Does household insurance pay to remove wasps’ nest?
Does household insurance cover having a wasps’ nest removed from my roof? What if the wasps come back? G.B.
Unfortunately, the cost of removing a wasps’ nest is not usually covered by household insurance and you will have to pay yourself, in the region of €90-150. This also applies to any damage caused to the roof or other parts of the home by the presence of the nest as insurance policies do not cover repairs of this type as standard (although it is worth double-checking).
Removing a wasps’ nest should never be attempted on your own and you should call a local pest removal company (société de désinsectisation). You could also call the pompiers but they will usually only come if they consider it is an emergency and they will bill you, towards the lower end of what a private pest control firm would charge.
In certain areas of France the mairie, departmental council or intercommunal body will pay part of the cost of destroying a nest if you use an approved company, so check with your mairie to see if this applies.
As for the possibility of the wasps coming back, ask the firm you use if the work is guaranteed in case you find the wasps return within a certain period of time.
There is a specific rule regarding how the cost should be borne between a tenant or landlord in the case of a rental home. The part of the fee for the products used should be paid by the tenant and the labour by the landlord, but the tenant should obtain the landlord’s agreement first.
If it is clear that the nest was there from before the start of the tenancy, then the full cost should be paid by the landlord.
