What are the most common pests in UK homes?

Rats, mice, bed bugs, wasps and cockroaches account for the majority of UK household call-outs. Squirrels and pigeons dominate loft and roof complaints; ants, flies, silverfish and clothes moths drive most low-severity callouts in spring and summer.

Which pests are a public-health risk?

Rats, mice, cockroaches and pigeons are classed as public-health pests by local councils — they spread pathogens and damage food. Bed bugs and fleas are not disease vectors but trigger severe skin reactions. Wasps near nests are an acute injury risk.

When should I call a professional rather than DIY?

Call a pro when you see a second piece of evidence (e.g. droppings AND damage), when the species is regulated (squirrels, wasps, pigeons), when treatment touches lofts, cavities or food-prep areas, or when one cycle of shop-bought product has already failed.

How much does UK pest control cost?

Most household treatments fall between £80 and £450 depending on species and severity. Rodents and bed bugs sit at the upper end; ants, flies and silverfish at the lower. See our per-species cost guides for typical 2026 ranges and what moves the price.

Are councils still doing free pest control?

Most English councils now charge or subsidise rather than provide free treatments. Costs are typically £60–£150 per visit, with rats and mice covered most often. Bed bugs, wasps and cockroaches are usually private-only.

Which pests are legally protected in the UK?

Grey squirrels can be controlled but cannot legally be released once trapped. Bats and most wild birds are protected — pigeon control is licensed. Always use a qualified operator for protected or licensed species.

◉ Pillar — 16 UK household pests

The UK pest
field guide.

Every species that turns up in British homes — sorted by severity, grouped by class. Identification signs, treatment options, typical 2026 cost, and when to call a vetted pro. One hub, fifteen specimen pages.

↳ Start from a symptom ↳ Start from the evidence ↳ Cost overview

§01 — How to use this index

Three ways in.

Most homeowners don’t arrive with a species name — they arrive with a noise, a droppings photo, or a quote from a pro that felt high. This index is built for all three. Start where you are: pick the species from the grid below, jump to the symptom index if you only have evidence, or open a cost guide if price is the question.

Every species page follows the same six-section structure: identify, evidence, why it matters, treatment, cost, prevention. We’ve done the editorial work so you can compare apples to apples — bed-bug bites against flea bites, rat droppings against mouse droppings, wasp nests against bee swarms.

§02 — Category

Rodents

Warm-blooded, fast-breeding, structurally destructive. The UK's top three call-outs.

3 species

Severity 5/5
£150–£400
Rats
One of the UK's most damaging pests. Quick to multiply, quicker to chew through cables.
Cost →Identify →
Severity 4/5
£100–£280
Mice
Smaller than rats, just as quick. The signs are easy to miss until there are many of them.
Cost →Identify →
Severity 4/5
£150–£350
Squirrels
Often confused with rats. Daytime scratching in the loft is the giveaway.
Cost →Identify →

§03 — Category

Biting & blood-feeders

Bed bugs and fleas. Hard to spot, hard to clear without a specialist.

2 species

Severity 5/5
£250–£600
Bed bugs
Hard to spot, harder to remove without help. One of the most stubborn pests in UK homes.
Cost →Identify →
Severity 3/5
£90–£200
Fleas
Often arrive on pets and stay in carpets. Treatment is quick if done early.
Cost →Identify →

§04 — Category

Crawling insects

Cockroaches, ants, silverfish — kitchens, bathrooms, food prep.

3 species

Severity 5/5
£180–£450
Cockroaches
A serious health risk and stubbornly hard to clear without proper treatment.
Cost →Identify →
Severity 2/5
£50–£120
Ants
Mostly harmless, sometimes relentless. Treatment depends on the species.
Cost →Identify →
Severity 2/5
£60–£150
Silverfish
A sign of damp as much as a pest in their own right.
Cost →Identify →

§05 — Category

Flying & stinging

Wasps, bees, flies and clothes moths. Seasonal, often acute — bees are protected and handled by beekeepers.

4 species

§06 — Category

Structural

Woodworm. Slow, silent, and easy to miss until joists fail.

1 species

Severity 4/5
£300–£1,500
Woodworm
Slow-moving but expensive when ignored. A survey usually comes first.
Cost →Identify →

§07 — Category

Birds & wildlife

Pigeons, urban foxes. Licensed and regulated — get advice first.

2 species

Severity 3/5
£200–£800
Pigeons
Mess, noise, and damage. Proofing is the long-term answer.
Cost →Identify →
Severity 2/5
£150–£400
Urban foxes
Protected animals. Deterrence, not removal, is almost always the answer.
Cost →Identify →

§08 — Category

Spiders

Mostly harmless in the UK, but worth identifying.

1 species

Severity 1/5
£50–£120
Spiders
Mostly harmless in the UK. False widows are the exception worth checking.
Cost →Identify →

§09 — Cost overview

What it costs, by species.

Typical 2026 UK ranges. Add ~25% inside the M25; subtract ~10% for rural call-outs. Every row links to a full cost guide with severity tiers, DIY-vs-pro break-even, and council options.

Pest	Severity	Typical range	Cost guide
Bed bugs	5/5	£250 – £600	bed-bugs-removal-cost →
Rats	5/5	£150 – £400	rats-removal-cost →
Cockroaches	5/5	£180 – £450	cockroaches-removal-cost →
Squirrels	4/5	£150 – £350	squirrels-removal-cost →
Mice	4/5	£100 – £280	mice-removal-cost →
Wasps	4/5	£70 – £180	wasps-removal-cost →
Woodworm	4/5	£300 – £1,500	woodworm-removal-cost →
Clothes moths	3/5	£80 – £220	moths-removal-cost →
Pigeons	3/5	£200 – £800	pigeons-removal-cost →
Fleas	3/5	£90 – £200	fleas-removal-cost →
Bees	2/5	£80 – £250	bees-removal-cost →
Silverfish	2/5	£60 – £150	silverfish-removal-cost →
Cluster flies	2/5	£70 – £180	flies-removal-cost →
Ants	2/5	£50 – £120	ants-removal-cost →
Urban foxes	2/5	£150 – £400	foxes-removal-cost →
Spiders	1/5	£50 – £120	spiders-removal-cost →

§10 — Law & licensing

What you’re actually allowed to do.

Grey squirrels: Schedule 9 invasive non-native species. Legal to control, illegal to release once trapped. Use humane dispatch or a qualified operator.

Wild birds: All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Pigeon control requires a general licence (GL42 for public-health risk). Don’t touch nests with eggs or chicks.

Bats: Every UK bat species is strictly protected. If you find roosting bats in a loft, stop work and call the Bat Conservation Trust helpline before any treatment.

Foxes: Not protected as a species, but trapping and dispatch methods are regulated. Snares are restricted; poison is illegal.

Rodenticides: Outdoor anticoagulant use is restricted to certified professionals under the CRRU UK stewardship regime. Most off-the-shelf bait blocks are for indoor use only.

§11 — FAQs

Common questions.

What are the most common pests in UK homes?: Rats, mice, bed bugs, wasps and cockroaches account for the majority of UK household call-outs. Squirrels and pigeons dominate loft and roof complaints; ants, flies, silverfish and clothes moths drive most low-severity callouts in spring and summer.
Which pests are a public-health risk?: Rats, mice, cockroaches and pigeons are classed as public-health pests by local councils — they spread pathogens and damage food. Bed bugs and fleas are not disease vectors but trigger severe skin reactions. Wasps near nests are an acute injury risk.
When should I call a professional rather than DIY?: Call a pro when you see a second piece of evidence (e.g. droppings AND damage), when the species is regulated (squirrels, wasps, pigeons), when treatment touches lofts, cavities or food-prep areas, or when one cycle of shop-bought product has already failed.
How much does UK pest control cost?: Most household treatments fall between £80 and £450 depending on species and severity. Rodents and bed bugs sit at the upper end; ants, flies and silverfish at the lower. See our per-species cost guides for typical 2026 ranges and what moves the price.
Are councils still doing free pest control?: Most English councils now charge or subsidise rather than provide free treatments. Costs are typically £60–£150 per visit, with rats and mice covered most often. Bed bugs, wasps and cockroaches are usually private-only.
Which pests are legally protected in the UK?: Grey squirrels can be controlled but cannot legally be released once trapped. Bats and most wild birds are protected — pigeon control is licensed. Always use a qualified operator for protected or licensed species.

◉ Editorial guides