If there are pests or vermin in your rented home

Sometimes problems with your home can lead to infestations of pests and vermin, for example rats, mice, cockroaches, ants, fleas, mites and bedbugs. 

Who's responsible for dealing with infestations

You might be responsible for dealing with the infestation if it was caused by something that you did or failed to do. For example, if you didn’t throw away rubbish properly and it attracted rats, then you have to deal with them.

Your landlord will probably be responsible for dealing with an infestation if:

• your written statement says they’re responsible - or it says they will keep your home in a 'good and habitable state' or something similar

• the infestation was caused by your landlord not making certain repairs to your home - for example, not fixing holes in the walls

It doesn’t matter if the infestation was there when you first moved in or only appeared later.

Your landlord might also be responsible for dealing with an infestation if it means your home isn’t safe for you to live in - for example if it’s making you or your family ill.

Dealing with pests and infestations

The local council has legal powers to deal with some infestations in your home. For example, where an infestation is harmful to your health it may be a statutory nuisance. Where there's a statutory nuisance, the local council might be able to force your landlord to deal with the problem.

If the infestation is a risk to your health or safety, it could be a hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. Local councils have duties and powers to take action to deal with properties that have certain hazards.

You can check how to ask your local council for help with pests if you don't think your home is safe to live in.

Your local council's pest control or Environmental Health team can give you help and advice in dealing with problems with pests and vermin. If you’re renting privately, you can still ask your local council for help but you might have to pay for pest control.

In some cases, there's also action that you can take yourself, such as using traps and insecticides.

Check what action your landlord has to take if you rent your home from:

• a private landlord

• a housing association or the council

In some cases, a private landlord might try to evict you rather than do repair work. Make sure you know whether you're at risk of eviction before taking action.

Find out more about private tenants and the risk of eviction.

If you have a problem with mice or rats

Tell your local council if you have a problem with mice or rats. The council might be able to take action to destroy them or force a property owner or your landlord to carry out work to get rid of the problem. You don’t need to live in a council home to get help from the council.

Find your local council on GOV.UK.