Why we get pests and how can we prevent it
All pests have three survival needs – food, shelter and water. Your home satisfies these needs for pests.
Click on a button below see some of the reasons we may get pests and ways we can avoid infestation.
Mice and rats
Reasons we may get rodents
- Your home is close to areas such as railways, waterways and sewers, where pests are more likely to be
- Overspilling bins
- Food waste
- Overgrown garden
- Entry points to your home
How can we avoid an infestation?
- Report any damage to your home and gaps around pipes where pests may gain entry
- Remove potential nesting sites by keeping your garden clean and tidy, cutting back overgrown areas and clearing any piles of wood or debris
- Look after your bins, making sure they’re not damaged and lids are closed securely
Bed bugs, cockroaches and fleas
Reasons we may get house bugs
- Doors and windows are left open
- Spread through household pets such as dogs and cats
- Second hand furnishings that may not have been cleaned such as rugs, sofas and clothes
How can we avoid an infestation?
- Keep food covered or contained Keeping your home clean and tidy
- Sanitising surfaces
- Provide regular treatment and bathe your pets regularly
- Limit having your windows open or try nets for your windows
Flies, moths and wasps
Reasons we get flying insects
- Doors and windows are left open
- Split food and drink in home
How can we prevent an infestation?
- Limit having your windows open or try nets for your windows
- Make sure food waste goes into a bin with a lid
- Keep food covered or contained
- Take out your rubbish regularly
- Regularly check sheds and outside of your home
Your responsibilities
- To keep your home and garden clear and tidy
- To report any potential entry points for pests through gaps / holes in the outside of your home
- To keep food waste contained and to a minimum
- Getting treatment for pests
Your council
- Your council is responsible for rat infestations in public spaces. They also regulate organisations to make sure they are health and safety compliant when it comes to pests.
- Your council* can provide pest services, if your home is affected at a cost to you.
Your landlord
- We are responsible for fixing your home and dealing with pests if there is damage to a building where the pests have gained access.
1. Access your local council website for treatment:
*If you live in Fylde, your council does not provide a pest control service. You can find a service online here find with the British Pest Control Association
2. Check your home to make sure there is no entry points for pests, if there is report it using our repairs reporter
3. Contact British Pest Control Association (BPCA), they have information and support available
We know how unsettling and worrying it can be to have pests in your home. As your landlord, we promise to support you as best we can when dealing with pests. This includes:
- Signposting you to relevant help
- Launching a new yearly preventative control for rats in areas where issues arise regularly
- Provide funding on a case-by-case basis to support with the cost of pests
