Pests and infestations

If you or someone else in your house receives one of the following benefits, we may be able to help in the case of a rat or mouse problem.

• Band 1 Council Tax reduction scheme and of working age
• Council Tax reduction scheme and of non-working age

As part of the online booking process we will check that you are in receipt of the benefit.

Once the receipt of benefit is confirmed, we will arrange for Monitor Pest Control Ltd to deal with your rat or mouse problem.

Before you start

As part of the online booking process you will need to provide the following information:

• your benefit reference (this is a nine digit number that begins with a 4)
• your National Insurance number

Book a pest control service

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council does not have an in-house pest control service.

Please be advised that the pest control service that you use must be registered.

Please use the links below to search for a registered service:

British Pest Control Association

National Pest Technicians Association

If you are a tenant you may wish to contact your landlord to establish whose responsibility the matter is.

We always recommend the use of a professional pest control service to deal with pest problems (see above for the Council’s preferred service).

This is particularly so when using any form of poison, as its use may impact on the wider wildlife population.

However, the following may assist you:

• rats need a food source, and it has been said that the most common cause of rats is the feeding of birds (or other animals)
• if you or a neighbour is feeding the birds then STOP
• ensure any food waste is bagged up and placed in a bin with a lid
• check the bottom of bins to ensure there are no holes present

There is of course, no guarantee that this action will cure the problem.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council does not have an in-house pest control service.

The council’s preferred contractor is:

Their team of advisors will be pleased to assist you with a variety of problems, for which a fee may be payable.

If you do wish to use another company, we suggest you use one registered with the National Pest Control Technicians Association or the British Pest Control Association.

If you are a tenant you may wish to contact your landlord to establish whose responsibility the matter is.

The internet provides good information relating to insects and bugs, and may help you in identifying them.

The British Pest Control Association have created a catalogue of the most common pests.

We also provide a service to identify insects and other pests that you may need advice on, although we cannot guarantee identification in all cases.

To use this service drop a sample off at the Council addressed to the Environmental Protection team.

Please ensure your sample is labelled with your name, address and telephone number; and where you have found it.