Pest control

Disruption during the Covid-19 outbreak

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

We are continuing to provide the same reactive service to residents as before. To protect you and our staff all visits made by our officers during this period will be conducted under strict observance of 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 regarding social distancing.

We 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

• bed bugs
• black (garden) ants
• cockroaches
• fleas
• mice
• pharaoh ants
• wasps
• rats

Book a pest control visit

Charges for borough residents

These prices include VAT:

We do not proof and handle repairs for mice infestations.

For mice, cockroaches, and pharaoh ants, if an infestation continues after the course of treatments you have paid for, then a further payment will be required before additional treatment is carried out.

If flea or wasp activity is still a problem 7 days after the initial treatment a further visit will be made, 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.

Bed Bug treatments

Infested rooms must be prepared before we visit, according to our Bed bug preparation information. This Preparation is of vital importance to enable effective treatment. If this is not fully carried out, the officer may not be able to treat the room(s).

If bed bug activity is still a problem 3 weeks after the initial treatment, then a further visit will be made (free of charge for paying customers). Further treatments will not be happen if the property is not properly prepared.

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

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.