West Oxfordshire District Council

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Pest control

Overview

The service provides pest control to domestic and commercial occupiers for the eradication of rats, mice and common insect pests, primarily wasps. It does not provide for long-term contracts with commercial businesses, or for the control of deer, foxes, rabbits, squirrels, moles or birds.

Statutory position

The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 places a duty upon local authorities to ensure that their districts are kept free of rodent infestations. They are empowered to serve notice upon the owners/occupiers of infested land requiring that they eradicate the infestation.

The Public Health Act 1936 similarly requires local authorities to take formal action against the occupiers of premises that are verminous.

Pest control is also a relevant factor in food safety inspections. However, due to the Council's enforcement policy, it cannot provide any treatment on premises where a food business is being carried out.

Scale of charges for 2008/09

Pest Control - Domestic

Rats & mice (per course of treatment)	£43.00
Wasps	£43.00
Second and subsequent wasps' nest
treated during same visit	£21.50
Other insects	£55.00
Abortive calls and survey	£12.10

Note - Pest control will be free of charge to occupiers of domestic premises in receipt of an income-related benefit. All above charges include VAT at 17.5%.

Pest Control - Commercial

All pests (per hour, includes materials, min 1 hour)

£65.50

Second and subsequent wasps nests treated during the same visit £32.50

Abortive Calls and Survey (per 1/2 hour) £32.75

All above charges include VAT @ 17.5%

We aim to:

Offer an appointment to treat for rats and wasps in domestic or commercial premises within three working days of a request.
Offer an appointment to treat for mice, and insects other than wasps within five working days of a request.
Eradicate 75% of rodent infestations within 15 working days and 90% of insect infestations on the first visit.

Generally

All our treatments will be carried out as humanely as possible. The Council's Pest Control Officers use only approved pesticides and methods.

The Council cannot take over treatment which has recently been carried out by an external pest control contactor. In addition, an officer may refuse to treat for rats or mice where DIY baiting has recently been carried out.

The treatment of rats cannot be guaranteed for periods longer than 2 weeks after eradication, as rats are opportunist and will re-infest an area which was previously inhabited by another rat family. A further charge may be made for a repeat treatment.

It is unlawful to carry out treatment using rodenticides/insecticides in lofts and other roof spaces where bats are found to be present.

For information on badgers, contact the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) national helpline on 0870 5555 999.

Do not feed feral pigeons in public places. You may be prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for littering. Feeding them will only lead to an increased number of pigeons, and any residue food left in a public place is likely to attract rats.

Helpful information

Please click on the right-hand menu links for more information on Ants, Bees, Wasps, Carpet Beetles, Moles and Rabbits. Leaflets on the following can be ordered free from the Publications section or downloaded:

Rats and Mice (480kb)

Honey Bees and Wasps

Rabbits and Moles (534kb)

Ants and Carpet Beetles (496kb)

To book a pest control treatment please ring 01993 861060 within normal office hours or use the online service listed on the right of this page. Our officers will give free advice.