Due to their rarity all bat species found in Britain are protected by law.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 both protect bats and their roosts.

The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 lists all bats as 'European protected species of animals'.

It is an offence:

to possess a live or dead bat, any part of a bat, or anything derived from a bat.

for any person to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bat.

to intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any place that a wild bat uses for shelter or protection.

In order to carry out any work on a house or building that might contain a bat roost it is important to first get a suitably qualified surveyor to assess the likelihood of any disturbance. If a bat roost is found to be present a licence will be required before any works can be carried out.

More information of bats and the law can be found on the Bat Conservation Trust website http://www.bats.org.uk/batlaw/batlaw_in_detail.asp