Rats can transmit a number of serious diseases, cause damage to property, and contaminate food. To prevent rats becoming pests we recommend that you:

• Keep food in containers with tight fitting lids
• Tidy your house and garden - less clutter means less places to hide
• Place rubbish bags in bins with secure lids
• Clean up pet food and bird seed debris

Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough Councils offer free home treatments for rat infestations. All treatments are undertaken by qualified pest control technicians in our Neighbourhood First operations team.

We will visit you at home to assess the problem and find the most suitable place to put poison bait, taking into account risks to the safety of your family, pets and other wildlife. We will give you information about the type of bait used and we will ask you to sign to give us permission to use it.

During the visit, we may make recommendations to repair issues at your property (such as filling in holes, or repairing drains or air vents) in order to prevent further infestations. It’s important that you try to follow our advice so that the treatment is more likely to be successful and the infestation is less likely to return.

We will book your initial pest control visit for the morning, between 8AM and 12PM on a convenient day for you. Follow-up visits are carried out in the afternoons, and we will arrange these with you in person when we first visit.

We do not provide a pest control service to deal with mice.

Visit the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) website to find information on mice and search for private contractors who can deal with the problem.

Typically, a private contractor will look for the most suitable place to put poison bait taking into account any risks to the safety of your family and pets. You will be given information about the type of bait used. You should be asked to sign to give permission to use it.

Wasps

We do not provide a pest control service to deal with wasps.

Visit the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) website to find information on wasps and search for private contractors who can deal with the problem.

Bees

Bees are not pests. Honey bees look similar to wasps but due to their importance to the environment, BPCA contractors do not kill them. 

If you find a swarm of bees:

• check the British Bee Keepers' Association website. Firstly, this will help you identify bees from wasps. You can also enter your postcode to find local registered honeybee swarm collectors who will collect the bees for you
  
• we can put you in touch with a local keeper who collects them

You can download more information about bees in our advice sheet below. 

We do not provide a pest control service to deal with fleas.

Visit the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) website to find information on fleas and search for private contractors who can deal with the problem. 

Typically, a private contractor will treat the floor with an insecticide so it is important to make sure the floor is clear and tidy. They must give you information on the products used and how they work. You may continue to see fleas for up to 4 weeks as the treatment affects their lifecycle.

It is likely a private contractor will need you to leave your home for a minimum of 3 hours during the treatment.  Pets will also need to be away from the home and the contractor will be unable to offer a treatment if you have a cat that is nursing kittens.  Fish tanks must be covered and the air pump turned off. It is important to make sure any cats or dogs are treated for fleas. Your vet should also be able to offer advice.

We do not provide a pest control service to deal with cockroaches.

Visit the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) website to find information on cockroaches and search for private contractors who can deal with the problem. 

Typically, a private contractor will lay traps called insect monitors that also contain a poison gel.  If it is considered safe, they may use the gel in cracks or gaps where cockroaches may get in. 

In some cases, the contractor may recommend a spray treatment. You and any pets would need to leave your home for a minimum of 3 hours during and after the spray treatment.  Fish tanks must be covered and the air pump turned off.  The contractor must give you information on the treatment used and ask you to give signed permission for them to use it.

They should return to check the progress of the treatment and remove any poison once it is completed.

We do not provide a pest control service to deal with squirrels.

Visit the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) website to find information on squirrels and search for private contractors who can deal with the problem.  

Typically, a private contractor will visit your home and assess the situation. They will then set the traps. They may not set traps in gardens because of the possibility of catching something other than a squirrel.

• For advice on other types of pests visit British Pest Control Association’s website
• For advice on head lice and nits, go to the  NHS Choices website

Our advice leaflets below are for general information only.