London regional pricing

How Much Does a Pest Control Cost in London?

Updated prices for . London prices are typically 24% above the national average.

13 services priced
London region
Updated

Price summary

London Price Summary

Service Low Average High
Rat Treatment £150 £250 £435
Mouse Treatment £125 £220 £375
Wasp Nest Removal £60 £100 £160

Prices include labour and materials. VAT may apply. Based on London regional pricing.

Full pricing

All Pest Control Prices in London

With a population of 8.8 million, London is in Greater London and pest control costs here are 24% above the national average. Prices are based on real regional wage data from the Office for National Statistics.

All prices include materials and labour unless stated otherwise. Prices verified 2026

Rat Treatment

Low

£150

Average

£250

High

£435

2-3 visits over 2-4 weeks

More details

Professional rat control programme including initial survey, baiting and two to three follow-up visits. Includes rodenticide bait stations placed in key locations and advice on proofing entry points.

~80% labour, ~20% materials

What affects the price

  • Severity of the infestation
  • Size of the property and number of entry points
  • Whether proofing work is needed to seal access points
  • Number of follow-up visits required

Mouse Treatment

Low

£125

Average

£220

High

£375

2-3 visits over 2-3 weeks

More details

Professional mouse control programme including survey, setting bait stations and traps, and follow-up visits. Includes advice on proofing gaps and removing food sources.

~81% labour, ~19% materials

What affects the price

  • Severity of the infestation
  • Property size and number of affected areas
  • Whether snap traps, bait or both are used
  • Proofing requirements (sealing gaps and holes)

Wasp Nest Removal

Low

£60

Average

£100

High

£160

30-60 minutes

More details

Treating and removing a single wasp nest. The technician applies insecticidal powder or spray directly into the nest entrance. The nest dies within 24-48 hours and can then be removed if accessible.

~88% labour, ~12% materials

What affects the price

  • Location of the nest (ground level, loft, eaves, underground)
  • Accessibility and height of the nest
  • Whether specialist access equipment is needed
  • Number of nests on the property

Bed Bug Treatment

Low

£250

Average

£495

High

£1,055

2-3 visits over 3-4 weeks

More details

Professional bed bug treatment programme. Typically requires two to three visits with residual insecticide spray treatment. Severe infestations may require heat treatment at higher cost.

~84% labour, ~16% materials

What affects the price

  • Number of rooms affected
  • Severity of the infestation
  • Treatment method (spray vs heat treatment)
  • Amount of preparation and furniture to treat

Cockroach Treatment

Low

£185

Average

£375

High

£620

2-3 visits over 4-6 weeks

More details

Professional cockroach eradication using gel bait, insecticidal spray and monitoring traps. Includes initial survey, treatment and follow-up visits to ensure the colony is eliminated.

~83% labour, ~17% materials

What affects the price

  • Species of cockroach (German cockroaches are harder to treat)
  • Severity and spread of the infestation
  • Property type (house, flat, restaurant)
  • Number of treatment visits required

Ant Treatment

Low

£100

Average

£160

High

£310

1-2 visits

More details

Professional ant treatment using residual insecticide spray and gel bait to eliminate the colony. Includes identifying the ant species, locating nests and treating entry points.

~81% labour, ~19% materials

What affects the price

  • Ant species (garden ants, pharaoh ants, carpenter ants)
  • Number of nests and entry points
  • Property size and affected areas
  • Whether the nest location can be identified

Flea Treatment

Low

£125

Average

£225

High

£375

1-2 visits over 2 weeks

More details

Professional flea treatment using residual insecticide spray to carpets, soft furnishings and skirting boards. May require a second visit as flea eggs hatch over the following two weeks.

~82% labour, ~18% materials

What affects the price

  • Number of rooms to be treated
  • Severity of the infestation
  • Whether pets have been treated by a vet first
  • Type of flooring (carpet vs hard floors)

Pigeon Proofing

Low

£250

Average

£495

High

£930

Half day to 1 day

More details

Installing pigeon deterrent systems to prevent roosting and nesting. Includes fitting bird spikes, netting or wire systems to ledges, sills and roof areas. Guano clean-up available at extra cost.

~53% labour, ~47% materials

What affects the price

  • Area to be proofed and number of ledges or sills
  • Type of deterrent system (spikes, netting, wire, electric)
  • Height and access requirements (scaffolding or cherry picker)
  • Whether guano removal and disinfection is needed

Squirrel Removal

Low

£185

Average

£310

High

£495

2-3 visits over 1-2 weeks

More details

Trapping and removing grey squirrels from a loft or roof space. Includes setting live-catch traps, multiple visits to check and reset traps, and advice on proofing entry points.

~84% labour, ~16% materials

What affects the price

  • Number of squirrels present
  • Accessibility of the loft or roof space
  • Whether proofing of entry points is included
  • Extent of damage to insulation or wiring

Moth Treatment

Low

£185

Average

£310

High

£560

1-2 visits

More details

Professional treatment for clothes moths or carpet moths. Includes identifying the species and source, applying residual insecticide to affected areas and placing pheromone traps for monitoring.

~82% labour, ~18% materials

What affects the price

  • Type of moth (clothes moth, carpet moth, pantry moth)
  • Number of rooms and wardrobes affected
  • Whether valuable textiles or carpets are at risk
  • Severity of the infestation

Fox Deterrent

Low

£125

Average

£250

High

£495

1-2 hours

More details

Professional fox deterrent installation and advice. Includes assessing entry points, installing ultrasonic deterrent devices, applying scent-based repellents and advising on habitat modifications.

~53% labour, ~47% materials

What affects the price

  • Size of the garden or affected area
  • Number and type of deterrent devices needed
  • Whether fence or gate proofing is required
  • Persistence of the fox problem

Mole Treatment

Low

£100

Average

£185

High

£350

2-3 visits over 1-2 weeks

More details

Professional mole trapping to remove moles from gardens and lawns. Includes setting specialist traps in active tunnels and return visits to check and reset traps. Price per mole problem.

~87% labour, ~13% materials

What affects the price

  • Number of active moles in the area
  • Size of the garden or lawn
  • Soil type and tunnel depth
  • Number of visits required to clear the problem

Drain Fly Treatment

Low

£100

Average

£185

High

£310

1-2 visits

More details

Professional drain fly treatment including identifying the breeding source, applying biological drain treatments and residual insecticide spray. Often linked to drain or plumbing issues.

~83% labour, ~17% materials

What affects the price

  • Number of drains or areas affected
  • Whether the underlying drain issue is identified
  • Size of the property
  • Whether drain cleaning is also required

Step by step

What's Involved in Hiring a Pest Control

Professional pest control follows a proven process of identification, treatment, and prevention to eliminate the problem and stop it coming back.

1

Identify the pest

Before calling a pest controller, try to work out what you are dealing with. Droppings, gnaw marks, and scratching sounds at night suggest rodents. Small blood spots on bedding point to bed bugs. If you are unsure, take photos of any evidence — a good pest controller can often identify the problem from pictures over the phone.

2

Contact a pest controller

Call a local BPCA-registered (British Pest Control Association) pest controller for a reliable service. Describe the problem, when you first noticed it, and how severe it seems. For urgent issues like wasps or rats, most pest controllers offer same-day or next-day visits.

3

Survey and assessment

The technician inspects your property to confirm the pest species, assess the severity of the infestation, and identify how the pests are getting in. This survey is crucial — treating the wrong pest or missing entry points means the problem will return.

4

Treatment is applied

The technician applies the appropriate treatment — bait stations for rodents, insecticide spray for insects, traps for squirrels, or powder for wasps. They explain what they have done, what to expect, and any precautions you need to take (keeping children and pets away from treated areas).

5

Follow-up visits

Most pest treatments require at least one follow-up visit to check the treatment is working, top up bait, and reset traps. Rodent treatments typically need 2-3 visits over 2-4 weeks. Bed bugs may need 2-3 treatments over several weeks. Your technician will schedule these at the first visit.

6

Proofing and prevention advice

Once the infestation is cleared, the technician advises on preventing a recurrence. This includes sealing entry points, removing food sources, fixing drainage issues, and improving hygiene. Some companies offer proofing work (blocking holes, fitting mesh) as an additional service.

Regional comparison

How London Compares

Average cost of rat treatment across regions.

London
+24% £250
National Average
baseline £200

Local insights

What Affects Pest Control Costs in London?

London's housing stock ranges from Georgian and Victorian terraces to post-war estates and modern new-builds, with a wide mix of Victorian terraces, modern flats, high-rise apartments and new-build estates across the borough. Properties in areas like Islington, Hackney and Brixton vary enormously in age, layout and condition, all of which directly affect pest control costs. With a population of 8.8 million, London is one of the more expensive areas for pest control work in the UK. Older properties tend to need more preparation work and present access challenges that push prices toward the higher end — for example, mouse treatment here averages around £220.

London is the most expensive part of the UK for trade work, with labour rates running around 24% above the national average. This reflects the high cost of living, congestion charges, and expensive parking that tradespeople factor into their quotes. As a major city with a population of 8.8 million, demand for pest control services is consistently high, and there is no shortage of qualified pest control professionals across the capital. The larger population means more tradespeople operate in the area, which generally keeps pricing competitive. Prices still vary by 30-50% between tradespeople for the same job, making multiple quotes essential.

Several factors affect what you will pay for pest control work in London. The scope and complexity of the job is the biggest driver — straightforward work in accessible locations will be at the lower end, while anything involving older properties, difficult access, or structural complications will cost more. Material choices also make a significant difference; opting for premium brands or higher-spec products can add 20-40% to the total. As one of the more expensive areas for trade work, London residents typically pay around £250 for rat treatment and £250 to £1,055 for bed bug treatment.

When getting quotes in London, aim for at least three from different qualified professionals. The larger population means more tradespeople operate in the area, which generally keeps pricing competitive. Ask each one to visit and assess the work in person rather than quoting over the phone. A good pest control will check the existing setup, identify any potential complications, and give you a detailed breakdown of costs. In a major city like London, there is plenty of choice, so do not settle for the first quote you receive. Be wary of quotes that seem significantly cheaper than others — they may be cutting corners on materials or not including everything in the price. Always check qualifications, insurance and recent reviews before hiring.

Depending on the work involved, you may also need cleaning (£30–£55), end-of-tenancy cleaning (£250–£560), or drain services (£75–£310) in London.

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about pest control costs in London.

Can I treat pests myself or do I need a professional?
Shop-bought treatments can work for minor ant, moth or fly problems. However, rats, mice, wasps nests, bed bugs, cockroaches and squirrels almost always need professional treatment. DIY methods often just scatter the infestation without eliminating it, and some treatments are only available to licensed technicians.
Does the council offer free pest control?
Some councils still offer free or subsidised treatment for rats and mice, though many have cut back or started charging. Wasp nest removal, bed bugs and other pests are usually charged at full price. Check your local council website for current availability and pricing.
How long does pest control treatment take to work?
It depends on the pest. Wasp nest treatment usually kills the colony within 24-48 hours. Rat and mouse baiting takes 7-14 days to clear an infestation. Bed bug treatment typically needs 2-3 visits over several weeks. Cockroach gel bait takes 1-2 weeks. Your pest controller will explain the timeline for your situation.
Will a pest controller guarantee the treatment works?
Most professional pest controllers guarantee their work for a set period, typically 1-3 months. This means they will return for free re-treatment if the problem persists. For recurring problems like rats or cockroaches, ongoing monitoring contracts are available to prevent re-infestation.
Is pest control safe for children and pets?
Professional pest controllers use treatments that are safe when applied correctly. Rodent bait is placed in tamper-proof boxes that children and pets cannot open. Insecticide sprays are applied to specific areas and allowed to dry before re-entry. Your technician will tell you exactly how long to keep children and pets away from treated areas — usually 1-2 hours for sprays.
How do I know if I have rats or mice?
Rat droppings are dark, shiny, and about the size of a large grain of rice (12-18mm). Mouse droppings are much smaller (3-8mm) and more numerous. Rats leave greasy rub marks along walls and skirting boards. You are more likely to hear rats at night as heavy scratching or thumping, while mice are lighter and faster-sounding. A pest controller can confirm the species from droppings alone.
Can I remove a wasp nest myself?
It is not recommended. Disturbing a wasp nest without proper equipment and protective clothing risks multiple stings, which can be life-threatening for anyone with an allergy. Professional treatment costs £50-£130 and the technician applies insecticidal powder directly into the nest entrance, killing the colony within 24-48 hours. It is one of the cheapest and quickest pest control jobs.
What time of year are pest problems most common?
Rats and mice move indoors from September to November as the weather cools. Wasps are most active June to September. Bed bugs peak in summer due to increased travel. Moths are worst from April to October. Ants invade kitchens in warm weather from May to August. Knowing the seasonal pattern helps you spot early signs before an infestation takes hold.
Should I tell my landlord about a pest problem?
Yes, always report it in writing. In England and Wales, landlords are responsible for keeping rental properties free from health hazards, which includes pest infestations. If the problem is caused by structural issues like gaps in brickwork or broken drains, the landlord must pay for both the repairs and the pest treatment. Keep a record of all communication.
How much does a pest control cost in London in 2026?
Rat Treatment in London typically costs between £150 and £435, with the average being around £250. Prices vary depending on the scope of work, materials used, and the specific requirements of your property.
Are pest control prices cheaper in London than London?
London is the most expensive area in the UK for pest control work, with prices running around 24% above the national average. You may find cheaper quotes in outer London boroughs or by comparing multiple professionals.
How do I find a good pest control in London?
Get at least three quotes from different tradespeople, check recent reviews, and ask whether the quote includes VAT and everything you need. A detailed written quote that breaks down all costs is a good sign. Always check qualifications, insurance and recent reviews before hiring.
What affects pest control prices in London?
The main factors are the scope and complexity of what you need, the options and products chosen, and local market rates. London rates are 24% above the national average. Getting multiple quotes is the best way to ensure a fair price.
Do pest control prices include materials in London?
The prices shown on this page include all typical costs. However, when getting real quotes, always confirm what is and isn't included. Some tradespeople break out costs separately, while others give an all-in price. Ask for a detailed breakdown before agreeing to any work.