I have a balcony in my bedroom. Pigeons have moved into the balcony above mine and started a family and all their poop feathers and nesting material falls onto my balcony and blows into the bedroom. I tried knocking on the neighbors door and he hasn’t answered. I contacted the régie but they seem to not care. My question is, who is responsible for ensuring that pigeons are not living in the building? The tenant or the landlord? I’m very frustrated because I have pigeon netting etc but still because of an irresponsible neighbor have bird poop all over my balcony. If the régie continues to not help should I go to the renters association? Any advice welcome!
Hello,
First contact the neighbour, then the landlord , then the renters asscoiation.
Perhaps you could write a letter and tape it to your neighbor's door (or put it in their mailbox), since you've had trouble contacting them by knocking on their door.
Apparently, there are some things that can be done to help keep pigeons away. This page (link below) lists quite a few of them. Perhaps you could even suggest some of these to your neighbor:
How to Scare Away Pigeons
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/how-to...-13424737.html
It also mentions that pigeon 'droppings' can be hazardous to humans' health. So I think your neighbor and/or landlord should therefore feel a sense of obligation to do something about the problem.
Good luck! And welcome to the forum!
The pigeons themselves are responsible.
Otherwise, contact your local commune, as it is their problem, not your neighbor's nor the owner's, same as with hornets.
Tom
Not sure why you groaned me for my post above, Tom... But I know you like to groan people's posts, so... I suppose it shouldn't really surprise me.
They only nest for about 6 weeks. Then winter will come.
Because it is the commune's problem, not the landlord's nor the neighbor's.
Tom
But do you really think the OP should wait until the commune does something about it and do nothing until then? If just putting a fake snake on your balcony or some balloons, etc. can keep them away, why not do it?
Is it? Wasps too? We had a wasp problem and our concierge told us it was our responsibility. He said we could call the fire department but they were unlikely to do anything.
Three options-
1- Collect a bucket full of dry pigeon shit, apply strong glue to each piece individually and lob it back into their balcony every night.
2- Buy an eagle walking stick and wave it at the pigeons to scare them off.
3- Create a rope and pulley system with a stuffed eagle attached to it. When you pull the rope the stuffed eagle moves up and down between the two balconies. Spend all you free time pulling the ropes and get popeye arms for free.
Have you considered having a Hawk as a pet? A Cat with attached balloons could also do the job...
As they said, Contact the Neighbor, if nothing happens then the landlord or company that lends the flat to... maybe the building management? maybe... You can try to scare them by yourself with something like a laser, lights, or whatever you can get your hands to... but if they have already built they nest it will be tough...
OP should complain to the commune, it's their problem.
Tom
It is NOT their problem.
Tom
Hornets, yes. Normal wasps probably not, but maybe, you'd need to ask.
Tom
Maybe the neighbour likes these doves of peace and feeds them (is that still legal)? Good for him, but they should at least make sure that they clean up the poop and not you. I would keep seeking their contact in order to find a peacful solution to the annoyance. In Switzerland, toning it down often helps more than ramping it up.
Good luck.
Well, apparently, you can receive a rent reduction here if pigeon poo on your balcony or terrace is a problem. So I still have no idea why you groaned me for suggesting that it's the landlord's responsibility or that the landlord should be contacted.
It's weird that the neighbor doesn't react when there is a pigeon nest on his balcony, as they make noise and smell bad.
Are those the neighbor's pigeons?
Here is the link, for Lausanne (OP's profile)
https://www.lausanne.ch/vie-pratique...e/pigeons.html
There, you can download the pdf called " Les pigeons vous posent problème ?".
It contains the phone number of the responsible person in the municipality.
Tom is right, that they're the people to contact. Even so, I agree with the others who have posted to first try to contact the neighbours again. If you can't reach them, just write a brief letter to the neighbour and the landlord/agent, informing them that you are now going to contact the municipality. That's all.
This might be important if the pigeon expert needs to gain access to the neighbour's balcony. And also because of this:
Nonsense.
Generally speaking the regie/owner promised an apartment that's fully usable as intended, and that's what they can and should be held accountable for. This isn't caused by pigeons flying by overhead, which would indeed be nobody's fault and to be accepted, but by pigeons shitting from the balcony above, perhaps even being invited there by shelter, food, nesting material, whatever.
Obviously it's possible to keep a balcony pigeon-free, and that's what the owner should and can be held accountable for.
The answer to that is none of your concern.
Your contract is with the owner/regie, they have to fulfill their part of the deal and make the balcony usable. Plus, they have to keep it from creating hygiene problems, be that on the balcony or your bedroom, and potential follow-on costs.
You need to be able to prove that you informed them, otherwise you may make yourself liable for the consequences (no kidding), including but not limited to cleaning the shit and the damages it caused when you move out. Accepted proof is a written response by them, or the receipt you get when sending a letter by registered mail.
Since the other renter doesn't react you've done what you can, it's time to take the owner/regie to task. Personally I'd call them again and ask what their reaction to your earlier information is, and demand (it's your right) remedy in no less than, say, 20 calendar days.
Dont' accept wishywashy consent, they need to explicitly confirm that date. And you want to mention that you reserve the right to pay the rent into an escrow account after that date until it's been solved. Further, you may have the right to a reduced rent, probably 5-10%, subject to the details, if this doesn't get solved swiftly - will require a court verdict though. It won't hurt to mention that as well.
Where possible it won't hurt to demonstrate that it's not you being difficult, but rather that the pigeon's are a real concern, and that you wont' accept postponement. It won't hurt to mention that pigeonshit causes damage you won't be liable for, hygiene problems, they bring critters nobody with a sane mind will want around, and their shit can even cause allergies.
Follow up with a letter summarising the problem, all your actions so far, the other renter's (non)reaction, what they agreed to, and request confirmation by A-post. If they remain noncommittal during the call, or no confirmation within a workweek, send it by registered mail (adjust the solved-by date accordingly) and keep the receipt.
Frankly I scratch my head at your reluctance to join the renter's association, you're being penny-wise.