Pests in the home: action, treatment and responsibility

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

Identify the pest and the extent of the problem

Photograph signs, damage or the insect without unnecessary handling. Record affected rooms, timing and possible entry points. Mice, cockroaches, bedbugs and clothes moths need different approaches; buying an unrelated treatment can make diagnosis harder.

Remove accessible food, secure rubbish and inform the building manager if signs occur in communal areas. Where bedbugs are suspected, do not move furniture or bedding between rooms or addresses without professional instructions. Treating one flat may not resolve a building-wide issue.

Notify the landlord in writing

In rented housing in England, responsibility depends on the cause. Shelter describes situations in which the landlord is responsible ↗, including infestation at the start, necessary repairs allowing pests in or an unfit property. Where occupants’ actions caused the problem, responsibility may fall on them.

Send photographs, dates and information about defects such as gaps around pipes. Request agreement on inspection, treatment and repairs to entry points. “Pests are always the tenant’s responsibility” is not an adequate explanation. Retain the inventory and early correspondence if the problem existed from move-in.

Choose an appropriate service

GOV.UK links to local council pest control ↗. Services may charge and may not cover every pest. The page also links to professional associations for finding a private contractor.

Before booking, request identification of the pest, a treatment plan, number of visits, total price, return-visit terms and preparation instructions. Mention children and pets, and ask when people can re-enter and how to handle treated surfaces. Obtain written instructions rather than relying on a vague verbal assurance.

Address the cause and keep evidence

Agree who will seal entry points, carry out repairs, clean communal areas and inspect neighbouring units where necessary. Establish responsibility and payment for each part. Do not use improvised chemical mixtures or traps without checking legality and safety. GOV.UK highlights restrictions on pest-control methods and protected wildlife.

If the landlord does not respond, repeat your report with a chronology and seek housing advice or contact the council. Do not withhold rent unilaterally: arrears create a separate risk and do not replace the process for resolving the infestation.