Pest Control
Contents
The Council's environmental health service offers treatments for the pest types mentioned below - you can book a pest control treatment online or contact us for more information. When making an online enquiry you will receive an email advising on the next available appointment and a link to our online payments. Read our Service Standard and Charging Policy for information about charges, response times, customer care and quality of service. We aim to offer an appointment within the timescales quoted.
Pest treatments are chargeable and include a call out charge of £20.00 or £10.00 if in receipt of any means tested benefit. For information, visit the fees and charges section.
Fleas
Insecticides can be used to treat infested premises and protect them from re-infestation. In addition, pets can be treated directly. Insecticidal products are available which are specifically formulated and registered for use on the host animals. Only these products should be applied to animals and care should be taken to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Treatment: 2 working days response time.
Rats
If you think you have a rat problem then you should use professional help in controlling the infestation. The first indications of a problem are likely to be damage to property, droppings (oval in shape and ½ to ¾ inch in length) and holes appearing in the ground. However, the following simple rules may help to minimise the risk of an infestation:
- Do not leave any excess food waste outside overnight
- Place all household rubbish in the dustbin and keep the lid shut
- Do not let areas of the garden pile up with rubbish or become overgrown, as they will nest in this area.
Treatment:
- Rats inside house - 1 working day response time from initial complaint
- Rats outside house - 5 working days response time from initial complaint.
This cost includes a maximum of three visits - the first visit is to assess and lay bait. The second visit is 3 weeks later to assess take-up of bait and lay more bait if required. The third visit is in another 3 weeks to remove any bait boxes and unused bait. If, after discussion with the Pest Control Officer, it is decided that more than 3 visits are required then a further charge would be incurred.
Mice
An infestation of mice can be particularly difficult to control because of the rate at which they breed.
In order to prevent such an infestation occurring, exclusion should always be the primary method of control. All gaps greater than 5mm must be sealed using mortar, mesh or brush/bristle strips and any vegetation growing upwards and into the roof of a property should be cut back. If you can get your little finger through a gap then a mouse can squeeze through too!
Regular maintenance checks should always be carried out, both inside and outside the property throughout the year. Rubbish should be stored in a bin with a tight fitting lid and food should not be left out for the birds.
Treatment
The Council provides a chargeable service for the treatment of rats for residents who live within the Borough. The treatment is carried out by qualified Pest Control Officers who adhere to Council procedures to ensure the safety of both the public and other animals.
- Mice inside house - 3 working days response time.
Bedbugs
You will probably need professional help dealing with an infestation of bedbugs and Rushcliffe Borough Council provides a chargeable service.
The infested rooms should be sprayed with a broad spectrum residual insecticide, paying particular attention to bed frames, skirting boards, wall switches and any other cracks and crevices likely to shelter bugs.
Wherever possible, likely hiding places should be sealed after treatment with a residual crack and crevice treatment.
Wasps
Rushcliffe Borough Council provides a service for the treatment of wasps for which there is a charge. If you intend to carry out your own treatment, read the label of the pesticide container and follow the instructions carefully.
Treatment: maximum of one visit. Spraying of a single nest with a powder insecticide. If additional separate nests are identified before or during treatment then these can be treated at an additional reduced cost.
- Wasps - 5 working days response time.
Bees
Rushcliffe Borough Council does not provide a service for the treatment of bees, as most bees are not seen as a pest. Try the British Beekeepers Association website for help and advice.
If a swarm of honey bees needs to be collected you can find details of your nearest collector. Please note that ONLY honey bees will be collected so please do not contact the bee keeper without confirming that they are honey bees. You can check if you actually have got honey bees and not any other sort of bees by going to the do you have a swarm web page.
Service standard and charging policy
Rushcliffe Borough Council operates a pest control service for both residents and commercial businesses in the borough. We are committed to offering a comprehensive, quality pest control service and endeavour to prioritise the use of resources to address pests with a known public health risk.
Pest treatments are chargeable and include a call out charge of £20.00 or £10.00 if in receipt of any of the following means tested benefits:
- Income Support
- Council Tax Reduction (not single person discount)
- Housing Benefit
- Working Tax Credit
- Income-based Job Seekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
The pest control service currently operates between 8.30am and 4pm.
The following services are available and current prices can be found in the fees and charges section:
- Rats inside house - 1 working day response time from initial complaint
- Rats outside house - 5 working days response time from initial complaint
- Mice inside house - 3 working days response time
- Bedbugs - 2 working days response time
- Cockroaches - 2 working days response time
- Fleas - 2 working days response time
- Wasps - 5 working days response time
- Ants in or around the house* - 5 working days response time
- Moles - 5 working days response time
- Squirrels - 5 working days response time
- Carpet Beetle - 5 working days response time
- Moths - Advice Only - Free - (5 working days response time)
- Book Lice - Advice Only - Free - (5 working days response time)
- Earwigs - Advice Only - Free - (5 working days response time)
- Flies - Advice Only - Free - (5 working days response time)
- Foxes - Advice Only - Free - (5 working days response time)
- Bees - Advice Only - Free - (5 working days response time)
Please note that during the peak season, a private contractor may carry out pest control treatments on our behalf.
We aim to offer an appointment within the timescales quoted.
Treatments are not carried out for certain nuisance pests such as flies, as infestations are either very easy to treat directly or the treatment required would be prolonged and impractical for the Council to carry out. Preventative advice will be given where possible.
Safety and security
The pest control officer will show you his/her Rushcliffe identification if you have arranged to be present during the treatment. Always ask to see proof of identification if a person does not automatically produce a badge or equivalent.
The Council recognises its duties under health and safety legislation and will take all reasonably practical steps to prevent any risk to health arising from pest control treatments carried out.
A safety information leaflet detailing the type of pesticide used, together with a safe procedure for disposing of dead rodents to minimise the risk of secondary poisoning of other animals, is always left at the premises.
In the case of rats and mice, pest control officers will revisit premises to check the effectiveness of the treatment and collect unused rodenticide where practical.
Enforcement
We can and will take enforcement action were occupiers of residential and/or commercial premises have allowed refuse to accumulate which is attracting vermin.
Customer care
Our aim is to treat customers in an understanding, polite and efficient manner.
Unfortunately, specific appointment times cannot be given due to the nature of the work undertaken. An arrangement will be made to treat on a morning or afternoon of a mutually convenient date.
Where visits are made but access is unavailable, a card will be left by the pest control officer detailing the time and date of the visit and a telephone number on which they may be contacted.
Customer care questionnaires will be sent out periodically following a treatment to ensure that the quality of service is maintained. If there is any aspect of the service you received that you are not satisfied with, please contact us.