Watford Borough Council

Council pest control officers deal with pests that are harmful to public health.

Rats can be particularly unsettling and can cause damage to woodwork and cables and
may transmit disease. Pest control officers will deal with rats at no charge to householders. 

The council also treats other pests:

• Mice
• Pharoah ants
• Wasps
• Fleas
• Bedbugs
• Cockroaches

Pest control treatment can be arranged by telephone during normal working hours:  01923 226400 or by using the email address at the bottom of the page.

Our staff will provide advice and make an appointment for a pest controller to visit. 

Officers call by prior appointment and apply safe and effective treatments. If for any reason the problem persists they will return and make every effort to ensure the pest is eradicated.

Please note that the pest control service is only available for domestic properties. Businesses should contact commercial treatment providers.

Charges

Follow the link at the end of this page to view current charges. For all pest treatments for which a charge is payable, a concessionary rate is available for thoses on the following benefits: 

1. Housing benefit, in the form of Rent Allowance or Local Housing Allowance for people living in rented accommodation

2. Council tax benefit

3. Income support

4. Job Seekers Allowance (income based)

5. Working tax credit

6. Child tax credit

7. Guaranteed pension credit (not ‘Savings Pension Credit’)

8. Employment and support allowance (income based)

Occupiers themselves can take steps to prevent pests infesting their properties.

• Ensure that refuse bin areas are kept clean and any spillage of food material is cleaned up promptly and thoroughly
• Where communal bin areas are provided, residents should take responsibility for ensuring refuse is stored correctly
• Ensure your premises are kept in good repair. Seal any gaps around doors and holes wherever possible. Clear away rubbish, debris and any overgrown vegetation

How do I get rid of a rodent infestation?

To get rid of rodents you may need professional help. They can be difficult to control due to their ability to burrow, climb and jump and also due to the speed that they breed.

• Mechanical traps can be used but rodents can be wary of them and it is not easy to achieve full control by this method
• Ultrasonic boxes can be used as a deterrent, however rodents become accustomed to the sound and they will eventually ignore it
• The most consistent and effective rodent control is by poison baits
• Treatment can be arranged please see above