There is no national pest-control service in the UK. Every borough, district, city and unitary authority sets its own policy, and over the last decade many have either started charging or withdrawn the service entirely. We maintain a live lookup of what each major UK council covers and roughly what it costs in 2026.
The headline pattern in 2026
- Most northern English and Scottish councils still treat rats (and often mice) free of charge as part of their public-health duty.
- London boroughs and most southern councils charge £85–£240 per visit and have 5–10 working day waits.
- A small but growing group (e.g. Cambridge) has withdrawn the service entirely and refers residents to private operators.
- Wasps and bed bugs are almost always charged for, regardless of region.
When the council is the right call
If you are eligible for free treatment, the council is almost always the cheapest route — even with the wait. If you're paying anyway, a vetted private operator on Uninvited Visitors is typically faster (same or next day), comes with a written guarantee and a follow-up visit included in the quote.