In the past, the council was the go-to provider for local services, including pest control. Over the years, things have changed, and today, many councils don’t even offer pest control. The ones that do often charge for them, and will only provide a limited number of services.
Therefore, many residents often ask: How much does the council charge for pest control? And what services to they offer?
As leading providers of pest control across Bolton, Blackburn, Walkden, Horwich, Worsley, Coppull, Chorley, Atherton and Greater Manchester, Verus Environmental understands that cost is a key factor when choosing a pest control provider. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you understand council pest control costs and how our services compare.
Are Council Pest Control Services Free?
Previously, pest control services were provided by the local council, with the cost often being part of your council tax payment.
With in-house pest control officers, councils were able to provide cost-effective treatments that were free at the point of use.
Today, most councils don’t offer free pest control services. Bolton Council is one council that charges for pest control, with some services offered free, while they charge a set fee for other pests.
What Pest Control Services Does Bolton Council Offer?
Bolton Council offer a selection of pest control services, removing rats, mice and squirrels as well as several insect pests including fleas, bed bugs and others. Rats and mice aren’t dealt with by the council at social housing or housing association properties.
While they offer pigeon guano cleaning, the council doesn’t offer bird control services or wildlife management.
Most of these services are one-off treatments. As such, once the property is treated, the pest controller won’t return. So, after the initial visit, if the vermin remain, you may need to seek alternative pest control.
These prices also don’t include pest proofing, which means you may have to do this work yourself or book a private company like Verus Environmental to protect your property from future pest issues.
What Are Bolton Council’s Pest Control Service Costs?
Bolton Council offers a range of pest control services, with specific fees for each type of treatment. The fees must be paid before the treatment is carried out.
Please note: These prices are correct at the time of publication. For more information, please contact Bolton Council.
| Pest | Type Of Visit | Price |
| Rats – Residential owner and private landlord properties | Treatment visit and up 1 follow up visit | Free |
| Mice – Residential owner and private landlord properties | Treatment visit and up 1 follow up visit | Free |
| Ants | One-off treatment | £83.23 |
| Wasps | One-off treatment | £83.23 |
| Wasps above gutter height | One-off treatment | £92.60 |
| Wasps additional nest on site | One-off treatment | £29.65 |
| Beetles | One-off treatment | £83.23 |
| Flies | One-off treatment | £83.23 |
| Silverfish | One-off treatment | £83.23 |
| Fleas | One-off treatment | £83.23 |
| Squirrels | Daily visits for a week | £168.54 |
| Bed Bugs, Cockroaches, Moles | Survey only | £47.34 |
| Pigeons, Pigeon clean | Survey only | Free |
| Pigeons, Pigeon clean | One-off treatment | Variable |
These prices cover the fees for the treatments listed in domestic properties. For commercial premises and housing association properties, there are other fees.
What Is The Alternative To Council Pest Control In Bolton?
As mentioned, council pest control isn’t the only solution for homeowners across Bolton and the surrounding area.
Local pest control providers like Verus Environmental cover the area, and we can provide faster, more extensive pest control services.
Our team can provide pest control for all common pests, including rats, mice, squirrels, fleas, bed bugs, moths, wasps, nuisance birds and more.
Even if the vermin isn’t on our service list, we will provide support if we can and might be able to put you in touch with someone who can help.
As we’re an independent company, we can provide a bespoke service that’s tailored to your unique needs.
Why Council Pest Control Isn’t Always Cheaper
While you might think that council pest control services are automatically going to be cheaper than those from a private pest control company, that’s not always the case.
Even if the costs are lower, that doesn’t mean you’re getting good value for money. Most council offer a limited number of site visits, which means that if the pests are still there, you’ll be out of pocket for nothing.
Verus Environmental may charge more for some pest control treatments, but we will carry out as many visits as needed to ensure the infestation is completely removed.
In many cases, our costs are actually lower than the council’s especially for small infestations and quick treatments.
Our team can also remove other pests that aren’t covered by the council, and provide additional services, such as pest proofing, CCTV drain surveys to find rodent entry points and more.
Additionally, it’s important to remember that Bolton Council often has long waiting lists for their pest control services. As a result, you may find yourself waiting weeks or even months for your appointment.
During that time, vermin can cause significant property damage, and rodents may even pose a fire risk if they bite through live wires.
At Verus Environmental, we aim to provide same-day responses where possible, so you can get rid of your infestation before it cause significant property damage and distress.
That means we can provide a full service for your home or business premises. If you’re ready to book expert pest control in Bolton and the surrounding area, contact us on 07501639257 to see how Verus Environmental can quickly and effectively end your pest problem for good.
