Pest control for your home

The latest information regarding pest control in Northumberland, and how this service is operating during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

This information was last updated 24 June 2020.

Due to the recent pandemic, we are only able to make bookings for pests which pose a threat to public health. 
These pests include:

• Rats and mice
• Fleas and bedbugs
• Wasps

In the best interests of our customers and staff, we must close all other bookings. 

There are some pests we cannot treat. If you have any pests which we are unable to provide treatment for, please consult a private pest control contractor.

For advice about the most common pests in Northumberland, such as how to identify them, and where you might find them, please click here to visit our pest identification page.

 

We currently do carry out treatments for:	We currently do not carry out treatments for:
Rats Mice Fleas Cockroaches Wasps Ants Flies  Bed bugs	Bats Bees Slugs Snails Moles Spiders Pigeons Rabbits Squirrels Foxes Woodworm

 

If you are reporting rats or mice on someone else’s land or building, please call 0345 600 6400 to request an inspection visit to be conducted.

The council has also introduced a concession charge for all domestic charges at 50% of the current price. This is ONLY available by contacting our customer contact centre on 0345 600 6400.

Please click here to view our public liability certificate.

 

Businesses:

If you need pest control officers to visit your business, please click here for more information.

 

Our home services and charges:

Pest	Inside property	Outside property	4+ bed property	Concessions
Rats	£55	£55		£27.50
Mice	£55	£55		£27.50
Fleas	£80	N/A	£100	£40 £50
Cockroaches	£55	N/A	£80	£27.50 £40
Wasps per nest thereafter	£55 £20	£55 £20	£55 £20	£27.50 £10
Insect ID	£27	N/A	£27	£13.50
Ants	£55	£55	£80	£27.50 £40
Flies	£80	N/A	£100	£40 £50
Bed bugs	£150	N/A	£150	£75
Fumigations	£80	N/A	£100	£40 £50
Advice visit	£27	N/A	£27	£13.50

PLEASE NOTE: There must be someone present at the property when our technicians are called out. We will not enter premises or gardens unaccompanied for security, and health and safety reasons.

We will leave advice and information after our treatment.

 

Our concessions policy

A 50% reduction is available to residents who are full-time students, or claiming one of the following benefits:

• income support
• disability living allowance
• personal independence payment
• jobseekers’ allowance
• attendance allowance
• housing benefit
• mobility allowance
• pension credit
• severe disablement allowance
• council tax benefit
• incapacity benefit

We must be informed if you are booking a concession visit. You may be asked to provide evidence of eligibility upon our arrival.

 

Advice visits 

The charge for an advice visit is £27 and an officer will visit your property to assess the problem and provide advice. If we advise treatment is necessary, you will be asked to pay the remaining fee for that treatment, should you wish to proceed.
 

How can I book and pay?

You may book and pay for your first visit now by clicking the following link:

• Book and pay for a pest control officer to visit your property

Please see below for the answers to our frequently asked questions:

Is there a charge for the pest control service?
There is a charge for all pest treatments, including in garages and outhouses.
 
Are there discounts available?
We charge a fixed fee to keep costs down and make the service available and affordable to all residents. If you are entitled to a concession rate, you will receive a 50% discount.
 
Can you treat my neighbour’s property?
No. We must receive a request from the owner.
 
What if the rats/mice are coming from my neighbour?
If you suspect there are rodents living in your neighbour’s garden, the first thing to do is to tell them where you have seen the pest. After informing your neighbour, we advise that you, and your surrounding neighbours, remove any outdoor food sources for the next seven to ten days. If the problem persists, please contact us. 
 
Does someone have to be in when we visit?
Yes. We will not enter premises unaccompanied for our own security, and health and safety reasons. We also need to give someone direct advice and information after our treatment.
 
Are the chemicals used safe around humans and pets?
Yes. The chemicals used are safe, provided all instructions and advice left by the pest control officer are adhered to. We always take care when laying poison to ensure we minimise the risk to pets and other non-target animals. 
In some cases, we will not lay poison if the risk is too high and we require homeowners to keep pets and children away from any poisons and/or insecticides used.
 
Can you treat wasp or bee nests on county council land?
For wasp nests, we will carry out treatment on council land if there is a danger to the public. However, we do not carry out any treatments on private land without the owner’s agreement.
 
PLEASE NOTE: We do not carry out treatment for bees of any kind. If you are unsure what type of bee you have, visit The British Beekeepers Association to get the appropriate advice.
 
Can you treat ants on footpaths?
No, we do not treat ants in gardens, footpaths or public areas, as this is their natural habitat.
 
I have maggots in my wheelie bin, can you treat them?
No. However we do advise that, once your bin is empty, you should rinse it with hot water. To reduce the risk of maggots, always keep your bin lid closed.
 
I think I have bats in my roof space. Can you remove them?
No, it’s illegal to remove or disturb bats. For more information, please visit the Bat Conservation Trust website.
 
What can I do about pigeons/seagulls?
Northumberland County Council does not carry out treatments for pigeons or seagulls. For more information, please visit the Natural England website.
 
How do I rearrange or cancel a visit?
To book a revisit, to reschedule or cancel a visit, please call our contact centre on 0345 600 6400.