Have you ever found yourself frustrated by the constant squawking and mess or noise caused by pigeons and seagulls? It’s a common problem in many parts of the UK, and often the root cause is nuisance neighbours who feed these birds. It’s even worse if your neighbour feeding birds is attracting rats to the area.
While feeding birds might seem harmless or even kind-hearted, it can have several negative impacts on the environment, human health, and bird populations themselves.
In this blog post, I will explore the issue of nuisance neighbours feeding pigeons and seagulls in the UK, including the reasons why it’s a problem, the legal issues around bird feeding in residential areas, and how to deal with nuisance neighbours respectfully and effectively.
If you’re tired of dealing with pesky birds in your neighbourhood, read on to learn more about this common issue and how to address it.
Why feeding pigeons and seagulls is a problem in the UK
Feeding birds in residential areas may appear to be a harmless activity, but it can have various negative impacts on the environment, human health, and bird populations.
Here are a few reasons why feeding pigeons and seagulls is a problem in the UK:
- Poo
Bird poo is a significant issue when neighbours feed pigeons and seagulls. Bird droppings can be found everywhere, including garden furniture and patios, which can be a nuisance and require constant cleaning. In severe cases, it may even prevent you from using your garden. Bird droppings can also soil laundry hung outside, making it a hygiene issue as well.
- Negative impact on the environment
When large numbers of birds gather in one area to feed, it can lead to an excess of bird droppings, which can cause damage to buildings, trees, and other structures. This can be unsightly and costly to clean up. Additionally, bird feeding can contribute to the spread of invasive species and can disrupt local ecosystems.
- Noise
Neighbours feeding birds can cause noise issues, particularly with seagulls. Their loud calls can disrupt sleep and cause frustration. Seagulls can also become aggressive during mating season, and the constant noise can quickly become a major irritation.
- Rotting food
When neighbours leave food out for pigeons and seagulls, it can result in dropped bits of food in your garden or guttering. This can attract rats and other pests, and the presence of rotting food can be unpleasant, smelly, and unsanitary.
- Health risks associated with bird feeding
Feeding birds in residential areas can pose several health risks, including the potential for bird droppings to carry disease or cause allergic reactions. In some cases, bird droppings can even lead to respiratory issues, particularly for people with compromised immune systems.
- Attracts other vermin
Your neighbour feeding birds can be attracting rats if food has been dropped into your garden. Nobody wants rats or mice in their garden and they reproduce quickly so can be hard to get rid of.
- Property damage
Pigeons tend to build nests in gutters, which can lead to drainage problems and the need for frequent cleaning. However, you shouldn’t tamper with the nests while they are occupied.
In addition, pigeon droppings can stain surfaces and cause significant damage if there is a large congregation of pigeons near your property.
Pigeons may also seek shelter under solar panels, which can lead to damage if the panels are disturbed, and the cost of repairing such damage can be high.
- Contribution to overpopulation of certain bird species
When birds are fed regularly in residential areas, they may become reliant on this food source and begin to overpopulate. This can cause a range of issues, including an increase in competition for resources and potentially aggressive behaviour towards humans or other birds.
Legal position with nuisance neighbours feeding pigeons and seagulls in the UK
This section covers where you stand legally if your neighbour is feeding pigeons and seagulls that have become a nuisance.
There is no specific law in the UK that makes it illegal for individuals to feed birds, but there are other options you can consider.
Local Bye-Laws
Some councils have introduced their own bye-laws that prohibit or restrict bird feeding in certain areas. You would have to contact your council to establish the situation.
If your council prohibits feeding pigeons or seagulls and your neighbour is continuing to feed them, then you can report this.
Environmental Protection Act 1990
Feeding birds in residential areas can be considered a nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The council will not intervene if your neighbour is simply feeding birds. However, if the neighbour is feeding birds and attracting rats, then the council should investigate the issue.
If someone is found to be causing a nuisance by feeding birds, they can be issued with an abatement notice, which requires them to stop the activity. If the person fails to comply with the abatement notice, they may be fined up to £5,000. In some cases, a court order can be obtained, allowing for the removal of food sources and the birds themselves.
Environmental health officers may exercise their powers under various Acts, including Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004, which lists ‘Domestic Hygiene, Pests and Refuse’ as one of the hazards in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, as well as the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Public Health Act 1961, and the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949, depending on the circumstances.
Anti-social Behaviour
If the issue is impacting the enjoyment of your home or causing a nuisance or health risk, then it could be considered anti-social behaviour. If it is classified as such, your neighbour could be issued a Community Protection Warning (CPW) followed by a Community Protection Notice (CPN).
Not complying with a CPN can result in a court summons and, if found guilty, a penalty of up to Level 4, currently £2,500 for individuals or £20,000 for businesses.
CPWs and CPNs were introduced in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014.
Civil Injunction
You can also request a civil injunction from the county court. In your application, you will need to provide information about the issues you are facing and the impact they are having on your life.
You may want assistance from a solicitor, but it is not necessary.
Before initiating a claim in court, you should send a letter to your neighbour requesting that they stop within a specified time frame. In the letter, you can specify that you will have no choice but to go to court if they fail to comply.
If the application for an injunction is successful, you can also claim the costs from your neighbour. The injunction will require them to cease feeding the birds, and if they violate this, they are in contempt of court and may be fined or imprisoned.
You should also note that if you’re a tenant, feeding birds could also be considered a breach of your tenancy agreement and could result in eviction.
You can get quick and free quotes for solicitors from Bark.com. I have used Bark.com before and found it saved a lot of time getting quotes.
How to report nuisance neighbours who are feeding birds:
If you’re experiencing a nuisance caused by birds, you can report the issue to your local council’s environmental health department.
They will investigate the issue, if they have grounds, and take appropriate action.
How to stop my nuisance neighbour feeding pigeons and seagulls
If you have a neighbour who is feeding seagulls and pigeons and causing a nuisance, there are steps you can take to address the issue. It’s important to approach the situation with respect and consideration for your neighbour’s feelings and intentions, while also making it clear that their behaviour is causing problems.
Here are some steps you can follow to stop your neighbour from feeding pigeons and seagulls:
- Communicate:
If you’re comfortable doing so, try approaching your neighbours to discuss the issue and explain the issues you are facing. It’s important to be polite and non-confrontational, as they may just be wanting to help the wildlife.
- Offer solutions:
Suggest alternative ways for your neighbour to feed birds, such as using a bird guard on their bird feeder or a different feeder, that stops bigger birds from feeding. You could offer to pay for this if your neighbour isn’t willing to buy it.
- Written communication:
If the problem persists, send a letter to your neighbour asking them to stop. Warn them that you will contact the council or take legal advice if it doesn’t stop. Give them a timeline to stop, 7 days is usually deemed reasonable.
- Provide evidence:
If the issue is causing damage to your property, document it with photos or videos to support your case. Consider putting up a home security system, like the Eufy Camera system that is available on Amazon to record the birds and the nuisance they are causing. Show the evidence to your neighbour. I have an article that details how to gather evidence for a neighbour dispute, which you can read here.
- Talk to the Landlord:
If the property is rented, then talk to your neighbour’s landlord. If you are unsure who the landlord is, you may be interested in my article that helps you locate a landlord.
- Involve authorities:
If the issue continues, contact your local council, who may be able to enforce environmental health legislation or local bye-laws to address the problem (depending on the severity).
- Contact Pest Control:
If the council can’t assist, then contact a pest control company for advice. They will be able to help you deter pigeons. You can get free and quick quotes for pest control on Bark.com.
- Seek legal advice:
If the issue cannot be resolved through communication and involvement of authorities, as a last resort you could consider seeking legal advice.
Remember to always approach the situation calmly to try and resolve the issue amicably.
Neighbour feeding birds is attracting rats
If your neighbour feeding birds is attracting rats to your property, there are a few things you can do to address the issue:
- Talk to your neighbour: If you feel comfortable doing so, approach your neighbour and explain that the bird feed is attracting rats. They may not be aware that they are attracting rats and might be willing to steps to resolve the issue. If you have any videos or photos, then show these to your neighbours.
- Take measures to prevent rats from entering your property: If rats are already present, it’s important to take measures to prevent them from entering your property. This can include sealing any potential entry points, such as gaps or cracks in walls, floors or doors. You can also use traps to catch or eliminate rats.
- Report the issue to your local council’s environmental health department: If the problem persists, it may be necessary to escalate the issue to your local council’s environmental health department. They can investigate the issue and take appropriate action.
It’s important to remember that taking action against a neighbour can be a delicate issue, and it’s important to approach the situation with respect and consideration for your neighbour.
Community-based solutions to the problem
Dealing with the nuisance of bird feeding is not just the responsibility of individual residents or local authorities. Community-based solutions can also be effective in addressing the problem.
For example, some communities have set up bird feeding stations in areas away from residential properties, where people can enjoy watching birds without causing a nuisance. Others have organised education programs to raise awareness about the negative impacts of bird feeding.
How to deter pigeons from garden but not other birds
There are several humane ways to deter pigeons from your garden without other birds. Here are some methods you can try:
- Scarecrow: Install a scarecrow in your garden. Pigeons are afraid of humans, so a life-sized model of a person can be effective in deterring them. However, this may not be as effective in the long term as pigeons can eventually become accustomed to it and it may not match the aesthetics of your garden.
- Netting: Covering your plants or areas of your garden with netting can prevent pigeons from accessing them. You can use bird netting or mesh, which will also allow other birds to pass through.
- Spikes: Installing spikes on your garden fence or in areas where pigeons perch can prevent them from landing. Ensure that the spikes are specifically designed to deter pigeons and not other birds. Apluskis Upgraded Bird Spikes have good reviews on Amazon.
- Decoys: Placing decoys of natural predators of pigeons such as a plastic owl or hawk can frighten pigeons and prevent them from entering your garden.
- Food sources: Removing any food sources that pigeons may be attracted to can help deter them. Pigeons are known to feed on grains, seeds, and fruits, so keeping these areas clean can prevent them from lingering.
It may be worth contacting Pest Control for specialist advice.
Remember, it is important to avoid using harmful or inhumane methods to deter pigeons or any other birds in your garden.
Frequently asked questions
In the UK, you can report your neighbour for feeding pigeons if the behaviour is damaging your property, causing a nuisance or attracting rats. You can ask the council to investigate this, who may be able to enforce environmental health legislation to address the issue. The nuisance will have to be severe for them to get involved.
You can’t be prosecuted directly for feeding birds in the UK. However, if feeding the birds has been deemed a ‘nuisance’ or as anti-social behaviour that is impacting your neighbours and you have been ordered not to feed birds, if you continue, you could be fined or prosecuted.
Pigeons are seen as vermin in the UK as they are hard to control, they are common animals and are seen as pests, as they carry and spread disease.
Just like pigeons, seagulls are seen as vermin and pests in the UK. This is because seagulls are a pest to the general public, due to the mess they create, noise and can be aggressive during mating season.
You can’t kill pigeons or seagulls in the UK without a licence, as they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Unless general licensing regulations are complied with, it is illegal to kill or injure any wild bird. You also can’t remove eggs or chicks from a nest.
You can find out more about obtaining a licence on the gov.uk website or you can consult a professional pest control company to assist you. A licence can be granted if it is deemed necessary to maintain public health and public safety. Noise nuisance is not sufficient to be granted a licence.
Feeding birds can be considered a statutory nuisance under UK law if it causes a disturbance to a reasonable person in the area. According to the Environmental Protection Act 1990, a statutory nuisance can include “any activity which is prejudicial to health or a nuisance.” This can include noise, odours, and other disturbances caused by bird feeding.
In addition, many local councils across the UK have specific bye-laws or regulations in place regarding bird feeding in residential areas. These bye-laws can include restrictions on the type and amount of food that can be provided, as well as the location and timing of bird feeding.
If a neighbour’s bird feeding is causing a nuisance, it’s important to report the issue to your local council’s environmental health department. They can investigate the issue and take appropriate action.
There is no law stopping you from feeding birds, such as pigeons and seagulls but if the feeding is attracting rats, the council might serve a notice on you to stop feeding the birds. If you continue then you could be fined.
Conclusion
In conclusion, nuisance neighbours who feed pigeons and seagulls can cause a variety of problems for their surrounding community. These birds can create noise, damage property, and even spread disease. Individuals need to understand the negative impact of feeding these birds and take steps to prevent it from happening, especially if your neighbour feeding birds is attracting rats.
I hope that this blog has answered some of your questions about neighbours feeding birds and especially if they are attracting rats, so you can resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
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