The questions the
species pages
don’t answer.
Plain-English briefings on the law, councils, tenancy rules, home insurance and pest seasonality in the UK. Written for homeowners, tenants and landlords who’ve already identified the pest and want to know what they’re legally and financially allowed to do next.
Is that what I think it is?
Identification5 min readMouse droppings vs rat droppings — how to tell what's in your houseSize is the giveaway. Mouse droppings are rice-grain sized; rat droppings are closer to a coffee bean. Here's how to confirm in 30 seconds.
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Identification6 min readScratching noise in the loft at night — what's actually up thereMice scratch at dusk and dawn. Rats run mid-night with audible thumps. Squirrels are loud and only active in daylight. Here's the full identification chart.
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Identification5 min readAsian hornet vs wasp — UK identification guide and what to reportAsian hornets are darker, larger than wasps, and have yellow legs. Sightings are notifiable — here's the 30-second identification check and the official reporting link.
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Identification5 min readBee vs wasp — UK identification and why it mattersBees are protected pollinators. Wasps aren't. Treating one as the other can be both an offence and an expensive mistake — here's the 20-second identification check.
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Identification5 min readEarly signs of bed bugs — what to check before they spreadCaught early, bed bugs cost £150 to treat in a single visit. Caught at six months, it's £600+ across three visits. Here's the 30-second check that buys you that time.
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What actually works.
Treatment6 min readHow to get rid of pigeons (UK) — what's legal, what works, what doesn'tPigeons are legally protected in the UK — you can't poison them, shoot them in most settings, or disturb eggs. Here's what does work, in priority order.
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Treatment5 min readDo I need to leave the house for pest control? UK 2026 guideMost treatments — mice, rats, wasps, ants, single-room bed bugs — don't require you to leave. Here's the short list of jobs that do, and for how long.
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What the law actually says.
Legal6 min readIs it illegal to kill a grey squirrel in the UK?Short answer: no, it isn't illegal to kill a grey squirrel — but releasing one after trapping is. Here's the law in plain English.
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Legal5 min readWhen to call pest control — the 7 thresholds that mean DIY is overDIY pest control is a one-shot tool. Past these seven thresholds, the maths always favours a vetted professional.
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Legal6 min readSelling a house with a pest problem — what you must discloseThe TA6 Property Information Form asks about pest activity. Failing to disclose isn't just unethical — it's grounds for the buyer to rescind or sue.
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Renters and landlords.
Tenancy6 min readTenant vs landlord — who pays for pest control in a UK rental?The default answer is landlord, but it depends on how the pests got in. Here's what the law actually says — and how to get action without going to court.
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Tenancy5 min readPest control for HMO landlords — what the licence actually requiresHMO pest control isn't a tenancy negotiation — it's a licence condition. Fail it and you can lose the right to let the property at all.
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Council pest control, demystified.
Council7 min readCouncil pest control in the UK — what's free, what's paid, and who actually shows up'Free council pest control' is mostly a myth in 2026. Here's what your council will actually do, what they'll charge, and how long you'll wait.
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Most English councils now charge for pest control — but a handful still cover rats and mice free of charge. Search yours and compare against the private alternative.
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Timing the year.
Seasonality6 min readUK pest seasonality calendar — what to expect month by monthMost pest call-outs cluster around four annual peaks. Knowing which species peaks when tells you what to look for — and what to ignore.
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Seasonality4 min readWhat actually counts as a pest emergency in the UK?An emergency call-out adds £40–£120 to the bill. Five scenarios justify it, four don't, and the rest can usually wait until morning.
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