Bats

If there is any chance of bats using the roofspace, be aware that the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA) protects bats and their roosts in England, Scotland and Wales. As bats generally return to the same roosts every year, the roosts are protected whether bats are present or not.

Thus it is illegal to kill, injure or take a wild bat, or intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to a bat roost. Having bats in the roof does not necessarily mean building work, repairs or timber treatment are prohibited but free advice should be obtained from the local Statutory Nature Conservation Organisation before proceeding. The Bat Conservation Trust have plenty of helpful information on their website: www.bats.org.uk