The short answer
You stop seagulls nesting by making the roof unattractive before they start: fit deterrents such as spikes, wires or netting outside the nesting season and keep flat areas clear. A nest that is in use or being built is protected, so it cannot be removed. Once the young have gone, the nest can be cleared and the roof proofed for next year.
What the law allows
Gulls are wild birds, and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 says a person commits an offence if they intentionally take, damage or destroy a wild bird’s nest during building or use, or take or destroy its eggs. You can read the wording on legislation.gov.uk. For a householder, that means a nest with eggs or chicks in nobody should disturb it before the birds have fledged and left.
This catches people out because a nest on a roof can be noisy, messy and a nuisance to sleep next to, and the instinct is to move it at once. Doing so can be an offence. Herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls cannot be controlled under a general licence, and Natural England says it cannot license action against gulls for noise, mess or nuisance, so for most roofs waiting is the lawful route. We would not carry out work that disturbs an active nest. Once you are certain a nest is no longer in use, GOV.UK guidance says it can be removed without a licence.
Treat this as background, not legal advice. If you are unsure whether a nest is still in use, ask a qualified ecologist or Natural England before anything is touched.
Why gulls choose a roof
Gulls nest on the roofs of buildings because a roof is high, open and free from foxes. Flat roofs, wide parapet gutters, the ledge behind a chimney stack and the valley between two slopes all give them a place to build. A parapet gutter is a sheet-lead trough tucked behind the wall at a roof edge. A valley is the sunken line between two roof slopes, where water collects and runs down. Both are sheltered, level and out of the wind, which is just what a gull wants.
A roof that has been used once will be used again. Gulls often return to a site, so the first nest tells you where the next will be. The same applies to a roof where food waste is left out nearby, since a reliable meal is a reason to stay.
It is worth taking an honest look at your roof from the gutter line, or with a camera, to see where the birds are settling. The answer is nearly always a flat, protected spot rather than the pitched slope itself.
Deterrents that can be fitted legally
Once there is no active nest, deterrents can go on. They work by taking away the flat, safe spot the bird wants.
- Spikes along ridges, copings and the edges of flat roofs. Check the fixing method, because a screw through lead or a tile can cause a leak. Our answer on whether bird spikes damage a roof explains what to ask for.
- Tensioned wire across a flat area or ledge, which stops gulls from landing without covering the roof.
- Netting over a valley, parapet gutter or recess so the bird cannot get at the space at all. It needs a neat edge fixing and regular checks.
- Removing perches and food sources. Bins with lids and no feeding in the garden take away the incentive.
Deterrents must not trap or injure birds. Badly fitted netting can do exactly that, which is cruel and can amount to an offence, so it has to be tight, whole and inspected. Scaring devices tend to work for a short time before gulls get used to them.
The right time of year
Nesting runs through the warmer months, and the quiet period is the autumn and winter after the young have left. That is the time to fit deterrents, clear an old nest and sort out any roof damage the birds have caused. Because gulls return to the same spot, a roof that is proofed before spring has a good chance of staying free of nests.
If a nest is active now, the sensible plan is to leave it, keep clear of the area, and book the proofing for when the birds have gone. In the meantime you can keep the noise down by closing the window on that side and keeping food waste in sealed bins.
Winter is also when the roof is already under strain from rain and wind. If gulls have left a block in a gutter or outlet, or have pulled at the lead or ridge, fixing that early stops water getting in. Our notes on winter roof repairs explain how we plan work in colder weather.
Damage gulls can cause, and how we help
Our roof repair work often starts with the mess left behind. Nesting material, droppings and feathers are acidic and wet, and they pile up in gutters, outlets and valleys. A blocked outlet on a flat roof can lead to ponding, the standing water that wears a membrane out sooner. Gulls will also pull at moss, pointing and loose flashing, and on a parapet gutter a block can send water over the top of the lead and down inside the wall.
When we are called to a roof like this we look at the covering as well as the birds. We survey, take photographs of what is there, clear the debris once it is lawful to do so, repair any lead, tile or outlet that has been damaged and fit a proofing system that suits the roof. The price you receive afterwards is fixed and written down.
If a tarpaulin has gone on to cover a damaged area in the meantime, how long a tarpaulin can stay on a roof sets out what to expect. Please do not climb up to move a nest yourself. It is dangerous, and gulls defend their young.
