Pest control
Council tenants should contact their local housing office.
Environmental Health can help and advise the owners of domestic property if they are concerned about an infestation of:
- mice
- wasps
- rats
- squirrels
- biting insects and other insects of public health significance
- nuisance bird deterrent advice
Due to the declining bee population, we will only respond to requests for service when it is determined that a swarm of bees and/or the location of a hive present a significant risk to health and safety. In such cases, a call-out charge of £66.12 will be levied.
See advice on the identification of bees and self-help.
Pest control advice
An Environmental Health Officer can come to the property to identify the problem and give advice. To arrange a call-out, contact us on 0303 123 1015.
We can arrange for the treatment of biting insects and other insects of public health significance, such as bedbugs, fleas or cockroaches.
For more information, see the British Pest Control Association website.
Pest control treatments
We can arrange treatment for domestic properties which are infested with the following:
- mice
- wasps
- rats
- squirrels
Timescales
If your pest control treatment request is taken and you have received a payment receipt, you will be visited on the next working day. Please note that a specific time for visits can't be provided. The work is carried out by our external contractor, Excel Environmental Services.
If the pest is inside the property, you must be available for the inspection to go ahead. For problems outside, such as a wasp's nest, you do not have to be present.
If you report rats or mice, the contractor will visit weekly until the bait is no longer taken. If you are not present for the visit, the contractor will leave a card detailing the action they have taken.
Between April and September, our contractor will aim to visit between 8am and 4.30pm, however, if high volumes of requests are received, it may be later in the day before a visit is carried out. If the contractor has not visited by 4.30pm, please do not call us for an update, as the contractor will work until all scheduled jobs for that day are complete.
Charges
You will be charged if a pest controller visits your property, whether any treatment is carried out or not. Charges are as follows:
- treatment of rats, mice and wasps - £66.12
- removal of squirrels is £99.24 if the premises are proofed
- removal of fleas/cockroaches/bedbugs and dermestes beetles - £66.12
Card payment can be made over the phone on 0303 123 1005.
Council tenants should contact their local housing office.
If you are requesting a treatment for wasps, please be sure that the insects spotted are wasps and not bees, as you will be charged for the call-out.
Treatment for wasps takes around 3-5 days to take effect. If the nest is still active after this time, you can request a revisit, but this must be within two weeks of the first visit otherwise, you will be charged again. Should a new nest appear, you will be charged again for treatment.
Honey bee
Bumble bee
Wasp
Masonry bee