Pest control

Covid-19 protection measures, April 2022

To protect you and our staff, our officers will continue to follow Covid safe protection measures at our visits.

We will

not attend properties where residents are self-isolating with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 symptoms
confirm with the client that we can follow government guidelines and social distancing on the visit
wear personal protective equipment (our officers)
follow observe the government guidelines for social distancing.

Tower Hamlets Pest Control Service

We offer affordable pest treatment options for Tower Hamlets residents.

We also work with businesses and other organisations in the borough.
We have experienced trained officers and effective treatments and can give advice on how you can stop pests coming back.

Our services for businesses and other organisations

In our borough we work with

private landlords
schools
nurseries
community centres
places of worship
commercial non-food businesses

Please contact us by email at pest.control@towerhamlets.gov.uk. A supervisor will get back to you to discuss your request and provide a quote.

Please do not use the online booking form for residents. Our officers won't carry out any work if you book a pest control visit for a non-residential property. We will only issue a partial refund to cover the cost of our time.

Our services for residents

We charge most residents for our services. For tenants or some social landlords we offer our service at no direct cost to you for public health pests.

Find out more about the pests we treat in residential properties.

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 carry out proofing and 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 after seven days from the first treatment, we will visit again. This will be free of charge.

Cancellations and refunds

You have the right to cancel a booked visit.

When treatment has already started, we will offer a partial refund.

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 three weeks after the first treatment, 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 Social Landlords

If you are a tenant or leaseholder of one of these organisations, we will provide treatment for

rats
mice
bed-bugs
cockroaches
fleas
pharaoh ants/ghost ants
wasps

This will be provided at no direct cost to you.

Our contracts with housing associations

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. We accept that they can cause problems though.

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

Advice is available from The Fox Project charity website. You can also contact them on 01892 824 111 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 can also help.

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 you keep them 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 comes out 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 Moth 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 can report them by calling 0300 067 442 or by email at opm@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
If they are on a council-owned tree, report it to our parks department 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 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.
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 affect how contractors working with Oak trees should be handling material within the Oak Processionary Moth affected areas.

Other insects

Answer:

Ladybirds

Ladybirds are harmless to people and generally good for the environment as they eat aphids that 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 you can take care of them with insect spray available in 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, you can treat them with insect spray available in 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.

Place the specimen in a secure container/package together with your name, address and contact number. You can either hand it in or post it 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.

Pest samples

We provide a free pest identification and advice service. Place the specimen in a secure container/package together with your name, address and contact number. You can either hand it in or post it 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 deal with an infestation, you can contact Environmental Health on 020 7364 5008 or email Environmental.Health@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

Contact us

If you have any other questions about pests or our services, you can contact us at pest.control@towerhamlets.gov.uk. If you cannot use the online form, please call 020 7364 5007.