Pest control

Covid-19 disruption

Pest control is an essential service and our officers are key workers.

We continue to provide the same reactive service to residents.

To protect you and our staff, all visits our officers make will be under strictly follow government guidelines.

We will:

Not attend properties where residents are self-isolating with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 symptoms.
Confirm with the client that government guidelines and social distancing conditions can be observed during the visit.
Our officers will wear personal protective equipment.
All officers are expected to observe the government guidelines for social distancing.

Thank you for your patience.

Our services for residents

We offer affordable pest treatment options for Tower Hamlets residents.

We have experienced officers and effective treatments. We can advise you how to stop pests returning too.

Most residents will be charged for our services, but for tenants of some social landlords our service will be provided at no direct cost to you for public health pests.

We also work with businesses and other organisations in the borough.

Information about the pests we treat

Book a pest control visit

Charges for borough residents

These prices include VAT:

Resident charges
Treatment	Price
Bed bugs (3 rooms)	£195.60 per treatment
Bed bugs (additional room)	£67.20 per treatment
Cockroaches	£133.80 per treatment
Fleas	£73.80 per visit
Mice	£133.80 per treatment
Pharaoh ants	£133.80 per treatment
Wasps	£73.80 per visit
Black (garden) ants	£73.80 per visit
Rats	Free

We do not proof and handle repairs for mice infestations.

If there's still a mouse, cockroach, or pharaoh ant infestation after the course of treatments you have paid for, we will charge for further visits.

If flea or wasp activity is still a problem 7 days after the first treatment, we will visit again. This will be free of charge.

Rat infestations

This service is free to all borough residents whether the rat is in a home, garden or other residential outdoor area.

You need to prepare your home for bed bug treatments

Infested rooms must be prepared before we visit

If this is not done, the officer may not be able to treat the room(s).

If bed bugs are still a problem 3 weeks after the first treatment, then we will make a further visit. (This is free of charge for paying customers).

Further treatments will not happen if you do not prepare your property.

State pensioners who live on their own or with another pensioner

If this applies to you, treatment for public health pests is free.

Please have proof of this to show us when we visit you.

Our contracts with housing associations

If you are a tenant or leaseholder of one of these organisations, we will provide treatment at no direct cost to you for rats, mice, bed-bugs, cockroaches, fleas, pharaoh ants/ghost ants and wasps:

Tower Hamlets Homes
ARHAG Housing Association
Belgrave Street Housing Co-operative, odd numbers 13 to 49 Belgrave Street, E1
East End Homes
One Housing Group (Island Region residents only)
One Support residents at John Sinclair Court, 36 Thrawl Street, E1 6RN
Poplar HARCA (Services are only for tenants of Poplar HARCA. Leaseholders will be charged for our services)
Providence Row Housing Association
Spitalfields Housing Association
Wilfred East London Housing Cooperative residents at 1 – 95 Corbin House, Bromley High Street, E3 3BQ

What we do not treat

Foxes

Answer:

As foxes do not pose a direct threat to public health, we do not consider them to be pests but accept that they can cause problems.

Like other London boroughs, we do not trap or destroy foxes because this is not effective. When a fox is removed another fox will quickly take over the vacant territory.

Advice is available from The Fox Project charity website or by contacting them on 01892 824111 or email fox@foxproject.org.uk.

We have suggestions on how to minimise the problems foxes can cause.

Emptying dustbins or tearing refuse sacks

Foxes, cats, rats and dogs can all spread rubbish around. The easiest way to solve this is to keep lids on bins and don’t leave food waste outside in bags or bin-liners.

Disturbance at night by calling and barking

Between December and February female foxes (vixens) make a screaming sound at night to show they are ready to mate. You can buy a strong smelling repellent to discourage foxes.

Marking territory with droppings and scents

Foxes communicate with each other using scents, with strong-smelling urine or faeces used to mark their territories.

If you can, remove the reason for foxes marking your garden as part of their territory. This could mean removing easy sources of food, blocking holes in fences used for access or preventing access to resting places under sheds or elsewhere.

Threats to smaller household pets

Foxes pose no threat to dogs and will rarely attack a cat. If you have smaller pets or chickens in your garden, make sure they are kept in secure hutches or enclosures, especially overnight.

Pigeons

Answer:

We are currently unable to provide a pest control service for pigeons. If pigeons are creating a nuisance and fouling on your property, please contact our Environmental Health team on Environmental.Health@towerhamlets.gov.uk or call 020 7364 5008.

Residents in properties managed by Registered Social Landlords should contact their Housing Officer.

Oak Processionary Moths

Answer:

The oak processionary moth (Thaumetopoea processionea) is a pest that lives on oak trees and poses a risk to human and animal health.

Health risk

The caterpillar of this moth emerges in April every year and produces thousands of irritating hairs. These can cause skin rashes, sore throats, breathing difficulties and eye problems if you or your pet comes into contact with them.

What to do if you see or touch them

If you see any oak processionary nests or caterpillars (OPM) you should report them immediately.

If they are on a privately owned oak tree, report them to the Forestry Commission using the Tree Alert online pest reporting form. If you cannot use Tree Alert, you may report them by telephone on 0300 067 442 or by email at opm@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
If they are on a council-owned tree, report it to the LBTH parks dept 020 7364 5000 or at parks@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

It is important not to come into contact with the caterpillars, hairs or nests.

If you think you may have been exposed and have an itching skin rash and/or conjunctivitis or other symptoms see a pharmacist to relieve the symptoms. If you have a more serious allergic reaction, contact your GP or call NHS Direct on 111. The call is free from any phone.

Similarly, consult a vet if your pet has a serious reaction. It is important to restrain pets from approaching nests or caterpillars.

Advice for contractors

Regulations are in place which affects how contractors working with Oak trees should be handling material within the Oak Processionary Moth affected areas.

Other insects

Answer:

This is advice if you have insect pests which are not covered in their own section

Ladybirds

Ladybirds are harmless to people and generally good for the environment as they eat aphids which damage plants. They sometimes seek out a warm place to sleep through the winter. If it’s possible, we recommend leaving them alone.

Otherwise, they can be killed with insect spray available from most shops.

Other flying insects

These are unlikely to be harmful. If the insects are on house-plants, treat the infested plants with an appropriate insecticide from DIY or garden shop. Otherwise, they can be killed with insect spray available from most shops.

Other insects or invertebrates

We can help to identify and give advice on insects that are being a nuisance, are in large numbers in a home and provide a treatment service for some types. Our identification service is free. The specimen will need to be placed in a secure container/package together with your name, address and contact number and can be either handed in or posted to:

Pest Control Service
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Town Hall, Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
London
E14 2BG

We will contact you with the identity of the insect, and let you know about any treatment and cost.

Cancellations and refunds

You have the right to cancel a booked visit.

When treatment has already started, a partial refund will be given.

Pest samples

We provide a free pest identification service. The specimen will need to be placed in a secure container/package together with your name, address and contact number and can be either handed in or posted to:

Pest Control Service
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Town Hall, Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
London
E14 2BG

Private Tenants

If you live in a Privately rented property and your landlord refuses to undertake works in the event of an infestation you can contact us.

Businesses and other organisations

We work with Private landlords, schools, nurseries, community centres, places of worship and commercial non-food businesses in the borough.

Please get in touch with us by email and a supervisor will get back to you to discuss your request and provide a quote.

Contact us

If you have any other questions about pests or our services, you can also contact us at pest.control@towerhamlets.gov.uk

If you are unable to use the online form, please call 020 7364 5000.