It’s the old case of you can never tell a hedgehog what to do! If however you offer them something which is better than they already have then they may just take it. So, pop a house out now and make it somewhere that is warmer and cosier than a pile of leaves under a bush and they will certainly investigate it. Put some dust free hay in it (using gloves so it doesn’t pick up your scent) and put it somewhere out of the wind and preferably somewhere it won’t get disturbed. Provide some nest making material outside (more hay, dry leaves, small twigs etc) – basically make it an easy option for them – and they might just make an offer on the property.
I’ve been lucky and the first house I installed was only on the market for 2 days and it was sold (subject to contract). Last year I put in two new luxury bungalows (from Riverside Woodcraft) in mid-summer and they were both used on short term tenancies during the summer before both were sold for the winter. They’ve not had many tenants this summer but this week I have refurbed both with fresh hay and viewings have already taken place.
