United Kingdom
Pest control in the UK
A pest controller surveys the problem, treats it over one to three visits, and proofs the gaps it came through. Here is what each pest usually costs, what the council charges where it still treats pests, and how to choose a firm.
Choose your pest
15 services- Rat controlRat control for homes and gardens
- Mouse controlMouse control for homes
- Wasp nest removalWasp nest removal for homes
- Bed bug treatmentBed bug treatment for homes
- Flea treatmentFlea treatment for the home
- Cockroach controlCockroach control for your home
- Ant controlAnt control in your home
- Moth treatmentMoth treatment for your home
- Bird controlBird proofing and pigeon control
- Squirrel removalSquirrel removal and loft proofing
- Mole catchingMole catching and mole removal
- Fox controlFox proofing and deterrents
- Woodworm treatmentWoodworm treatment and surveys
- Damp proofingDamp proofing and damp surveys
- Japanese knotweed removalJapanese knotweed specialists
What pest control costs
| Service | Private firms | For | Council median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rat control | £150 to £240 | for a three-visit course | £91 |
| Mouse control | £178 to £280 | for a two-to-three visit course | £95 |
| Wasp nest removal | £60 to £150 | per nest | £76.88 |
| Bed bug treatment | £350 to £550 | per room for chemical treatment | £186.26 |
| Flea treatment | £100 to £220 | for a home treatment | £113.10 |
| Cockroach control | £100 to £280 | for a treatment course | £136.84 |
| Ant control | £60 to £150 | for a straightforward treatment | rarely |
| Moth treatment | £120 to £300 | for a single wardrobe caught early | rarely |
| Bird control | £150 to £500 | per job | rarely |
| Squirrel removal | £150 to £350 | for a full clearance | £155.32 |
| Mole catching | £80 to £280 | per job | rarely |
| Fox control | £100 to £400 | for deterrent-based control | rarely |
| Woodworm treatment | £300 to £1000 | for a typical treatment job | rarely |
| Damp proofing | £60 to £120 | per linear metre for a chemical damp proof course | rarely |
| Japanese knotweed removal | £500 to £5000 | for a herbicide programme over three to five years | rarely |
Private prices from published firm price lists and cost guides (sources on each page). Council medians from our table of 361 councils, checked October 2026.
How to choose a pest controller
- Ask what the price covers: how many visits, whether proofing is included, and how long any guarantee lasts.
- Ask about training: RSPH Level 2 is the baseline qualification, and firms that buy professional rat poison need CRRU-approved training.
- Trade associations are not licences. BPCA and NPTA members follow a code and carry insurance, and BPCA members are audited to BS EN 16636. Check membership on the association's own site.
- Never accept glue traps in your home. In England only licensed professionals may use them, in exceptional cases; they are banned in Wales and Scotland.
- Check the council first. Some treat rats, mice or wasps for less than a private firm, and a few for free.