Nobody wants to suffer an unwanted invasion of their own home, least of all by pests. However, many home-owners underestimate how expensive removing these pests can be. Costs can spiral out of control, leaving you and the rest of your household out of pocket. So how much does it really cost to deal with a pest invasion? Read our tell-all blog to find out.
Be aware of your financial responsibility
We all know someone who has had a pest problem in their home. Whether it was rodents, bugs or birds, we all know that dealing with any kind of pest invasion is a long and difficult process. What we often don’t realise is how much the cost can vary from case to case. If you are living in accommodation provided by the council, then you can often access some pest control services for free.
However, if you live in a privately owned property, you are responsible for the cost. So before you even begin to look at the individual case, it is clear how some people can end up paying more than others.
Assess your options
Assuming that you are living in private accommodation, then you are solely responsible for the cost of the treatment. You have a few options when choosing what kind of pest control service you are looking for. You can contact your local council, who will be able to carry out the work for you, or you can arrange to have your pest problem sorted out with the help of a private company.
Councils are obliged to help home-owners with mice and rat infestations under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949, but private firms may be able to offer a more tailor made service, or be able to deal with more specialised cases.
Council services
Services provided by the council can often be cheaper than others, with Leicester Council offering free rat control services for domestic properties. Getting rid of pests such as mice, fleas, cockroaches, bedbugs and wasps can cost people around £55 per treatment, or just £27.50 for those over the age of 60. Of course, this is just one example of what a council charges, and you should contact your own council for the prices in your area.
Private firms
Professional pest control provided by private companies can vary enormously too. You can pay anything from around forty-three pounds for a garden ant problem, all the way up to a whopping one hundred and thirty five quid for a bedbug infestation! Again, prices will vary from company to company, and you should shop around to find which one can offer you the best deal.
Don’t be tempted to DIY
Seeing these prices, it can be tempting to think about tackling the problem yourself. This is most definitely not a good idea. Pest control can involve substances that are harmful, and pests can spread disease, so avoid getting too close! If you have a problem already, always call in the professionals. If you don’t have a pest problem yet, take all the necessary steps to ensure that you don’t end up with one. As the saying goes, prevention is better than a cure.
Barry Walker is the Director of one of the most trusted pest control companies in the UK – TDC Pest Control. Barry believes that costs for essential services such as pest control should always be transparent and affordable.
