· Why is it necessary to make a charge?
· What should the treatment cost?
· What constitutes a treatment?
· How many visits will I get for £37.00 Incl VAT?
· Who decides when the treatment has finished?
· Do Housing Association tenants have to pay for treatments?
· Are there any concessions?
· How do I pay for treatment?
· Can you invoice me for the cost of the treatment?
· Can I pay by cash or credit card when the Pest Control Officer visits?
· Do I have to use the Council’s Pest Control Service?
· Can I treat the pest control problem myself?
· What is someone else is attracting the rats/mice?
· How can I minimise the problems with rats/mice on my property?
Why is it necessary to make a charge?
In line with other local authorities, the Council is making this nominal charge from 7th June 2010 to ensure that this service can continue to be delivered to the excellent standards expected by our customers.
What should the treatment cost?
The charge for a treating rats or mice in domestic premises will be £37.00 Incl VAT per treatment.
What constitutes a treatment?
A treatment means that the Pest Control Officer will carry out work e.g. placing of baits etc., to eradicate the infestation. The treatment of rats and mice cannot be guaranteed for periods longer than two weeks after eradication as rats and mice are opportunist and may re-infest an area previously inhabited by another rat or mouse colony. If the problem recurs more than 2 weeks after the conclusion of treatment, a further charge of £37.00 will be made.
As soon as the Pest Control Officer is satisfied that the current problem has been eradicated, the treatment will be concluded, and all baits etc. will be removed. Control should always be carried out in conjunction with preventative measures and at the end of treatment the Pest Control Officer may offer advice, which should be followed to prevent re-infestation.
How many visits will I get for £37.00 Incl VAT?
You will get as many visits as the Pest Control Officer considers necessary to eradicate the problem. This will normally be three over a period of a month. After one month a review will be carried out to determine if a further charge is necessary.
Who decides when the treatment has finished?
The Pest Control Officer will use their professional knowledge and expertise to determine when the rats and mice have been eradicated and the treatment is finished.
Do Housing Association tenants have to pay for treatments?
Yes; all housing association tenants have to pay for treatment the same as owner-occupiers. Landlords may be responsible if the problem is as a result of structural defects, and tenants are advised to take this up with their landlord.
Are there any concessions?
No. Because the charge is heavily subsidised for everyone, no concessions are being offered.
How do I pay for treatment?
Payment will normally be made by credit or debit card over the phone when you request treatment. However, other forms of payment are available so please ask when you make your booking. Please be aware that there will be a 3% administration charge on Credit Card Payments only. This is mandatory and is added at source.
Can you invoice me for the cost of the treatment?
No. The cost to the Council of administering and raising an invoice would mean that the cost of the treatment would be significantly higher if we invoiced customers.
Can I pay by cash or credit card when the Pest Control Officer visits?
No. Due to safety concerns, we do not want our Pest Control Officers carrying cash in their vans. We have facilities to take credit cards payment over the phone when the treatment is requested, but cannot currently take card payments on site.
Do I have to use the Council’s Pest Control Service?
No; there are a number of private pest control companies operating in the area. These can be found under ‘Pest Control’ in the telephone directory. This market can be very competitive and you are advised to seek a number of quotes before appointing a contractor.
Can I treat the pest control problem myself?
Yes; you may be able to treat minor pest problems yourself using products available from garden centres or DIY stores. A number of pest control products are available in DIY and Hardware stores and from garden centres. However, when using pesticides always follow the instructions on the label and be aware of the risks to other wildlife, pets, livestock and humans.
What if someone else is attracting the rats/mice?
If the pest problem is on your land, you will be responsible for the cost of the treatment, as you have a legal responsibility to keep your land free from rodents. If however, we feel that the condition of neighbouring land/premises may be encouraging the problem, the Council may serve notice on the owner or occupier. If necessary the Council may take legal action to require the owner or occupier to take steps to keep their land free of rats and mice. Legal powers can be used to require landowners to remove rubbish, where it can be established that the rubbish is attracting vermin, or providing harbourage.
How can I minimise the problems with rats/mice on my property?
There are several things that you need to do to minimise the likelihood of further problems with rats and mice;
- Accumulations of waste materials and rubbish can attract rodents. Ensure all waste (especially food waste) is disposed of promptly and appropriately. The Council will be introducing food waste recycling collections from October 2010.
- Avoid leaving large amounts of food out for the birds, especially if scattered on the ground. Only leave enough food that can be eaten in one day and do not leave food out over night. Where possible use hanging feeders and ensure you feed the birds in moderation.
- Where pet food is stored in outbuildings, use lidded metal containers and clean up all spills immediately.
- Clean up spills from under internal and external animal cages on a daily basis.
- Use fine mesh chicken wire (< 10mm) on animal cages and under compost bins to prevent rodents gaining access.
- Block any holes around air vents or piping.
- Keep outer doors closed.
- Fit cone guards around the bottom of drainpipes.
- Fit metal balloon guards to the bottom of drainpipes.
- Pick up fallen fruits in the Autumn.
April 2012
Making Bath & North East Somerset an
even better place to live, work and visit |