Spotted bees in chimney stack- about to exchange contracts

[soovermoving]

We did a last minute check over of the house we are buying today , as advised by our solicitor, before exchanging contracts on Friday.
The house is currently empty. As we were getting back in the car, we noticed a lot of bees flying around, and then realised they were coming from the chimney stack of the house, where there were a lot gathered. Looks like they have nested in the stack.

The agent had left by this time, so we couldn’t point them out. Should we ask the seller to deal with these before we exchange? Or just accept that we might need to get someone in as soon as we move in? We really don’t want to delay exchanging contracts. I would want them relocated somewhere safe (if they need moving) rather than eliminated by a pest control company.
Advice much appreciated!

I’d still go ahead but try to contact local bee keepers. They are usually quite helpful in capturing the Queen and relocating bees, although a few might be put off by the fact they are so high.
With any luck you will find a local bee keeper who’s also a roofer or steeple Jack so doesn’t mind heights!
Good luck with the move.

This can be very costly - a friend recently had to pay thousands for scaffolding plus capping and lining the chimney to prevent a reoccurrence. Hopefully it’s a recent issue but if it’s been there for a while it can be expensive to fix. I’d get someone in pre-exchange to take a proper look.

Generally they are best left where they are. Unless it's a local managed honey bee colony that has swarmed and left their hives, they're just a wild colony living their best lives. We have a bee colony living in one of our walls. When we first noticed it a few years ago we called a pest man - he helped us identify them (tree bees) and let us know they were pretty harmless (non-agressive and nest high up out of our way, don't damage structure of house). He said neither he nor any reputable pest control people would exterminate/move them if they weren't causing any harm.

If you are sure they are bees and not wasps, and if the chimney is open, set a small smoky fire in the grate which will encourage them to move on (we were advised to do this by a beekeeper and it worked)

Thank you for the responses. Definitely bees - we saw one close up. I think most likely normal honey bees. Yes, we’re worried that it could turn into an expensive or tricky thing to sort out. The fireplace is currently blocked up, but we were planning on opening it, so then they could make their way into the house.
I like bees and don’t mind them being there particularly, but we do have children and visiting grandchildren too so we need to be mindful.
As we’re so close to exchange, and it’s taken ages to get to this stage, I think we might just have to suck it up and pray it is relatively simple (and cheap!) to resolve! I think contacting a local beekeeper is a great starting point. Thanks for the suggestions.

Why don't you phone a pest control company in the area the house is in and get some free advice from them about whether it is likely to be an issue and if so, what would the cost be to resolve.

@Twiglets1that's a good idea. Thanks.

Our local bee keepers association are great, you just pop on FB and someone contacts you and removes the hive. They do like unused chimneys

We brought up four children in a house with ‘chimney bees’. I only remember one sting when a child stepped on a bee in the grass. Even when they occasionally swarmed in hot weather we simply retreated indoors and watched the amazing number buzz around for a while. They led their lives and we got on with ours. Eldest son keeps bees now and wins prizes for his honey.

1. They won't interfere with you or damage the house, they are nothing to worry about. They tend to come and go high up so it won't be your garden they end up in!
2. To relocate bees in a blocked-up chimney or cavity wall is very hard (not like scooping up a swarm) and can involve dismantling brickwork, so honestly, just leave them "bee".