Starling Control in Leeds
Scratching and chattering in the roof from first light, mess down the wall, and itchy bites once the young birds leave? Starlings nest in the roof void and their nests crawl with bird mites.
The starling is a protected, native bird, so Apex Pest Control Ltd clears it humanely and seals every entry point — mesh and comb strips on the gaps they use — so they can't get back in. BPCA bird-qualified, free survey, no call-out fee, across Leeds.
BPCA-Certified Member
Fully Insured
Local Leeds Technician
Apex Pest Control Ltd provides humane starling control in Leeds and across West Yorkshire. The common starling is a native, Red-listed and protected bird, so Apex seals the roof-void entry points it uses — the gap where the tiles meet the gutter, and the soffits and fascias — with mesh and comb strips, ideally before the April breeding season, and treats the bird mites the nests leave behind. Nathan Marshall, the BPCA bird-qualified Leeds technician, carries out a free survey.
Why Starlings in the Roof Are a Problem
Apex Pest Control Ltd is called to starlings in the roof across Leeds, and it's more than just the noise.
The bird mites bite you
Starling nests harbour bird mites, and when the chicks fledge and leave, the mites come looking for a new host — which is when people start getting bitten indoors. This is the part homeowners feel most.
The mess is a health risk
Droppings in the roof void carry bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria and a fungus, dry into airborne dust you can breathe in, and block gutters — so it has to be cleaned safely.
You can't just remove the nest
The starling is a native, Red-listed protected bird, so an active nest can't lawfully be removed — the right approach is to clean and disinfect once they've fledged, or proof before they nest, then seal the way in.
Apex Pest Control Ltd surveys the roof, clears the mites and mess safely, and seals every entry point — humanely and within the law.
How We Clear Starlings
How Apex Clears Starlings in Leeds
Apex Pest Control Ltd clears starlings humanely and lawfully — find the gaps, deal with the mites, then seal it for good. Here is the four-step process on every Leeds starling job.
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Survey the roof
Apex Pest Control Ltd finds every entry point into the void: the gap where the tiles meet the gutter, the soffits, fascias and eaves.
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Clean & treat
Once the birds have fledged (or before they nest), the nest material and guano are removed and disinfected as a biohazard, and any bird mites are treated.
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Seal every entry point
Mesh and comb strips close the tile-gutter gap, soffits and fascias, and netting or spikes deal with larger voids and ledges — so starlings can't get back in, while ventilation is kept clear.
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Advise & operate lawfully
Where a nest is still active, Apex advises on the lawful timing and carries out any licensed work only under the relevant Natural England general licence.
Every job is surveyed and quoted upfront, with no call-out fee. The starling is native and Red listed, so an active nest cannot be removed under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 — any nest or lethal control is a last resort, carried out only under a Natural England general licence (WML-GL04), with humane exclusion first.
Why Leeds Chooses Apex for Starling Control
Apex Pest Control Ltd is a local, family-run pest control company, a BPCA-certified member, trusted across South and West Yorkshire.
"Nathan surveys the roof, clears the mites and mess safely and seals every entry point so starlings can't get back in — lawfully and humanely, ideally before they nest."
- BPCA Certificate in Bird Management
- RSPH Level 2 qualified — pest management
- Humane and lawful — works within the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
- Working-at-height trained — roof proofing fitted safely at height
- Local Leeds technician — attends every job himself
We Know It's Protected
Apex Pest Control Ltd treats the starling correctly as the native, Red-listed bird it is, and works within the law — where US-style pages and some firms get it wrong.
Entry-Point Exclusion, Before April
Apex seals the actual gaps starlings use — the tile-gutter gap, soffits and fascias — ideally before the breeding season, so they can't nest at all. Scaring gadgets and hawk or falconry displays only work briefly — starlings soon habituate — so physical exclusion is what actually lasts.
Bird-Mite Expertise
Apex treats the mites the nest leaves behind, not just the birds — the part that actually bites you. Nathan Marshall is your BPCA bird-qualified Leeds technician, not a national call centre.
Humane, Accredited & Insured
BPCA Certificate in Bird Management, RSPH Level 2, BPCA member, CHAS registered, working at height to current standards, with £5M public liability insurance.
Free survey, no call-out fee — every starling job is surveyed and quoted upfront. Call Nathan — your local Leeds technician · 0113 390 4270.
Do We Cover Your Area in Leeds?
Apex Pest Control Ltd covers all of Leeds and the surrounding areas, including Roundhay, Headingley, Chapel Allerton, Horsforth, Morley, Garforth, Pudsey, Kirkstall, Wetherby and the city centre — covering every LS postcode (LS1–LS29) and the wider West Yorkshire region. Click any area below to centre it on the map.
Not listed? Call us — we may still be able to help.
Call Our Leeds Team — 0113 390 4270Areas Covered
Starling Control Across Leeds
Explore our local area pages — detailed coverage for every key Leeds district.
Survey-Led Pricing
How Much Does Starling Control Cost in Leeds?
Apex Pest Control Ltd prices starling control in Leeds after a free survey, because every roof is different — the number of entry points, the access, and whether there's a mite and guano clean-up all change the job.
Survey-led
Free survey · no call-out fee · fixed quote before any work begins
- A free survey of the roof void, soffits, fascias and entry points
- The mite and guano clean-up and the proofing specified for your roof
- A fixed quote, agreed before any work begins
- No hidden charges and no call-out fee
The survey produces a fixed written quote with no call-out fee, covering the clean-up and the proofing specified for your roof. See our commercial services · View our full price list.
What Apex Customers Say
"Great service, very professional and knowledgeable. After an inspection he removed our problem quickly and tidily. I highly recommend Apex."
"5 star assistance from Tony. I really appreciate your straightforward approach, knowledge and professionalism."
"Immediate response and the problem was resolved very quickly. Excellent service and a really good price."
Reviews are genuine and labelled by their true location and platform. Apex does not yet hold Leeds-specific starling-control reviews and does not present any review as a Leeds review.
The Species
The Starling in Your Roof
The bird in your roof is the common, or European, starling (Sturnus vulgaris) — a native British bird in serious decline, which is why it is Red listed and fully protected.
Why Lawful, Exclusion-Led Control Matters
The bird in your roof is the common, or European, starling (Sturnus vulgaris) — and despite the trouble it causes, it is a native British bird in serious decline, with the UK population down around 57% since the mid-1990s, which is why it is Red listed and fully protected.
Starlings are cavity nesters: in towns they take to roof voids, soffits, fascias and eaves, squeezing in through the gap where the roof tiles meet the gutter. They breed from April to July, often raising two broods a year, and return to the same roof season after season. Their nests are noisy from first light and harbour bird mites that turn on people once the chicks fledge, while the droppings build up into a health and gutter problem.
Because they're protected, the lawful and lasting answer is never to harm them but to clear the void at the right time and seal every way back in — which is exactly what Apex does.
Starling Control in Leeds — and Where Starlings Nest
Apex Pest Control Ltd deals with roof-nesting starlings right across Leeds, and the city's housing is ideal for them.
The older terraced and semi-detached streets of Headingley, Chapel Allerton, Roundhay and Kirkstall, with their soffits, fascias and tile-gutter gaps, give starlings easy access to the warm roof void, while city-centre buildings draw large, noisy winter roosts.
Once a pair nests in a roof they come back every year, so the most effective approach is to clear the void and seal the entry points — ideally before the April breeding season.
Apex surveys each roof, deals with the mites and mess, and proofs it humanely — working at height where needed.
Leeds at a Glance
The Law on Starlings, Done Properly
Apex Pest Control Ltd works strictly within the law on starlings — leading with humane physical exclusion, with any nest or lethal control carried out only as a last resort under a general licence.
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 — all wild birds, their nests and eggs are protected under Section 1, and the starling, being native and Red listed, is taken seriously — so an active nest cannot be removed.
- Proofing needs no licence — physical proofing and exclusion need no licence, which is why Apex leads with them, timing the work before the birds nest or once the chicks have fledged.
- General licence, last resort (WML-GL04) — any nest or lethal control is a last resort, carried out only under the relevant Natural England general licence.
- Humane and at height — all work is humane under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and carried out at height to the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
Sources: Natural England (wild bird licensing) · BPCA (bird control) · HSE (guano clean-up & working at height).
For Leeds Businesses & Property Managers
Apex Pest Control Ltd also protects commercial premises across Leeds from starlings — food premises, warehouses, schools, offices and city-centre buildings where large roosts bring noise, guano and a health risk.
The team surveys the site, cleans the fouling, treats any mites, and seals the entry points at height, documenting the work for your health-and-safety records.
For sites that need ongoing cover, Apex Pest Control Ltd offers scheduled commercial pest management with full documentation. Explore our commercial pest control →
For Commercial & FM
- Survey of food premises, warehouses, schools, offices and city-centre buildings
- Safe biohazard fouling clean-up, mite treatment and entry points sealed at height
- Work documented for health-and-safety records
- BPCA-certified, £5M-insured technicians
Starling Control in Leeds — Your Questions Answered
Answers to the questions Leeds residents and businesses ask most often about starling control. Each answer is self-contained and mirrored in the page schema.
Are starlings protected?
Yes. The starling is a native, Red-listed bird and, like all wild birds, it and its nest and eggs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Apex Pest Control Ltd works lawfully and leads with humane proofing — it never treats the starling as a pest to be eradicated.
Can you remove a starling nest?
Not while it's active — that would be unlawful. Apex Pest Control Ltd times the work before the birds nest or once the chicks have fledged, then clears and disinfects the void and seals the entry points. Any licensed work is done only under a Natural England general licence.
What about the bird mites?
Starling nests harbour bird mites that bite people once the chicks fledge and the mites look for a new host. Apex Pest Control Ltd removes the nest material and treats the mites as part of the job, before sealing the roof.
When should starling proofing be done?
Ideally before the April breeding season, so starlings can't nest in the first place — or once this year's chicks have fledged. Apex Pest Control Ltd surveys the roof and advises on the right timing.
Do mesh and netting actually work?
Yes — sealing the entry points is the only lasting fix. Apex Pest Control Ltd closes the tile-gutter gap, soffits and fascias with mesh and comb strips, and uses netting or spikes for larger voids and ledges, while keeping ventilation clear.
How much does starling control cost in Leeds?
Apex Pest Control Ltd quotes after a free survey, because every roof differs in entry points, access and whether a mite and guano clean-up is needed. The survey gives a fixed written quote with no call-out fee.
Still have questions about starling control in Leeds? Call 0113 390 4270 — book a free survey with Nathan, your local Leeds technician.
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Starling Control · Leeds
Starlings in Your Leeds Roof? Call Apex Today
Apex Pest Control Ltd will survey it, clear the nest and mites safely, and seal every entry point so they can't return — humanely and lawfully, with a free survey and no call-out fee. Call Nathan, your local Leeds technician, or book a free roof survey.
- 0113 390 4270 — Leeds local line
- info@apex-pest-control.co.uk
- Mon–Fri 8am–7pm · Sat–Sun 8am–1pm
- Serving Leeds & West Yorkshire · Apex Pest Control Ltd, Company No. 16815959