Pests and vermin
This content applies to England only.
Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. Get advice relating to Scotland
Infestation by pests and vermin such as cockroaches or rats could make your home uninhabitable. You can deal with certain problems yourself, but for more serious outbreaks, you should contact the council's environmental health department or a local pest control firm.
Bear in mind that if you are renting it will often be your landlord’s responsibility to sort out, unless of course you caused the problem yourself.
What kinds of pests invade homes?
No matter how clean your home, disrepair or poor building design may result in infestation by cockroaches, ants, mites, silverfish, bedbugs, fleas, rats or mice.
Pests and vermin can:
- spread diseases
- damage your home and belongings
- sting or bite
- aggravate asthma, eczema and other allergies.
A severe infestation problem could make your home uninhabitable.
Rats and mice
Rats cause damage and can spread disease. If they are in or near your home, you need to take steps against them. Mice are usually harmless outdoors, but in the home can cause damage and spread disease. Put food away in sealed containers or on high shelves. If the problem gets bad, take steps against them.
If you are the homeowner, you can use shop-bought traps or poison, or use a pest control company. If you rent your home, report the problem to the landlord, who should deal with it. If there are rats on neighbouring land, it is your neighbours' responsibility to deal with them. If your landlord or neighbour refuses to do anything, report the situation to the council's environmental health department.
Insects and other small beasts
Most insects are harmless and many are beneficial. Leave them alone, or simply remove them from your home if they are unwelcome. But some insects are a problem, for example:
- cockroaches cause damage and can spread disease
- wasps can be dangerous if there is a nest in or near to your home
- clothes moths can damage clothes, curtains and other fabrics, but most moths are harmless
- woodworm and deathwatch beetle can damage furniture and even any parts of the structure of the building that are made of wood.
If you are the homeowner, you can use shop-bought control methods, or use a pest control company. If you rent your home, report the problem to the landlord, who should deal with it. If not, report the situation to your local council's environmental health department.
Large flies can spread disease and should be removed from your home or killed. Discourage flies by covering food and dealing with rubbish properly.
You can get advice about insects and pests in your home from the council's environmental health department.
Pests in the garden and outside
Gardeners are troubled by a range of pests, from slugs to rabbits and deer. Use barriers like fencing, or biological control rather than poisons, which may kill other animals or cause pollution. Always follow the instructions for any product you use.
Pigeons, squirrels and foxes can all cause damage. Don't encourage them by feeding them. If someone causes a nuisance by feeding animals inappropriately, this may be classed as antisocial behaviour.
Who is responsible for dealing with pests and vermin?
If you live in rented accommodation it is not always easy to know who is responsible for dealing with infestations. This will depend mainly on whether the problem was there when you moved in, or if you did something to cause the problem.
If nobody is responsible then it will usually be up to your landlord to sort it out.
Was the problem there when you moved in?
If the pests or vermin were there when you first moved in, it is likely to be your landlord’s responsibility. You may even be able to end the tenancy and move out if this happens to you (if the property is furnished) – but get advice if you want to do this.
If there were other factors that were present before you moved in, and that led to the infestation, such as holes in walls which were later used by pests and vermin to get into the property, then it is likely to be your landlord’s responsibility.
Did you cause the problem?
If the infestation came about because of something that you have done such as not cleaning properly, or if you have lived in the property for a while – then it is more likely to be your responsibility.
What if it is nobody’s fault?
If nobody has caused the infestation, then it is likely to be your landlord’s responsibility to get rid of any pests and vermin.
How do I get rid of pests and vermin?
In some cases you may be able to get rid of any infestation yourself through using traps, poisons or insecticides. Always make sure that there is no danger to children or pets. You can also contact a pest control company, or alternatively you could contact the environmental health department of your local council.
Your council’s environmental health department will normally still charge you for getting rid of pests and vermin, but this may work out cheaper than using a private company.
