly — which is exactly what the dated record demonstrates.
Deposits and check-out
A squirrel problem is a structural matter rather than tenant damage, and a clear record of that is what stops it appearing in a check-out dispute. Where a tenant's own stored belongings were contaminated, that is ordinarily a matter for their contents cover rather than a deduction question — and photographs taken at the time are what keep that straightforward.
The one document that does the most work is a dated written acknowledgement of the first report. It fixes when the landlord knew, which is the fact every later argument depends on, and it takes one email.
Selling or remortgaging
A surveyor who finds gnawed timber, disturbed insulation or evidence in a roof space will note it. Being able to produce a file showing what happened, what was done and when, with an electrical certificate attached, turns a query into a footnote.
The energy rating
Let property has to meet minimum energy efficiency standards, and loft insulation is a significant contributor. Where insulation has been damaged and reinstated, keeping the record of the reinstatement — and the depth laid — is worth having when the certificate is next assessed.
Where to keep it
One folder per property, digital, with the photographs dated. It costs nothing and it is the difference between a five-minute answer and an afternoon of reconstruction two years later.
Questions
What is the single most important record?
A dated written acknowledgement of the first report. It fixes when the landlord knew.
Can I claim on insurance?
Read the wording. Vermin damage is commonly excluded; consequential water damage is sometimes treated differently.
Is this tenant damage?
No. It is a structural matter, and a clear record is what keeps it out of a deposit dispute.
Squirrel Control Stowmarket
Squirrel control in Stowmarket 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 Stowmarket, call 01502 630 122, or read the Stowmarket squirrel control page.