Typically, most UK pest control companies will carry out a three-part domestic mouse pest control service for around £180.00 + VAT.
Domestic mouse pest control is any pest control service that is used to get rid of mice in someone’s house.
For commercial pest control, the price is different. Commercial pest control is normally offered as an ongoing support service, with the specifics of what’s included outlined in a contract. Mouse pest control is normally included as part of the contracted service, so it wouldn’t add any extra cost above and beyond the amount you pay each month or quarter for ongoing pest management.
Shameless plug: Merlin Environmental specialises in commercial pest control. We have coverage across the UK and Ireland. Get in touch with us if you’d like a free site visit and a quote for commercial pest management.
Now, back to domestic pest control.
What’s included in a standard three-part mouse pest control service?
A three-part mouse pest control service consists of three distinct stages:
- Inspection
- Treatment
- Proofing
We’ll now talk about each stage, covering what you can expect to get for your money:
Stage 1: Inspection
During the inspection stage, a pest control technician will visit the house or business and look for signs of mice. They will aim to identify where the mice reside, how they move around, and where they enter the property. The specialist will look for droppings and signs of damage caused by mice. They will also listen to the customer to learn where they have heard or seen signs of mice.
Stage 2: Treatment
The treatment stage of mouse pest control normally involves 2 to 3 separate visits to the premises. The visits will typically be spaced 1 week apart but may be less, depending on whether the pest control technician is using baits or traps.
First visit: The first visit will be to lay baits or traps in key areas that were identified during the inspection. Sometimes, the first visit is conducted at the same time as the inspection stage. All baits and traps that are laid are documented meticulously by the technician. The technical will also take all necessary safety precautions to ensure the baits and traps are not accessible to pets or children in a domestic setting. They will also lay the poison baits in quantities not exceeding the amounts outlined on bait instructions to ensure legal compliance.
Second visit: The second visit during the treatment stage will entail:
- Listen to the customer to learn if they have noticed a change in mouse activity
- Inspect baits and traps to learn where the mice have been feeding and indeed where they have not been feeding to identify hot spots of mouse activity.
- Replenish all baits and reset traps as needed, particularly in hot spots
- Clear out any dead or trapped rodents
Third visit: The third visit will again involve checking baits and traps. During this visit, ideally, nothing will have been caught in traps, and no bait will have been taken, confirming the complete elimination of the mice. If no additional signs of mouse activity are present, this third visit will involve removing all baits and traps from the property. All poison baits should be removed by the technical and disposed of off-site via a specialist waste management service.
Stage 3: Proofing
Proofing is carried out to prevent reinfestation of the property. It involves blocking all external entry points into the building. Key entry points will include any hole larger than the diameter of a penny. Typical entry points include holes in airbricks, vents, drains, gaps around gas or water pipes, gaps around metre boxes or cables, or around doors or windows.
All entry points will be filled except where air is needed to pass through for ventilation. Ventilation holes will be covered with a cut-to-size sheet of fine wire mesh, and fixed neatly with a strong weatherproof adhesive. The mesh should prevent not only mice but also bats, wasps, queen ants, moths, and other pests from gaining access to your home in the future.
What affects the cost of mouse pest control?
As mentioned above the cost of mouse pest control will be about £180 +VAT. The cost of the pest control service can often vary depending on the postcode. Often pest control companies will quote more for pest control services when the enquiry comes from an area with expensive property, i.e., a London Chelsea postcode would often have a higher rate than that of a Croydon postcode. This isn’t fair, of course. The size of the property really shouldn’t affect the price unless you’re dealing with an enormous house with multiple different mouse infestations.
3 Tips for getting quality mouse pest control at a fair price:
- Ensure the pest control company is BPCA accredited (very important)
- Ensure you are getting a 3-stage mouse pest control service (as outlined earlier)
- If the price is above £180 +VAT negotiate
