AIBU to ask the housing association to remove birds from my wall? And if I'm not BU, how can I make them do it?

[BirdwomanofAlcatraz]

There are birds in the outside wall of my bedroom. I first became aware a couple of weeks ago when I heard them scratting around in the early morning and saw them flying back and forwards, also that there is bird poo on the inside of my window.

I phoned the housing association and told them but they knocked me back on four fronts: 1) that they don't believe the birds are in the walls, I need to have footage of them going in and out of the wall (I'm on the third floor, they're quick, I've tried standing outside with my phone and pressing record but they're too quick for me, really I stood there for a long time like a crazy person but it's split second movements when they go in and out)
2) that the marks on the window are just marks. They're not just marks. It's actual bird poo dropping down the window on the inside
3) that there's a pandemic on. Yes I know this but this is an infestation and I am concerned if fleas etc are also dropping down the window
4) the birds are probably in the eaves. Well if they were I wouldn't be concerned, but they're not. They're in the space directly above my window. I have seen them with my own eyes going in and out and so have my neighbours. There is a gap in the wall that they're getting in and out of.

What can I do? I've submitted a complaint after they dismissed my request for maintenance but not heard anything. As far as I know landlords do still have a duty to ensure their properties are not infested, even at this time. I pay my rent every month and haven't asked for a repair before. This is driving me crazy.

It's gonna be seagulls going after that chip on your shoulder Brilliant :)

I think there have been some odd responses on this thread. I don’t really understand what’s happening with the window but I would not like any of what you describe. Fair enough if you cannot disturb nesting birds (I did not know that - fair enough for rare birds but I’d be a bit hacked off if it was horrible town pigeons who are certainly a bit of a pest around here ). But the window thing sounds horrible and the weird pile on is - a bit odd.

It does sound as though the waiting game will be the right approach though. Sorry I can’t help but just thought I’d chime in in support as I would not like this either.

It's not great to have birds shitting on the inside of your window, but there's nothing you can do to remove then. Keep cleaning the window until they move on. It won't be forever. Then you can get the hole stopped up to prevent them coming back. Just pay a handyman to do it. Meantime, chill. You expected everyone to tell you that there landlord should send someone to kill the birds for you, but you were wrong. It doesn't work like that. Accept it.

Definitely not middle class here. Grew up in a dive of a London council estate. You have a chip on your shoulder. People are giving you the correct advice.

We have robins this year. I'm so proud of them. Trying to hand tame mum and dad.

Sparrows in the eaves too. Chirpy little buggers but they are struggling as a species so 🤷‍♀️. I feed em, they bring me joy.

God knows we need a bit of joy in this birdbatshit crazy world.

I think a seagull would struggle nicking a chip that size.

We need a pterodactyl.

I don't need to go out to embrace nature It's embracing me all the time.

Thanks for those showing empathy. Sorry for those who aren't. And yes obviously no one is going to help me or my children. But let's all just hug and embrace the fucking bird poo. I might write a motivational Facebook post about it. #blessedshit etc

But the window thing sounds horrible and the weird pile on is - a bit odd.

What’s your view on the OP calling everyone on mumsnet a middle-class wanker? You ok with that?

OP Can you take a photo so we can see the gap? I can't picture how they are shitting on your window if they are in the walls.

I’m more of a #teambirds myself...

No. I've got a fetish about getting middle class wankers to laugh at poor people and now I've had four pages of it so job done.

Would you like some salt and vinegar to go with that large chip on your shoulder?

Maybe op is just a bit confused about the difference between covid and corvids, hence the hysteria about catching something.

@malmi but this is what I don't get re the putative "handyman". I'm three floors up. The birds are in the wall, not the eaves, but the actual wall. Is that really a handyman job? Also as I understand it nesting lasts - intermittently but it lasts nevertheless - from now until autumn. As I've repeatedly said, I'm not insured for any building work at all. I don't have any control over the outside of the building. I can get jobs done inside, and I do, but I can't authorise anything outside. So even if I wait six months (until autumn) and pay someone then, if they fuck it up, I'm screwed. The birds are actually in the wall. It's going to need cleaning, and bricks moving and stuff. I don't have permission to do that and I could get sued or worse case evicted if I pay someone who fucks i up or even if they don't fuck it up but I don't have permission to do it. And I can't do it myself as I don't know what I'm doing and I'm three floors up.

@GuyFawkesDay "Trying to hand tame mum and dad."
Aw that's lovely, I'm jealous, the dog's too titty to encourage them to come any closer to us. I do have a picture somewhere on my phone from years ago feeding a wild Robin our packed lunch in scotland

And if someone does see what she’s doing and reports her and she gets fined?
Also I’m sure the kids won’t be at all traumatised by the resulting cries of dying chicks.
Ffs

You are going to have to wait then.

It sucks but it can't be changed. It's not an emergency like a gas leak or water pouring through the ceiling.

Its not ideal....but it is the situation.

you should have known on Mumsnet you would get the silly line "it's the law" threw at you.

It’s “thrown”.

You’re welcome.

@BirdwomanofAlcatraz a motivational Facebook post is a top idea.

@LostDesire very measured.

“Anyway my point is, get up there yourself or a friend and pull the nest out your wall and bin it. Or get up there an fill the hole with fire rated expanding foam if you cannot get to the nest to bin it.“

Also the smell of rotting dead birds falling through the vent would be worse than bird shit.

Jesus the moronity

Op, sending you virtual sympathy. These people saying YABU for objecting to shit running down the inside of your window are so full of shit it’s laughable. I think this poses a clear h &s risk - animal faeces in home with children - and I’d write to the landlord.

Those quoting deaths/covid/pandemic, we are locked down . Have you thought that animal shit inside might be worse if you can’t escape it? Honestly guys, be kind will you. Of course OP isn’t being unreasonable in expecting her landlord to sort the situation out.

Op, research H&s regs a bit, write to LL/HA, Mark it urgent, say your kids are lockdown and at risk and insist THEY come and temporarily block up the gap (to the outside that shouldn’t be there anyway...)

Yes, because needlessly killing wildlife is perfectly acceptable, especially if you don't actually do it quickly and just throw live baby birds in the bin to die.

Aww Thank you @FamilyOfAliens

Still I think the OP is going to have to sort it herself if no one is willing to help her.

Honestly guys, be kind will you.

Oh the irony!

Be kind?

Like calling folk middle class wankers kind?