Bats: advice for homeowners
Bats are often found in homes, usually during the summer months. People generally won’t notice, and issues will arise only rarely.
Roosting habits vary by bat species. Pipistrelle bats are often found in crevices whilst other species, like brown long-eared bats, tend to need large open loft spaces.
These seasonal visitors can form maternity colonies in properties from May, normally then leaving in early September. Very rarely, a bat roost will cause an issue, for example if it’s particularly large.
For information on carrying out minor or major works to a property that may affect bats, please see our Bats: Licences for development page for further information.
Bats in Houses helpline
You can contact our Bats in Houses helpline if you think you have bats in your home and they are causing a public health or safety problem. Our phone line is operated between 09:00 and 15:00 from Monday to Friday. If you can’t get through straight away please leave a voicemail and we will aim to respond to all calls on the same day.
Often problems with bats are one-off events and can be easily resolved by the homeowner themselves after receiving advice.
Where necessary we may arrange for one of our experienced bat workers to visit your house if it will provide further help. There is no charge for this, and we offer the service whether you own or rent your home, as long as you live in it full time. Whilst our bat workers are able to collect information that will help to resolve the problems caused by bats, they cannot carry out any works to your building or exclude/take-away the bats.
If you have a grounded bat in your property then you should call either the Bat Conservation Trust Bat Helpline (0345 1300 228) or the SSPCA Animal Helpline (03000 999 999) for advice on how to best handle and remove the bat.
Bats in Houses telephone: 01463 725 165
Email: [email protected]
Find out more
Annex II – Preventing bat access in domestic dwelling house
Contact
If you already have a licence number, include it in the subject line of your email, or have it to hand when you call.
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