The common pipistrelle is Britains smallest and most abundant bat, but roosts in buildings are vulnerable to disturbance from renovation work. All bat species and their roosts are legally protected.
Disturbance to maternity roosts during the breeding season (May-August) can cause mothers to abandon pups, leading to starvation. Physical exclusion during the wrong period traps bats inside buildings, causing heat stress and death. Renovation chemicals and wood preservatives can poison bats through skin absorption. Construction vibration and lighting near roosts causes stress responses that increase energy expenditure and reduce reproductive success.