Pests (including rats and mice)

Knowsley Pest Control Service provides treatments to homes and businesses in Knowsley. We are members of the prestigious British Pest Control Association (BPCA) – the leading trade association representing excellence in the pest control industry.

We do not treat Homes in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) You will need to arrange for a private contractor to treat this type of property.

Knowsley Council Pest Control Service offers a service for the treatment of rats in domestic and commercial properties. Alternatively, you can control the problem with rodent poison (rodenticides) and traps. Guidance on dealing with rats.

What it costs

Type of pest	Charge
Rats (leaflet - PDF)	£24 (2 visits)
Mice (leaflet - PDF)	£24 (2 visits)
Bed bugs (leaflet - PDF)	£55.80
Bees (leaflet - PDF)	£55.80 (advice only)
Cockroaches (leaflet - PDF)	£55.80
Fleas (leaflet - PDF)	£55.80
Ants (leaflet - PDF)	£55.80
Wasps (leaflet - PDF)	£55.80

Our staff will:

Be qualified, experienced and courteous
Identify themselves and show their official identification if you ask for it
Inspect your home or business to confirm which pest is causing the problem
Tell you how they intend to treat the problem, and what precautions you should take
Use safe, approved materials and methods
Lay bait in a manner which avoids harm to other creatures
Leave you a treatment record sheet telling you which pesticide has been used
Make a further visit to check how effective the treatment has been and lay further baits, if necessary
Advise you on further preventative measures to try to stop the problem from occurring again

Sewer-baiting

The council undertakes a sewer-baiting programme in order to pro-actively control the rat population throughout the borough. This is part-funded by United Utilities.

We use all available data to ensure that treatments are targeted at the areas of highest rat activity.

Fleas and bedbugs

Our pest control service does treat fleas and bedbugs for a cost (see above) but it is important to read the pre-treatment advice before the Pest Control Technician arrives to start the treatment.

The following must be completed before treatment begins, else the technician may not be able to treat and your money will not be refunded.

Fleas

If you have any pets in the home which may be causing the problem, please have them treated prior to the visit.
Thoroughly clean, vacuum or sweep your premises prior to treatment and cover or properly store all exposed foodstuffs.
Remove all items from the floors which includes from under the beds.
Move furniture away from walls, if practicable as this is to allow the technician access to the skirting board areas in the room.
Thoroughly vacuum all carpets and rugs and clean all carpet free floor areas. Please pay particular attention to areas where pets may sleep or where the sun may heat an area of floor. Empty the vacuum cleaner directly into the main external bin and change the bag after cleaning.
Remove or cover fish or reptile tanks, the insecticide may be harmful to them. If not adequately protected the Pest Control Technician may refuse to treat the premises.
People and all domestic pets must leave the rooms being treated and not be allowed to return until the insecticide is dry.
If you are unable to prepare the room before your treatment then you must contact us to reschedule the appointment. We will require a minimum of 24 hours’ notice or you may lose your fee.

Bedbugs

Before the Pest Control Technician arrives to commence treatment you must carry out the following preparations:

Remove all bed linen from the bed(s) to be treated.
Take down curtains and nets.
Empty wardrobes and drawers in the room(s) to be treated, especially divan bed drawers.
Remove stored items from the floors and clear everything from under the bed.
Wash all bed linen, curtains, clothing and other washable items at the hottest temperature recommended by the manufacturer or have it dry cleaned before it is used again or put away.
Clean the rooms to be treated thoroughly. Empty the vacuum cleaner directly into the dustbin or change the bag after cleaning.
Make sure rooms to be treated are clear enough for the Pest Control Technician to move the bed(s) and furniture easily as they treat.
People and domestic pets must leave the rooms being treated and not be allowed to return until the insecticide is dry.

If you do not carry out these preparations the Pest Control Technician may not carry out the treatment.

After the Pest Control Technician has carried out the treatment:

Do not enter these rooms for at least two hours or until the Technician advises.
Do not vacuum the carpets for at least 15 days to allow the insecticide time to work.

Two treatments are usually sufficient to control the infestation as the products used carry on working for some weeks. The bed bugs should die off gradually after coming into contact with the insecticide.

Our technician will make a second appointment with you. If there is still a problem 4-6 weeks after the last visit you will need to book a new treatment and a further charge will be applicable.

Dealing with other wildlife

There are other forms of wildlife which may cause problems at your property, but are protected by law:

Badgers
Bats

We do not deal with foxes, birds or bees, but we can offer advice on keeping them away from your property. If you have solar panels and are experiencing issues with birds nesting on your roof, please contact your installer for help and advice.

Bees

We no longer offer a bee treatment service unless they are a posing a risk to the general public. However, if you are concerned at all about a bee problem, please contact us and we will discuss this with you. Please also refer to the British Beekeepers Association or the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

What is the difference between wasps and bees?

Care must be taken to identify correctly - honey bees, bumblebees and wasps - we do not deal with bees but we do treat wasps.

Honey bee

Honey bees are a similar size to wasps but darker in colour. Their stripes will not be bright. Bees have more of a furry body and have yellow pollen sacs which you will see on their back legs. Nests will usually be in trees, sheds, lofts and cavity walls. They should not be killed unless public safety is at risk.

Please note, if you have a honey bee swarm, then please contact a local bee keeper.

Bumblebee

Bumblebees can be up to 30 millimetres and are round and furry. They should not be killed unless public safety is at risk.

Wasp

Wasps are similar size to honey bees. Wasps always have bright yellow and black stripes.

We do treat wasps – a refund will not be given if we attend to treat wasps and they are found to be bees.

How to book a pest control appointment

We will visit you any time from 8am until 4pm on the day of your booking. Someone over the age of 16 must be present during the appointment.

To book and pay for a pest control appointment online, you must have an online services account. Create an account or log in to your existing account.

To cancel or amend an appointment, please call 0151 443 2400.

FAQs

Q: What are the new charges for pest control visits?
A: From 1 April 2022, the charges are as follows:
Mice / rats: £24 (inclusive of VAT)
All other pests we treat: £55.80 (inclusive of VAT)

Q: Why did you introduce charges for pest control visits to treat mice and rats?
A: The current financial climate has meant that the council can no longer afford to provide pest control treatments for mice and rats free of charge. The majority of neighbouring local authorities also charge for this service, and the rate charged in Knowsley is well below the rate charged by commercial companies and represents good value for money.

Q: Mice and rat infestations are a risk to public health so you should not be charging for this service.
A: The council is not legally bound to directly provide a pest control service whether free or at a charge. The legal responsibility for controlling pests lies with the owner or occupier of the premises or land on which they are present.

Q: Will this charge result in an increase in mice and rat infestations?
A: To reduce the risks of an increase in infestations, we will be embarking on a proactive inspection and treatment approach across the borough, treating mice and rats on council-owned property and land. We will also be linking with Environmental Health and Consumer Protection to monitor the situation, and Registered Social Landlord representatives to improve tenancy management. We also hope the introduction of a charging scheme will encourage householders to take responsibility for reducing the likelihood of pest infestations.

Q: What is included in the price?
A: The charge covers a maximum of two visits for rats and mice as most domestic infestations can be eradicated in two visits. Where an infestation is heavy and more visits are required, these will be charged as a new visit at the same fee.

Q: I’ve spotted mice/rats on my property, but can’t afford the charge for a pest control visit. What should I do?
A: There are a number of simple things householders can do to prevent mice/rat infestations or the problem can be controlled using traps or baits widely available at DIY stores or garden centres.

Q: Are there concessions available?
A: As the charges are already subsidised by the council, no concessions are offered, however any claims of financial hardship will be assessed on an individual basis.

Q: I’m a tenant, is my landlord responsible for paying for my pest control treatment?
A: This will depend on a number of things:

Does your tenancy agreement state this
Did the infestation pre-date you moving in
Has the problem been made worse by disrepair or has the problem been caused by your actions

The council will work with social landlords to improve tenancy management and minimise the risk of infestation.

Q: I’ve made a pest control appointment, but need to cancel – do I receive a refund?
A: We will provide a full refund for all cancellations (first visits only) received with at least 24 hours’ notice

Q: I was not at home when the pest control operative called – can I have a refund?
A; There will be no refund for cancellations made on the day of the scheduled visit or if the occupier is not at home when the operative calls. A refund will not be given for a failed treatment due to cancellation or refusal of a second visit.

Book a pest control appointment

If you need any of these PDFs in a different format, please contact [email protected]

Create an online services account or log in to your existing account to book your appointment for a pest control visit.