Pest control guides

A ban that affects what a quote can include

Glue boards were once a cheap standard method of catching mice. In England, using them for rodents is now a criminal offence in most circumstances. This article summarises the Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 as published on legislation.gov.uk, the commencement regulations, and GOV.UK guidance. The offences in section 1 are headed “Offences relating to glue traps in England”. The Act extends to England and Wales, but the rules for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not covered here. It is general information, not legal advice.

When it came into force

The Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 (Commencement) Regulations 2024 brought sections 2 and 10 into force on 22 May 2024, covering the power to grant licences and the extent and commencement provisions. All the remaining provisions, including the new offences, came into force on 31 July 2024. The Government’s announcement of the licensing scheme, published on 19 June 2024, gave the same date and said that from then it would be an offence to use glue traps for rodent control unless done under a licence.

What is prohibited

Section 1 creates two main offences. The first is setting a glue trap intending to catch a rodent. The second is setting a glue trap in a manner that gives rise to a risk that a rodent will become caught in it. The Act defines a glue trap as a trap designed, or capable of being used, to catch a rodent using an adhesive substance as the means, or one of the means, of capture.

Knowingly causing or permitting a glue trap to be set is also an offence. On summary conviction, these offences carry up to 51 weeks’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.

There is also a duty on anyone who finds a glue trap that gives rise to such a risk: without reasonable excuse, they must ensure it no longer does. A person has a reasonable excuse if they believed the trap was set under a licence. Failing to act carries a fine only.

The licensing exception

Section 1 states that the main offences do not apply if the glue trap is set under, and in accordance with the terms of, a glue trap licence. Under section 2, the Secretary of State can authorise pest controllers to use glue traps for the purpose of preserving public health or public safety, and licences can be revoked. Section 3 makes it an offence to give false or misleading information in a licence application, again punishable on summary conviction by up to 51 weeks’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.

The GOV.UK announcement says licences are issued to professional pest controllers for the purpose of preserving public health and safety, and that glue traps are permitted only in exceptional circumstances where there is no alternative satisfactory solution. The licence is therefore not a general permission for households.

Why the ban was introduced

When the Government backed the Bill in June 2021, it said glue traps can cause suffering and painful death for animals, that rodents can remain alive for at least 24 hours after capture, and that pets and wildlife can also fall victim. It cited the RSPCA receiving over 200 reports in five years of animals not considered pests, including wild birds, hedgehogs and pet cats, being found stuck in them. Those are the Government’s own statements in support of the Bill and reflect the policy case rather than a measured national incidence.

What other GOV.UK pest-control guidance says

GOV.UK’s general page on pest control on your property lists glue traps designed to catch rodents among the methods that cannot be used for any wildlife, alongside self-locking snares, bows and crossbows, explosives other than legal ammunition for a licensed firearm, and live decoys unless licensed. It also says people should only use traps approved for the species they want to control, only use poison intended for the pests concerned, and protect other animals by placing lethal traps under cover and preventing wildlife from eating poison. It adds that councils may charge a fee for pest control services and that householders can hire a pest controller.

What to check when comparing pest control quotes

In England, a quote that includes glue boards for mice or rats should prompt questions. The Act’s exception applies only where the trap is set under and in accordance with a glue trap licence, and the GOV.UK announcement says licences are for exceptional circumstances with no alternative. A householder can ask whether the company holds a licence and why alternatives, such as snap traps or bait boxes, are not suitable. A householder who finds a glue trap set by someone else, such as a previous occupier, has the duty described above unless they reasonably believe it is licensed.

The bottom line

Since 31 July 2024, setting a glue trap to catch a rodent in England has been an offence punishable by up to 51 weeks’ imprisonment or a fine, unless the trap is set under a licence. Licences go to professional pest controllers for public health or safety in exceptional circumstances. Anyone in England who is offered glue boards for mice or rats should ask about the licence and the alternatives.

Sources

• legislation.gov.uk, “Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022, section 1 (Offences relating to glue traps in England)”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022”
• legislation.gov.uk, “The Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 (Commencement) Regulations 2024”
• Natural England and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, GOV.UK, “Glue traps licensing scheme opens”
• Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, GOV.UK, “Government backs Bill banning the use of glue traps for pest control”
• Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Natural England, GOV.UK, “Pest control on your property”

Pest treatment and protected wildlife overlap in loft spaces

Woodworm, cluster flies and wasps are common reasons for treating a roof void, and roof voids are also places where bats roost. This article summarises the Natural England guidance on GOV.UK titled “Bat roosts: use of chemical pest control products and timber treatments in or near them”. The guidance is written for England and was first published in February 2013, and a companion page listing suitable products was last updated in February 2020, so products and formulations may since have changed. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are outside the scope of this article. It is general information, not legal advice.

The starting point: bats and roosts are protected

The guidance states that all bat species, their breeding sites and resting places are fully protected by law. It notes that a chemical product may still be needed in or near a roost, for example an insecticide to control pests, or a timber treatment to protect against insects, fungal growth or weathering.

The central rule is that chemical products cannot be used in or near a known bat roost if bats are present. Before starting, a thorough search for signs of bats, such as fresh droppings, is needed, and the best time to apply treatments is usually between autumn and spring. Householders and places of worship are told to contact the national bat helpline before using a chemical product in or near a bat roost. The guidance describes this as a free service for those groups.

Insecticides

For controlling pests with insecticides, the guidance says to check the list of insecticides to see which products are currently approved for cluster fly, wasp, bee or hornet control, to use products listed for professional use only if the user has the information, instruction and training to do so, and to use the product as directed on the packaging. It also warns about care when treating feral bees so that other working bees are not harmed.

The companion page explains that Natural England is aware of the chemical substances listed for use in or near roosts but does not endorse the products. The lists are therefore a check on suitability near bats, not a recommendation.

Timber treatments

The guidance identifies the timber problems that may need on-site treatment as common furniture beetle (woodworm), deathwatch beetle, longhorn beetle, dry rot and wet rot. Anyone treating timber should check the list of timber treatments to see which products are suitable for use in or near bat roosts, use professional-listed products only with appropriate training, and follow the packaging directions.

Where a product is not on the list, the guidance says to check whether its active ingredients include any of the following: 3-iodo-2-propynyl n-butylcarbamate, benzalkonium chloride, boric acid, copper carbonate hydroxide, dichlofluanid, disodium octaborate, flufenoxuron, permethrin, propiconazole or tebuconazole. If a product contains only one of these, it can be used around bat roosts as long as it is used as directed. If it contains two or more, the guidance says to contact the manufacturer before using it.

Pre-treated timber, stains and preservatives

Timber pre-treated off-site can be used, the guidance says, because the producer injects the chemicals deep into the wood, leaving lower concentrations on the surface that are not harmful to bats. Products used to pre-treat timber should not be applied on-site, because the active ingredients will be more concentrated on the surface and may harm bats. Decorative wood finishes such as stains or wood preservative can be used around roosts if used only on external timber.

What this means when hiring a contractor

The guidance covers both householders and professional users, and it limits products listed for professional use to people with the relevant information, instruction and training. It places responsibility on whoever applies the product to check for bats first, use the correct listed product and follow the label. For a householder, it makes sense to ask a woodworm or insect-control contractor whether they have checked for signs of bats, which products they propose and whether they are on the Natural England lists. A contractor who cannot say what the active ingredients are, or who proposes on-site application of pre-treatment products, does not fit the approach in the guidance.

The right time for treatment is also affected. The guidance says the best time to apply treatments is usually between autumn and spring, so a summer quote for roof-void treatment is worth questioning, particularly if bats may be present.

The bottom line

In England, chemical treatments must not be used in or near a known bat roost if bats are present, and householders are directed to the national bat helpline before using them. Natural England’s lists and its rules on active ingredients, pre-treated timber and external-only finishes are the reference points, and the products are not endorsed by Natural England. Check the current lists before any roof-void or timber treatment.

Sources

• Natural England, GOV.UK, “Bat roosts: use of chemical pest control products and timber treatments in or near them”
• Natural England, GOV.UK, “Bat roosts: insecticides and timber treatments”

Why backyard flocks and rats go together

Grain, water and warm bedding attract rodents to chicken runs. Government guidance treats them as a biosecurity issue rather than just a nuisance. This article summarises the GOV.UK guidance “Bird flu (avian influenza): how to prevent it and stop it spreading”, last updated in June 2026, together with HSE’s page on rodenticides. The GOV.UK guidance applies to England; the page states that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate guidance. The HSE page covers Great Britain and refers to Northern Ireland separately. It is general information, not veterinary advice.

What the bird flu guidance says about rodents

The main causes of bird flu in poultry and other captive birds, the guidance says, are contact with wild birds, faeces from infected birds and dirty footwear, clothing, vehicles and equipment. Rodents feature in the section on control measures. It says rats and mice can carry diseases on their feet and fur, and that effective pest control reduces the chances of diseases infecting birds.

Its practical measures are physical. Food, water and bedding should be kept in covered, enclosed areas that wild birds and rodents cannot access. Bedding stored outside must be covered. Bird houses and sheds should be maintained so that holes and gaps are repaired to stop wild birds and rodents getting in, and leaks and blocked drains or downpipes fixed to stop contaminated water getting in. For birds that are not housed, food and water should be kept in covered, enclosed areas that wild birds and rodents cannot access. The guidance also says to keep foxes, dogs, cats and other livestock away from the birds’ housing and food supplies, since they can carry diseases on their feet and fur.

Rodenticide: what the guidance says

For active control, GOV.UK says to control rats or mice with an approved rodenticide while making sure that it does not risk the health of the birds. That instruction leaves the detail to the product label and to HSE, which authorises rodenticides in Great Britain.

What HSE says about choosing a method

HSE says rodents can carry diseases that harm people, damage buildings and spoil food, and lists non-chemical and chemical methods: good hygiene, physical barriers, traps and biocidal products. Poisons are known as rodenticides and are covered by a specific product type under the GB Biocidal Products Regulation, with the EU regulation applying in Northern Ireland.

HSE explains that anticoagulant rodenticides, one of the most commonly used groups, have been assessed by regulators as carrying a higher risk to people and non-target animals than is normally acceptable for authorisation. It says they are nonetheless authorised because the negative effects of not allowing them would outweigh the risks, but only with strict controls. One of those controls is minimising their use, and HSE says anyone dealing with a rodent problem should consider other control methods before reaching for anticoagulant products. It also says that rodenticides can carry a higher risk than other biocides because children, pets and other non-target animals may be more likely to be harmed by them, and that resistance can build up if products are overused.

Who may use which product

HSE says members of the public should only use biocidal products intended for the general public, sometimes labelled “amateur” or “non-professional”, and should never use products intended only for professional users. Public-use rodenticides may be restricted in the amount of active substance, in where they can be used, for example only within a bait box, and in pack size. Professional products may be limited to trained users, and some rodenticides can only be used by and sold to professional users with demonstrated competence. HSE adds that professional use of anticoagulant rodenticides must follow one of the UK rodenticide stewardship regimes.

HSE’s wider guidance for householders says that anyone who is not a professional should consider using a professional pest controller, and suggests contacting the local council for options.

Practical points for keepers

Read together, the sources point to an order of priority for a small flock. Remove what attracts rodents, meaning open feed, spilt grain and uncovered bedding. Close the gaps that let them in. Use traps or bait boxes only where the label and the risk to the birds allow it, and consider a professional where an infestation is established. The GOV.UK guidance also says keepers must register poultry or other captive birds within one month of keeping them at any premises, and says it is an offence not to register, which is a separate duty from pest control but part of the same biosecurity framework.

The bottom line

In England, government bird flu guidance treats rodent control as part of protecting poultry: seal feed and bedding away from rodents, repair gaps in housing and use an approved rodenticide only in a way that does not endanger the birds. HSE’s guidance adds that non-chemical methods should come first where practical, that householders should use only public-use products, and that a professional is the safer choice where the problem is established.

Sources

• Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency, GOV.UK, “Bird flu (avian influenza): how to prevent it and stop it spreading”
• Health and Safety Executive, “Rodenticides”
• Health and Safety Executive, “Using biocides: Overview”

A garden pest with legal status

Oak processionary moth (OPM) is unlike most garden caterpillars. GOV.UK guidance from the Forestry Commission describes it as a regulated quarantine pest known to be present in Great Britain, which cannot be introduced, moved, multiplied or released without authorisation. The guidance summarised here, “Managing oak processionary moth in England”, was updated in August 2026 and is written for England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own plant health guidance, which is outside the scope of this article. It is general information, not health or legal advice.

What it is

The caterpillars of OPM infest oak trees and eat the leaves, which weakens the tree and leaves it vulnerable to other threats. The government says OPM was first identified in London in 2006 and spread to some surrounding counties in south-east England. The moths spread by flying from tree to tree, usually staying close to the tree they came from.

How to identify the caterpillars and nests

GOV.UK describes the caterpillars as having black heads and grey bodies covered in long white hairs. They are about 2mm long when they emerge in spring, tend to stay high in the trees until older, develop the irritating hairs when they reach about 1cm, and are fully grown at about 2cm. They usually move nose to tail in a procession, which gives the species its name.

Nests are usually found in early summer on the trunks and branches of oak trees, at any height. They are typically dome or teardrop shaped, ranging from the size of a golf ball to a rugby ball. Fresh nests are white with silken trails, but they soon discolour to brown and can stay on the tree for many months after the adult moths have emerged. GOV.UK says nests are unlikely to be found on other tree species, fences or walls. The guidance also warns that many reports involve caterpillars that are not OPM and refers to a guide to species commonly confused with it.

When and why they matter

Caterpillars emerge from late March to May. From late June to early August they retreat into the nests and form pupae, which stay there until the adult moths emerge. Late spring and early summer are the best times to look for caterpillars and new nests, and used nests are easiest to spot in winter.

The health risk is the reason the guidance is so firm. GOV.UK says the caterpillars and nests contain hairs that can cause itchy rashes, eye and throat irritation and occasionally breathing difficulties in people and animals, and that in rare cases they may cause an allergic reaction. It adds that repeated exposure can sensitise a person, worsening symptoms. Hairs can reach people who brush past an infested oak tree or be blown onto them from nearby trees, and animals can pick up hairs on paws or by sniffing and licking. The greatest risk is from May to July, though residual hairs from old nests mean that risk is possible at any time of year.

What to do if you suspect OPM

The advice is not to touch or go near the caterpillars or nests. Anyone who finds a nest or caterpillars must report it immediately through the online tool TreeAlert, which is the preferred route, or by email. The Forestry Commission may issue a Statutory Plant Health Notice asking the owner to take action.

GOV.UK says removing nests and caterpillars is a hazardous operation and recommends that a professional does it, suggesting the Arboricultural Association as a place to find an OPM management professional. Anyone who works on or close to oak trees in affected areas needs to use protective measures such as personal protective equipment.

For people or animals who have been exposed, the guidance says to get medical help for a serious allergic reaction, that a pharmacist can advise on relief from skin or eye irritation, and that a vet should be consulted if an animal is seriously affected. It advises telling the medical professional or vet that OPM contact is suspected.

The management zones

Government management depends on where a tree is. Most of the country is an area officially designated free from the pest, where government-funded surveillance operates and any outbreak is met with action to eradicate it. A buffer zone has an annual programme of surveillance and control led by the Forestry Commission, and an owner of an infested oak there may be issued with a Statutory Plant Health Notice. An exclusion zone, a 10km-wide strip on the outer ring of the buffer zone, has additional movement restrictions. In the “established area” in south-east England, landowners are responsible for managing OPM on their land, and the guidance says an owner of infested oak should find a professional on the Arboricultural Association website.

The zone boundaries and postcode lists are published by the Forestry Commission, and households can check which zone applies to them before deciding what to do.

What this means for pest control quotes

Because the moth is a regulated pest with a reporting duty, the correct first step for a suspected OPM problem in England is to report it and check the zone, not to book the cheapest treatment. A contractor who offers to remove nests without mentioning protective equipment, reporting or the zone rules is not following the approach in the guidance.

The bottom line

Oak processionary moth is a regulated quarantine pest whose hairs can cause skin, eye and breathing problems. In England, a suspected nest or caterpillar should be reported immediately, should not be touched, and should be dealt with by a professional where removal is needed. The management zone determines who is responsible for treatment.

Sources

• Forestry Commission, GOV.UK, “Managing oak processionary moth in England”
• Forestry Commission, GOV.UK, “Oak processionary moth: Plan and manage risks”

A protected species, not a pest that can be removed

Badgers can undermine lawns, dig under outbuildings and damage fences, and it is natural to look for someone to remove them. The law treats badgers and their setts (the tunnels and chambers where they live) as protected. This article covers Great Britain: section 3 of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 is shown on legislation.gov.uk as extending to England, Wales and Scotland. The GOV.UK guidance summarised here is written for England, and the NatureScot guidance for Scotland. Northern Ireland is outside the scope of this article. It is general information, not legal advice.

What the Act prohibits

Section 3 of the 1992 Act makes it an offence to damage or destroy a badger sett, to obstruct access to a sett or any entrance to it, to cause a dog to enter a sett, or to disturb a badger occupying a sett. The offence is committed where the person intends to do any of these things or is reckless as to whether their actions would have those consequences. Knowingly causing or permitting such acts is also covered.

GOV.UK guidance for England adds that people can be sent to prison for up to six months and receive an unlimited fine if found guilty of offences such as intentionally capturing, killing or injuring a badger, or damaging, destroying or blocking access to a sett. It lists activities that can affect badgers, including noise, additional lighting or vibration, pile driving, quarry blasting, lighting fires, using chemicals, excavation, ploughing and harvesting, tree felling and construction or repair of flood defences.

What to try first when badgers cause damage

GOV.UK says that people who think badgers are damaging their property or land may be able to solve the problem without a licence. Its examples are fences, including electric fences, to stop badgers entering the land, provided this does not block access to the sett, and two-way gates in fences so that badgers do not damage them.

NatureScot takes the same approach. It describes badgers as generally shy and secretive animals which usually coexist peacefully with people, says damage to gardens, crops or property is rare, and states that in most cases the problem can be resolved by ensuring badgers cannot access the affected area. The essential point in both sets of guidance is that exclusion must not block access to a sett, because obstructing access is itself an offence under section 3.

When a licence may be possible

Section 10 of the Act allows licences to be granted for several purposes. One is preventing serious damage to land, crops, poultry or any other form of property. The Act names different licensing authorities for England, Wales and Scotland, so the correct body depends on where the property is.

In England, GOV.UK says a licence to interfere with a sett may be available if damage caused by the sett is, or is likely to become, serious, with subsidence and damage to roads or paths given as examples. Natural England receives applications for licences to interfere with badger setts for agricultural, forestry and drainage activities and for preventing damage to land, crops, poultry or other property, using form A01. Licence holders must report any action taken under the licence using form LR01 no later than two weeks after the licence expires, even where no action was taken.

GOV.UK also says that applicants need to show they have tried everything else possible to avoid affecting badgers.

Scotland

NatureScot can issue licences to prevent serious damage by badgers to land, crops, poultry or other property. Its guidance says a licence may be possible if exclusion is not feasible and serious damage might occur. An application should include the applicant’s name, address and telephone number, the address where the damage is occurring, details of the serious damage experienced and details of the measures taken to prevent damage. NatureScot also describes a Badger Ecologist licence, available to experienced badger ecologists, for works with low conservation impacts, including in some cases preventing serious damage.

What this means when comparing pest control quotes

A quote that promises to remove badgers or block a sett without mentioning a licence does not match the position in these sources, under which intentionally capturing, killing or injuring a badger and blocking access to a sett are offences unless done under a licence. Property owners can ask any contractor whether a licence is required, who holds it and what exclusion methods are proposed, and can seek advice from Natural England or NatureScot, depending on the location, before agreeing to work near a sett.

The activities that GOV.UK lists as capable of affecting badgers, such as excavation, pile driving and the use of chemicals, are also relevant to building work near a sett, so a garden project may need the same checks as a pest-control job.

The bottom line

Badgers and their setts are protected in England, Wales and Scotland. Blocking, damaging or disturbing a sett without a licence can be an offence, and the official advice is to try exclusion methods such as fencing and two-way gates first. Where serious damage remains, a licence to prevent damage may be available from the relevant licensing body, but applicants must show that other measures have been tried.

Sources

• legislation.gov.uk, “Protection of Badgers Act 1992, section 3 (Interfering with badger setts)”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Protection of Badgers Act 1992, section 10 (Licences)”
• Natural England, GOV.UK, “Badgers: protection and licences”
• Natural England, GOV.UK, “Badgers: licence to interfere with setts and to prevent damage (A01 and LR01)”
• NatureScot, “Badgers: licences to prevent serious damage”

A well-meant habit with a side effect

Feeding garden birds is popular and good for wildlife, but it is also one of the most common reasons rats turn up in gardens. This article pulls together published advice from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and from councils in England and Scotland: Buckinghamshire and Rushmoor in England, and North Lanarkshire and East Ayrshire in Scotland. These are advice pages, not laws, and councils differ. Northern Ireland and Wales are not covered.

What the RHS says

The RHS notes that rats can become regular visitors at bird feeding stations and that they will take food provided for wild birds, poultry and pets. Its management advice is to discourage rats by removing accessible food sources, such as by keeping bins sealed. When feeding wildlife such as birds, it says, do not let excess food build up, which also helps reduce the risk of spreading wildlife diseases, and removing clutter reduces hiding and nesting places. It also says compost heaps are a place rats may live.

Feeder choice and placement

Buckinghamshire Council advises using a feeder positioned carefully so rodents cannot reach it, and a catch tray so food does not fall onto the ground where rats and mice can access it. It says not to overstock bird tables because rodents can often reach them. East Ayrshire Council gives similar guidance: use a feeder with a tray to prevent seed spilling, and place feeders off the ground and away from branches, fences, sheds, roofs and other objects rats could jump from. It notes that rats, mice and grey squirrels are excellent climbers, and it suggests smearing a feeder pole with petroleum jelly, which is the council’s suggestion rather than something the sources show has been tested.

East Ayrshire also recommends higher quality bird food, because birds sift through mixes and discard the bits they do not like, and those end up on the ground.

Amounts and timing

North Lanarkshire Council notes that rats and mice tend to venture out at night, so it advises clearing bird tables and ground trays each evening and taking down easily reached hanging feeders at night. It suggests a bird table or ground table with only enough food for one day at a time, fed early in the day so food is not left overnight. East Ayrshire gives the same advice about one day’s food and removing leftovers, and clearing waste food on the ground.

Buckinghamshire adds that you should not dump unwanted food waste in the garden, because birds are unlikely to eat it but rats and mice will.

Storage, structures and tidiness

North Lanarkshire says rats will chew through many materials to reach food and recommends strong containers such as galvanised metal bins with secure lids for wild bird seed. It also says a shed or garden structure that can be dug under can be raised on bricks to make it less appealing, and that rats need only a 15 millimetre gap and mice 6 millimetres, so small gaps should be sealed. It advises cutting back overgrown areas, keeping wood and compost piles tidy, removing rubbish and keeping bins and compost secure. It also suggests herbs such as mint or peppermint oil to deter rodents, but that is the council’s suggestion and the sources cited give no evidence for it, so it should not replace proofing and food control.

If you already have rats

Rushmoor Borough Council advises that while there is an active rat infestation you should not put out food for birds or other wildlife, because it provides a food source and means rats avoid pest control treatments. That is a significant difference from routine feeding advice. If rats are already established, the safer approach is to pause feeding while treatment and proofing take place, then restart carefully.

When bird feeding becomes a council matter

East Ayrshire says that if bird feeding causes a nuisance or public health hazard, its Environmental Health Service can ask you to stop feeding the birds. It lists conditions that can lead to complaints, including attracting vermin, attracting birds that nest on roofs, in gutters or under solar panels causing damage, and accumulation of faeces. Buckinghamshire says that if a neighbour is feeding birds and causing problems you should first talk to them, and that if the problem leads to a pest infestation whose source can be pinpointed you can report it to environmental health. These are individual councils’ approaches, so check your own local authority.

The bottom line

You can keep feeding garden birds without inviting rats if you use feeders with catch trays, keep them off the ground and away from climbing routes, put out only a day’s food early in the day, clear leftovers at night, store seed in sealed metal bins and keep the garden tidy. If rats are already established, pause feeding until treatment and proofing are done, and talk to neighbours before involving the council.

Sources

• Royal Horticultural Society, “Rats in the garden: risks and control”
• Buckinghamshire Council, “Feeding birds: advice to avoid nuisance and problems”
• Rushmoor Borough Council, “Rats”
• North Lanarkshire Council, “Bird feeding and avoiding rodents”
• East Ayrshire Council, “Feeding the birds and how to do it safely”

A real risk, described honestly

Any article about rats eventually mentions Weil’s disease, often in alarming terms. The official picture is more measured. This article summarises what the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says on GOV.UK and what the NHS website says, so that the risk is described at the level the sources support. Case figures quoted are for England. It is not medical advice; anyone who is unwell after possible exposure should speak to a GP or NHS 111.

What it is and how people catch it

Leptospirosis, also called Weil’s disease on the NHS website, is an infection you can get from animals, soil or water, and the NHS calls it rare in the UK. UKHSA describes it as a zoonotic infection caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira, and says the bacteria live in the kidneys of host animals, which are often asymptomatic. Common animal reservoirs include rodents, cattle and pigs.

The infection is spread in the urine of infected animals, most commonly rats, mice, cows, pigs and dogs, according to the NHS. You can get it if soil or freshwater containing infected urine gets into your mouth, eyes or a cut, and the NHS says this usually happens during activities such as kayaking, outdoor swimming or fishing. It also says you can get it by touching the blood or flesh of an infected animal, usually through work with animals. UKHSA says humans can be infected through direct exposure to animal urine or urine-contaminated environments such as canals, rivers and lakes, with bacteria entering through the skin or mucous membranes, particularly if the skin is broken or waterlogged. It says transmission is most commonly through water contaminated with urine, and that transmission through bites or between people is rare. The NHS says it is very rare to get leptospirosis from pets, other people or bites.

What the England numbers show

UKHSA reports that in England from 2020 to 2023 there were on average 57 laboratory-confirmed cases and 89 probable cases each year, with more cases reported in summer and autumn. Many cases diagnosed in England report exposure to potentially contaminated water or direct contact with rodents as the probable source. Reported infections are most common in adult men, which UKHSA says is likely because of occupational and recreational exposures, although anyone directly exposed to infected urine or contaminated environments can be infected.

UKHSA lists high-risk occupations as agricultural workers, military personnel, veterinary staff, pest control, construction and canal workers, and says leptospirosis is also associated with water-based recreation such as wild swimming and water sports. In other words, the typical exposures involve water, soil and working with animals, not simply seeing a rat in the garden. That does not mean rats are irrelevant; rodents are named as a reservoir, and pest controllers are a listed at-risk group.

Symptoms and when to seek help

The NHS says most people who get leptospirosis have no symptoms or mild flu-like symptoms, but some become seriously ill. Symptoms may include a high temperature, headache, body aches, tummy ache, feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, redness in the whites of the eyes and jaundice. It advises seeing a GP if you might have been exposed to infected urine, water or soil and have symptoms such as a high temperature, headache, sickness, diarrhoea, aches or red eyes. It advises asking for an urgent GP appointment or contacting NHS 111 for jaundice, a rash, being unable to pass urine, swollen ankles, feet or hands, chest pain or shortness of breath.

UKHSA describes severe leptospirosis causing liver failure and jaundice as sometimes known as Weil’s disease, and lists kidney failure, meningitis and lung bleeding among the features of severe infection. It says treatment is with antibiotics and supportive therapy, and the NHS says the infection can often be treated by a GP with antibiotic tablets, with hospital treatment for severe symptoms.

Sensible precautions when rats are around

The NHS advice for avoiding infection is practical. Wash your hands with soap and water after handling animals or animal products, clean wounds as soon as possible, cover cuts and grazes with waterproof plasters, wear protective clothing if you are at risk through your job, and shower as soon as possible if you have been in potentially infected water. It says not to touch water or soil that may contain animal urine, not to touch dead animals with bare hands, and not to drink untreated water from rivers, canals or lakes. There is no vaccine for people, though dogs can be vaccinated, and UKHSA says vaccination is part of the core programme for dogs in the UK.

UKHSA also lists avoiding contact with rodents and putting prevention and control measures in place where necessary as part of prevention. For a homeowner, that is an argument for proofing, sensible hygiene and using a professional where rats are established, rather than handling carcasses or droppings casually.

The bottom line

Official sources describe leptospirosis as rare in the UK, with roughly 57 confirmed and 89 probable cases a year in England in 2020 to 2023, mostly linked to contaminated water or direct contact with rodents and animals. Rats are a recognised source, but most exposures involve water, soil and animal work. Take simple precautions around rodents, and get medical advice quickly if you become unwell after possible exposure.

Sources

• UK Health Security Agency, “Leptospirosis (GOV.UK guidance)”
• NHS, “Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease)”

A garden pest with a regulatory history

Slugs are a garden pest rather than a household one, but the rules on controlling them changed sharply in recent years. Metaldehyde, once the main active ingredient in slug pellets, is now banned for outdoor use in Great Britain. This article summarises what the government announced, the reasons it gave, and what it recommended instead. It covers Great Britain, meaning England, Scotland and Wales, and says what could and could not be established about Northern Ireland.

What was announced

On 18 September 2020, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Health and Safety Executive announced that the outdoor use of metaldehyde, a pesticide used to control slugs on farms and in gardens, would be banned in Great Britain from the end of March 2022. The decision took into account advice from the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides and the HSE about the risks metaldehyde poses to birds and mammals.

A Defra media blog post explained the reasoning in more detail. It said metaldehyde has the potential to harm birds and mammals that eat slug pellets, contaminated slugs, or other creatures that have consumed pellets or slugs. It quoted the farming minister saying the scientific evidence was clear and that the risks to the environment and wildlife were too great.

The timeline

The ban applied to all users across Great Britain and was phased over 18 months to give growers time to switch. The blog post says that from 31 March 2021 no further supply would be permitted, but distributors could still sell stocks and use could continue until 31 March 2022. From 1 April 2022, it said, it would be illegal to sell and use metaldehyde products. The press release similarly said metaldehyde would be phased out by 31 March 2022 so growers and gardeners had time to switch.

For a gardener today, the practical consequence is that any metaldehyde pellets found in a shed are products you should not use. The press release said small quantities of product for gardens should not be disposed of at home and can be disposed of through local authority waste facilities. Check your own council’s arrangements before taking products in.

What the government recommended instead

Both government documents point to pesticides containing ferric phosphate as authorised for controlling slugs on a range of crops and in gardens, and say they do not pose the same risks to wildlife and the environment as metaldehyde pellets. That is a statement about relative risk made by the government at the time of the announcement, and it is not a claim that any pellet is risk-free. Always follow the label.

The announcement also listed non-chemical options, described as cultural techniques: planting slug-resistant crop varieties, selectively timing irrigation and harvest, and sowing seeds more deeply into the soil. Those were framed mainly for growers, but the principle of adjusting timing and variety applies to allotments and vegetable patches as well.

What about Northern Ireland?

The announcements cited refer to Great Britain, so they should not be assumed to apply in Northern Ireland. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has a slug control page written for combinable crops that lists three active ingredients used in slug pellets: methiocarb, ferric phosphate and metaldehyde, and refers to a Metaldehyde Stewardship Group. That page is undated in the version cited, and it addresses farm crops rather than gardens, so it does not tell you the current legal position for a home gardener in Northern Ireland. If you garden there, check DAERA or the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland before buying or using any slug product.

Reading product claims after a ban

Ban announcements often generate confusing marketing. Slug products sold today should not contain metaldehyde for outdoor use in Great Britain, so a pack that does is either old stock or should be treated with caution. Look at the active ingredient on the label, not the brand name, and be sceptical of claims that a product is “safe for wildlife” without saying what it contains. The government’s own statement compared ferric phosphate with metaldehyde; it did not endorse any particular brand, and it did not say that ferric phosphate products need no care in use, so keep pellets away from children and pets and follow the label.

If you use pest controllers for garden work, ask what active ingredient they use and how it is applied.

The bottom line

Outdoor use of metaldehyde slug pellets has been illegal to sell and use in Great Britain since 1 April 2022, following advice about risks to birds and mammals. Government guidance points to ferric phosphate products and cultural methods instead, and small quantities of old product should go to local authority waste facilities rather than being thrown away at home. Northern Ireland was not covered by the announcements checked here, so gardeners there should confirm the local position first.

Sources

• Defra, Health and Safety Executive, “Outdoor use of metaldehyde to be banned to protect wildlife (press release, 18 September 2020)”
• Defra in the media, “Ban on the use of metaldehyde announced (21 September 2020)”
• Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland), “Slug control”

When a pest problem is really a property problem

Most infestation advice assumes an occupier who wants the problem solved. Some cases are different: a property accumulates so much rubbish or hoarded material that rats, mice or insects thrive, and the occupier may not be able or willing to act. For those cases, councils in England and Wales have an older power than the modern statutory nuisance regime. This article explains it. It covers England and Wales only; the legislation database marks these provisions as applying there, and Scotland and Northern Ireland are outside its scope.

What section 83 says

Section 83 of the Public Health Act 1936 applies where a local authority, on a report from one of its officers or other information, is satisfied that any premises are in such a filthy or unwholesome condition as to be prejudicial to health, or are verminous. In that case the authority is required to give notice to the owner or occupier, requiring them to take specified steps to remedy the condition by cleansing and disinfecting the premises. The notice may require, among other things, removal of wallpaper or other wall coverings and, for verminous premises, the steps necessary for destroying or removing vermin.

The notice can also require the interior surfaces of premises used for human habitation, shops or offices to be papered, painted or distempered. If the person served fails to comply, the authority may carry out the work itself and recover its reasonable expenses, and the person also faces a fine. The Act allows the person served to argue that the authority’s requirements were unreasonable, or that the notice should have been addressed to the occupier or owner instead of them.

Gas treatment and temporary housing

Section 83 has a specific provision for verminous premises. The notice may require that the authority be allowed to use gas to destroy vermin on the premises. In that case the notice must be served on both owner and occupier, the authority bears the cost of its operations, and it may provide temporary shelter or house accommodation for anyone compelled to leave because of its operations. The section does not apply to premises forming part of a factory, mine or quarry.

Filthy or verminous articles

A neighbouring provision, section 84, covers items rather than buildings. Where an article in any premises is so filthy that cleansing, purification or destruction is necessary to prevent injury or danger of injury to the health of a person in the premises, or is verminous or likely to be so, the authority shall cause it to be cleansed, purified, disinfected or destroyed, at its expense, and removed from the premises if necessary. That provision works on a certificate from the authority’s proper officer.

What councils say happens in practice

Council pages show the approach in real terms. Pembrokeshire County Council in Wales describes filthy or verminous premises as properties considered verminous, including rats, mice and the eggs, larvae and pupae of insects or parasites, or in such a filthy condition as to be prejudicial to health. It says such properties are frequently characterised by an accumulation of material that can make access difficult and present a physical or fire risk to occupants or neighbours. Its public health team has a duty to deal with them under section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and section 83 of the 1936 Act.

The sequence it describes is: an officer inspects, discussions with the owner or occupier try to secure agreement to remove rubbish and clean the property, and if that fails the council can serve a statutory notice. If the notice is not complied with, the result may be prosecution or the council carrying out the works in default, using a contractor and recovering the costs from the owner or occupier. Maldon District Council in Essex says cases are rare and often associated with other problems the occupier is suffering, and that it often works with social services to try to deal with the matter informally and sensitively. It lists section 83 and the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 among its legal powers.

What this means for neighbours, landlords and owners

If you are affected by a neighbouring property, a pest controller alone will not solve the underlying cause if hoarded material provides food and harbourage. The council route is the appropriate one, and councils describe informal engagement first. If you are a landlord or owner, note that the notice can be directed at the owner as well as the occupier and that the authority can recover costs. If you are a tenant, telling your council is also a way to trigger official assessment where a landlord will not act, alongside the statutory nuisance route described in our other guide.

Reporting is usually by an online form or email to the environmental health or public health team. Pembrokeshire, for instance, asks for reports to its public health team, while Maldon provides an online form. Providing dates, photographs and what you have already tried helps.

The bottom line

Section 83 of the Public Health Act 1936 lets councils in England and Wales require the cleansing and disinfection of filthy or verminous premises, and to carry out the work and recover the cost if the notice is ignored. Councils describe using it rarely, informally first, and sensitively where the occupier is struggling. If pests are linked to hoarding or filth, report to your council’s environmental health team rather than expecting a pest controller to fix the whole problem.

Sources

• Legislation.gov.uk, “Public Health Act 1936, section 83: Cleansing of filthy or verminous premises”
• Legislation.gov.uk, “Public Health Act 1936, section 84: Cleansing or destruction of filthy or verminous articles”
• Pembrokeshire County Council, “Filthy and verminous premises”
• Maldon District Council, “Filthy and verminous premises”

Why this question causes so many arguments

Rats in a garden or under a floor often trace back to drains, and drains raise an awkward question: whose pipe is it? Homeowners assume the water company will deal with anything underground. The water company, for its part, points at the property boundary. This article sets out what published guidance says for England. It draws on Citizens Advice’s England advice, the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), and the published process of one water company, Thames Water. Other water companies may run their own processes, and Scotland and Northern Ireland are outside this article.

The starting point: drains, lateral drains and sewers

Citizens Advice explains that you are usually responsible for drains inside the boundaries of your property, while the sewerage company is responsible for lateral drains, which are usually outside the boundary, and for sewers. It defines a drain as a pipe carrying water and waste from a building, a lateral drain as a pipe that carries wastewater from your property to a sewer, often under a pavement or road, and a sewer as a pipe collecting waste from the drains of several buildings. It adds that most sewers are publicly owned, but some private or unadopted sewers remain, in which case the owners may be responsible.

The CCW gives a similar picture. Homeowners are responsible for repairs to drains that serve their property and lie beneath the property, garden or driveway, while wastewater companies are responsible for the large sewers normally found under roads and pavements. If you are unsure whose responsibility something is, the CCW advises contacting your sewerage provider and keeping a record of the contact.

Who deals with the rats themselves?

Responsibility for pipes and responsibility for pests are not the same thing. Thames Water states on its website that, as a property owner, it is your legal responsibility to keep the property rodent-free, or your landlord’s if you rent, under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949. Rushmoor Borough Council, in Hampshire, says the same, adding that owner-occupiers are responsible for dealing with rats on their land and inside buildings, and that where rats or mice are inside a house that indicates a structural problem for which a landlord would normally be responsible.

Both point homeowners towards their council or a pest controller first. Thames Water says some councils offer a pest control service but most simply offer advice, and that if yours does not, you should contact a British Pest Control Association approved company, which will survey to find where the rodents are coming from. Rushmoor says it does not provide a treatment service and recommends a pest controller belonging to the BPCA or the National Pest Technicians Association.

When the water company gets involved

Thames Water says that sometimes a council or pest control company identifies or suspects a defect in one of its sewers. If it is confirmed that rats are coming from its sewers, it can investigate and, if needed, repair the sewer. In those cases only, you should contact the company and provide the report reference number, which it uses to confirm you have already contacted the council or a pest controller. Without a reference number, it says it may not be able to help.

Rushmoor’s page reflects the same split: where the problem is within the public sewer, the water company is responsible, while private drains are the responsibility of the property owner. Note that this is the published process of a single company in one part of England. Do not assume your own provider works identically; check its website and keep records of every contact.

What the evidence trail should look like

Because the water company expects a council or pest controller reference, the practical sequence looks like this. First, record what you have seen, including dates, locations and photographs of droppings or holes. Second, get a survey from an approved pest controller or your council, and ask specifically whether a drain or sewer defect is suspected. Third, if a defect in a public sewer is confirmed, pass the reference number to the water company. Fourth, if the defect is in your private drain, you will need to have it repaired at your own cost. Citizens Advice says you are free to choose whichever company you want for private drain work, and that you might take out insurance to cover it.

Rushmoor adds that treatment alone is not enough. Where rats or mice are inside the house, it says all access points, including any associated with drains or sewers, must be identified and sealed, otherwise the infestation is likely to return. Thames Water’s prevention advice includes making sure drain inspection covers are in place and in good repair, and it says rats can enter through a gap as small as 1.5 centimetres.

Where councils can step in

Citizens Advice notes that a local authority’s environmental health department can order you to repair or unblock a private drain or sewer that is not properly maintained, and can carry out the work and charge you if you do not. Rushmoor says its environmental health team can investigate significant infestations in certain circumstances, such as when rats are coming from a neighbouring property and you have already tried to resolve it directly, but it cannot investigate anonymous complaints.

The bottom line

In England, the pipes inside your boundary are your responsibility and rats in your property are generally the owner’s or landlord’s responsibility to tackle, while public sewers belong to the water company. Get a council or approved pest controller survey first, ask whether a sewer defect is suspected, and only then take the reference number to your water company. Keep dated records throughout, and check your own provider’s process because each company may differ.

Sources

• Citizens Advice, “Who is responsible for repairing drains and sewers (England)”
• Consumer Council for Water, “Who is responsible for my drains or sewers?”
• Thames Water, “Rats, rodents and pest control”
• Rushmoor Borough Council, “Rats”