Council pest control in England, Wales and Scotland is governed by the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, which only obliges local authorities to deal with rats and mice causing a public-health risk. Everything else — wasps, bed bugs, cockroaches, foxes — is at council discretion, and most councils have cut it back to a paid service or dropped it entirely.
What councils still treat
- Rats — covered by 92% of English councils, usually £60–£120 per visit, sometimes free for benefits recipients.
- Mice — covered by 84% of councils, similar pricing to rats.
- Wasp nests — covered by 41% of councils, typically £55–£95 per nest.
- Bed bugs — covered by 22% of councils, £150–£280 per room, several visits.
- Cockroaches — covered by 31%, mostly social housing only, £120–£200 per visit.
- Pigeons, foxes, squirrels — almost never covered. Treated as wildlife, not pests.
Typical wait times in 2026
The honest number you don't see on council websites: 5–14 working days from booking to first visit, with summer wasp season pushing some boroughs to 21+ days. Acute cases (rats in a kitchen, wasps near a child's bedroom) usually get prioritised — flag them when you book.
When private is the better call
- 01You need same-day or next-day response.
- 02Your species isn't covered (bed bugs in most areas, wildlife everywhere).
- 03You want a longer guarantee — councils typically give 14–30 days, private operators 60–90.
- 04You're in a flat or HMO and need the work coordinated with the freeholder.
Means-tested discounts
Around 40% of councils discount or waive fees for households on Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Council Tax Reduction or Housing Benefit. You'll need to provide proof at booking. Ask explicitly — most call-handlers won't volunteer it.