Pest control

Communal Areas

If you see rats or mice in communal areas at any of our locations, please let us know so we can arrange to have them removed. This includes areas like staircases, hallways in blocks of flats, communal lounges in sheltered homes, lofts, and outdoor communal areas like car parks, bin stores, and playgrounds.

Rats and mice in your home

If you find rats or mice inside your home, please inform us immediately so that we can advise on the best course of action. If the rats or mice are there because of a problem with the building, we’ll be responsible for treatment.

Examples of building issues include:

• Roof damage or broken tiles that create an entry point for mice and rats
• Holes in exterior walls, allowing mice and rats to get into wall spaces
• Damaged pipework, which mice and rats can use to enter your home.

If the pest problem isn’t due to a building flaw, you’ll be responsible for arranging pest treatment. You can choose your own contractor, or we can arrange one for you if you agree to repay the cost of this.

If you have rats or mice in your garden it will be your responsibility to have them removed.

Buckinghamshire Council provides free pest control for rats, both indoors and outdoors. You can contact their pest control contractor directly on 03444 828 352.

Preventing rats and mice

Rats and mice are often drawn to your garden or outdoor space because of food or shelter and may then move into your home. Ignoring the problem won’t make it go away as pests such as rats and mice will rarely ever leave of their own choice. To keep them away, consider these steps to prevent pests from being attracted to your home:

Bird feeders

Rats and mice really like urban gardens with bird feeders. About 20% of the food that birds drop from those feeders end up on the ground which is very attractive to pests such as mice and rats.

The home farmyard

Animals such as chickens and rabbits in your garden act like a magnet for rats and mice. If you’ve got animals in your garden, it won’t be long before they’re sharing their food with these unwelcome guests.

Composters, bins and waste

If rats and mice can get into your composters and bins, they won’t just be drawn by the food- they might even decide to move in. Rats like the damp, warm environment inside bins. To prevent this:

• Keep your bin lids closed all the time
• If a bin gets damaged, arrange for a replacement.

Garden sheds

If sheds become rotten at the bottom or sit directly on bare soil, they attract mice, rats and other pests seeking to use the shed as shelter.

Ponds

Rats need a lot of water, considering their small size. If you have bushes or a rockery around your pond, it unintentionally becomes a convenient water source for them.

Entry points

If you notice any holes on the outside of your home or suspect that rats, mice, or squirrels are finding their way in, please get in touch. These pests are always on the lookout for cozy spots to rest, and they’ll happily use any external openings to sneak in and create chaos.

Rat bait boxes

We put bait boxes in shared areas to deal with rats. These boxes have food that rats like such as grains. However, they sometimes contain rodenticides, that can be poisonous to humans and other animals.

A rat bait box

It is important that these boxes are left alone.

• Watch your kids in communal areas.
• Tell them to stay away from rat bait boxes.
• If you suspect poisoning, call 999 immediately.
• NHS advice on poisoning.

Glis glis are considered a pest, as they are nocturnal and will chew through clothing, wires, and cables. They are very noisy and can climb almost any structure.

Glis glis - also known as the fat or edible dormouse (though not related to the dormouse at all) - have certain protections under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so tenants must not attempt to treat this issue themselves.

The trapping and removal of Glis glis should be carried out by an expert pest controller licensed by Natural England - they will dispose of them in a humane manner.

There is an estimated population of around 30,000 Glis glis in the UK, all of which live in an area of roughly 500 square kilometres around the former Rothschild estate near Tring.

• You can buy ant spray or powder at DIY stores or supermarkets
• If you find an ant nest, treat it directly.
• Follow the ant trail to locate the nest
• If you can’t reach the nest, treat all entry points to your home (like doors, windows, drains).
• The ants will take the insecticide back to their nest.

• Bedbugs live in bedding and mattresses.
• They can give you nasty bites.
• To deal with them:
  • Wash all bedding at 60°C.
  • Look for an insecticide that’s safe for the mattress, headboard, and other affective areas.

• Bees are not technically considered pests.
• Honeybees are protected by law and should not be killed.
• If you find a honeybee swarm, you can rehome them with a local beekeeper.
• For assistance, get in touch with the British Beekeepers Association. They offer advice and information about your local beekeeping organisation.

• Wasps can be an issue if they construct nests in your home’s loft, eaves, cavity walls, or garden.
• If you encounter a nest problem, contact us for assistance.
• Avoid approaching or disturbing a nest.
• Both bees and wasps might swarm and become aggressive if they feel threatened or disturbed.

• Fleas don’t spread diseases, but their bites can be itchy and uncomfortable for both you and your pets.
• To handle fleas:
  • Treat your pets with flea sprays or powders regularly.
  • Also treat your bedding, furniture, and carpets.
  • If you’re unsure which product to use, consider consulting a vet for advice

• Cockroaches like to hide in warm, dark, and humid spots in homes. You might find them near pipe ducts in kitchens, bathrooms, or under cookers.
• They can cause food poisoning and other health issues.
• If you have a cockroach problem, it’s best to seek expert help.
• For more details on cockroaches and how to handle them, check out the British Pest Control Association.

• Dust mites live in mattresses and bedding.
• They can worsen symptoms if you have eczema, asthma, or other breathing issues.
• Dust mites thrive in warm and humid environments.
• To manage them:
  • Regularly wash your bedding at 60°C.
  • Keep your bedroom cool and well-ventilated.

• Tiny holes in clothing may indicate a moth infestation, especially in wool and silk garments.
• Larvae (non- adult moths) cause the damage by feeding on fabrics.
• To tackle moths:
  • Use moth traps in wardrobes and cupboards where you store clothes.
  • Wash all clothes to eliminate eggs.
• Carpet beetles can harm woollen carpets or rugs.
• Consider purchasing kits from homeware/DIY stores to tackle carpet beetles.