Pest Control Cover Protect Your Home and Stay Legally Compliant
A pest problem does not fix itself. The longer it goes untreated, the more it costs. Pest control cover means a qualified exterminator handles it — fast, professionally, at no extra cost to you.
- Call-out fees, labour & treatment included
- Meet landlord legal duties without delay
- BPCA approved contractors on request
Pest ControlDoes Home Insurance Cover Pest Control?
Standard home insurance does not cover pest removal. Insurers treat infestations as a maintenance issue, not a sudden event.
There is one exception. If a rat chews through an electrical cable and causes a fire, your buildings insurance may cover the fire damage. It will not pay to remove the rats.
To get proper pest protection, you need home emergency cover with pest infestation included, or a standalone pest insurance policy.
What Does Pest Control Cover Include?
A good policy covers call-out fees, labour, and professional treatment for:
Rats & micerodent removal
Wasp & hornet nestssafe removal
Bed bugsprofessional treatment
Squirrelsloft & cavity
Cockroaches & fleasfull treatment
Call-out & labourincluded in cover
Cover levels vary between providers. Esure covers extermination fees up to £200 for bed bugs and £150 for rodents, with no excess and multiple claims allowed. Always check the specific limits before signing up.
What Is Not Covered?
These are commonly excluded from pest policies — watch for them before you buy.
Bees — protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Bats — cannot be removed without a licence
Sheds, garages & outbuildings — excluded from most policies
Standard home insurance — treats infestations as maintenance, not a claim
Landlords, You Have Legal Duties
If pests are causing a health risk or making part of your property uninhabitable, you must act.
The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 requires landlords to keep their properties free from rats and mice. The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 Section 11 also requires landlords to keep the property fit for habitation throughout the tenancy.
Council enforcement
Ignore a reported infestation, and your tenant can report you to Environmental Health. The council can issue an improvement notice. In serious cases, tenants can claim compensation through the courts.
HMO landlords
Obligations are stricter. Multiple tenants sharing one property increases health risk, so councils inspect and enforce more actively. Pest cover means an exterminator is booked the same day a problem is reported.
Signs You Have a Pest Problem
Act early. Early treatment costs less and limits damage. Watch for these signs:
Dark droppings near food cupboards or behind appliances
Scratching or scuttling noises at night inside walls
Gnaw marks on skirting boards, cables, or food packaging
Nests in lofts, wall cavities, or under floorboards
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Most policies exclude infestations. You need home emergency cover or standalone pest insurance.
Yes, most pest cover policies include wasp and hornet nest removal as standard.
The landlord is responsible under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, unless the tenant caused the infestation through poor hygiene.
Yes. Landlord home emergency plans can cover multiple properties. Each gets its own policy and emergency call-out line.
The British Pest Control Association sets professional standards for pest control in the UK. A BPCA approved contractor is trained, insured, and uses approved methods. Always use one.