Pest infestation in your home
Any home can have a problem with pests or vermin, no matter how clean your home is.
Pest control involves managing and preventing pests such as rats, mice, insects and other nuisance animals. While many pests occur naturally in the environment, infestations can cause damage to property and may pose risks to health.
The action you need to take will depend on where the pest problem is located.
How to reduce the risk of an infestation
- Don't leave food or rubbish lying around your property.
- Keep your garden clean and tidy.
- Block up any holes in the brickwork, roof, skirting boards and floorboards to prevent pests entering your home.
Pests in homes and commercial properties
The council does not provide a general pest control service for private homes or businesses.
We can't recommend individual pest control companies. If you require pest control services, contact local or national providers for quotations. You can search for licensed pest control companies through the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) website.
Council tenants and leaseholders
Council housing tenants and leaseholder communal area, can request pest control treatment through the housing repairs service using the online housing portal.
Private tenants
If you rent your home from a private landlord, report the pest issue to your landlord or managing agent in the first instance.
Your landlord should:
- pay for pest control services
- fix any holes in the wall or floor that allows rats, mice, or other pests to enter your home
- fix any problems the pests have caused, such as damage to electrical wiring, pipes or brickwork that have been chewed through.
If your landlord won't sort out the issues with pests, you can report it to the council.
Pests in communal areas of social housing
If you see pest activity in communal areas, report it to the organisation responsible for managing the building, such as a:
- housing association
- landlord
- managing agent