We offer a comprehensive and confidential pest control service to residents, local businesses and other council departments. We carry out treatments for most types of insect or rodent infestations. In the year 2005/06, we received 6,385 requests for general treatment visits, which indicates the high demand for the service we provide. A property hygiene service is also available for filthy and verminous premises, or to deodourise after death or flooding. The response we make to such requests is set out in our Citizens Charter.

• Pest control services and charges 
• Paying for treatment
• Charges for rodents
• Charges for insects
• Wasps nests - domestic properties
• Commercial charges
• Property hygiene
• Insect identification
• Pest control leaflets (information, identification and treatment advice)  
• Foxes
• Who to contact
• Links to other sites
• Request a service or leaflet

Pest control services and charges
Free treatment is offered for rat infestations at private residential dwellings. Free treatment is also offered for human fleas.

Free advice is offered for problems customers may have with other pests such as pigeons, foxes and squirrels but we do not offer treatments for these birds and mammals. All other types of treatment, and those for businesses and landlords, attract a charge.

Paying for treatment
For treatments at private residential dwellings, payment in full is required before treatment is undertaken.

• You can pay by credit or debit card at the time of booking.
  If this is not possible then our team will advise you on how to pay by cash or cheque.
• Where the occupier is responsible for paying the charge and is a council-tax payer in receipt of means tested benefit, a 50% reduction in charge is available.
• We will need to see proof of benefit before the reduction is allowed.
• The reduced amount must be paid before we give you an appointment to start treatment.
• Organisations and businesses may be permitted to pay by invoice but with an additional charge of £10 per invoice.

There is no change to commercial contracts which will continue to be invoiced.

Charges for rodents
A free service is available for the control of rats at private residential dwellings.

We will charge for this service where communal areas of residential properties are affected such as staircases, lifts, bin areas, communal gardens etc, and for commercial premises.

If rats are suspected of entering your premises by the drainage system, we can carry out a CCTV survey to find any problems. We will charge for this service.

A chargeable service is available for the control of mice.

Charges for insects
All types of work can be carried out, including contracts for treatments of infestations, and monitoring to ensure freedom from pests. We offer treatments for cockroaches, bedbugs, fleas, Pharoah's and Ghost ants, mites, beetles, garden ants and wasps nests. The service is free for the treatment of human fleas but chargeable for all other treatments including animal fleas.

All prices are inclusive of VAT at 17.5%, and correct as of 1 January 2008.

Wasps nests
The pest control team provide a service to treat wasps nests. The treatment does not include removal of the nest.
If the nest is at low level or is safely accessible from a boarded attic, the charge is £43, inclusive of VAT.

If there is more than one nest, or the nest is at a high level or difficult to treat, a survey may be required and a quote for the work will be given. Contact us for more information and/or to book your treatment visit.

Commercial charges
All work is quoted individually with a minimum charge of £75 plus materials.

Property hygiene

• Cleaning and disinfection of premises
• Removal of pigeon droppings from tank rooms, balconies and stairwells; removal of contaminated bedding, etc
• Clean up after death

This work is subject to availability of staff and is chargeable. A written quotation will be provided.

Foxes
We have recently considered the potential for control measures for foxes. Extensive and long term research has provided evidence that there are no effective controls available to reduce the number of foxes in urban areas. Many residents are pleased to see foxes in their gardens and encourage the growth of the population by feeding them. Our policy, not to undertake treatment in normal circumstances, is a balanced approach to the issues that arise as a result of foxes living in close proximity to humans. In 2007 we carried out a publicity campaign to discourage feeding of these wild animal.

The recent committee report on foxes and the potential for control measures in the borough and London-wide can be downloaded below.

 Committee report on foxes
 Factsheet on foxes (797 kb)
 Advice on deterring and discouraging foxes (18 kb)

More information on urban foxes is available from the following links.

• The fox website at www.thefoxwebsite.org
• Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (pdf)
• RSPCA (pdf)
• London Wildlife Trust
• Natural England leaflet on urban foxes

Insect identification
We also carry out a free insect identification service, using outside experts as necessary, and provides information on how to treat for or avoid some of the more common household pests such as woodlice, silverfish, garden ants, etc.

To assist in this, we produce a number of informative leaflets which you can order or download below.

Pest control leaflets
The following is a list of pest control leaflets available from us. You can order a leaflet using the online order form, or you can telephone 020 8871 6143 to request a leaflet.

Leaflets available

 Bedbugs (882 kb)
 Booklice (677 kb)
 Brown Tail Moth (689 kb)
 Carpet Beetles (703 kb)
 Cockroaches (731 kb)
 Fleas (664 kb)
 Foxes (797 kb)
 Ghost Ants (835 kb)
 Head Lice (52 kb)
 Indian Meal Moth (719 kb)
 Mealworm Beetles (711 kb)
 Mice (835 kb)
 Pharoah's Ants (767 kb)
 Pigeons (662 kb)
 Rats (659 kb)
 Squirrels (26 kb) 
 Stored Products Insects (752 kb)
 Wasps (672 kb)

Who to contact
If you have a problem with pests in your home or business or simply want more information about our services, please contact the pest control team on 020 8871 6143, or by email at pestcontrol@wandsworth.gov.uk or complete the online service request form below.

Our customers are important to us, and we value their comments and suggestions about the services we offer. We welcome all of your comments on our services.

Links to pest control and pesticide information on other web sites

• British Pest Control Association
• Natural England leaflets about a variety of animals
• Pesticides Safety Directorate
• British Bee Keeping Association
• Bat Conservation Trust

Request a service or leaflet
To request a pest control service or leaflet you can use the online form below. Make your selections and then send your request to us using the 'Send Request' button at the bottom of the form. If you prefer you can call 020 8871 6143 to request or ask about a service or publication.