Council Pest Control in the East Midlands: Who Treats, What It Costs
We checked all 31 district and city councils in our four counties: which still treat rats, mice and wasps, what they charge in 2026, and who is free.
By the Urgent Pest Control team
Updated · 8 min read
The short answer
Of the 31 district and city councils in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, only 12 list a pest treatment service, and one of those could not be verified. Charges for rats range from free (Leicester City, Bolsover) to £125 (Derby City by phone). None of the seven Lincolnshire district councils treats pests. Many offer free or half-price treatment on benefits.
- We checked all 31 district and city council websites in our four counties on 18 October 2026.
- 12 councils list chargeable or free pest treatments; 19 offer no treatment service, including all seven Lincolnshire districts.
- Rats are free at Leicester City and Bolsover, and free on benefits at Nottingham City, Hinckley and Bosworth, Charnwood (indoors) and North West Leicestershire.
- Broxtowe and West Lindsey don't treat pests but refund part of a private treatment for some residents on benefits.
- Councils still have a legal duty over rats and mice and can serve notices on owners, even where they no longer treat.
On this page
- Do councils have to deal with pests?
- Which councils in Nottinghamshire treat pests?
- Which councils in Derbyshire treat pests?
- Which councils in Leicestershire treat pests?
- Which councils in Lincolnshire treat pests?
- What patterns stand out?
- How do council charges compare with a private pest controller?
- When to call a professional
- How we checked
Of the 31 district and city councils in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, only 12 list a pest treatment service, and we could not verify one of those. We checked every council's website on 18 October 2026. Charges for rats in the home range from free at Leicester City and Bolsover to £125 at Derby City Council when booked by phone. None of the seven Lincolnshire district councils treats pests. If your council can't help, Urgent Pest Control's rat control starts from £200 (the final price depends on the job); see all our pest control prices.
"How much does the council charge for pest control?" is one of the most common questions we hear. The honest answer is that it depends entirely on where you live, so we checked each council. The tables below show what each one says on its own website. Prices are as published, including VAT where the council says so.
Do councils have to deal with pests?
Councils have a legal duty over rats and mice, but not a duty to treat your home. Section 2 of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 says every local authority must take steps to secure, so far as practicable, that its district is kept free from rats and mice. Under section 4, it can serve notice on an owner or occupier requiring them to deal with rats or mice, including structural repairs.
So even councils with no treatment service still investigate complaints about rats and can take enforcement action. What has changed is whether they will send someone to treat a home, and at what price.
Which councils in Nottinghamshire treat pests?
Three councils in Nottinghamshire list a treatment service: Nottingham City, Rushcliffe and Ashfield (which also serves Mansfield residents); Gedling's could not be verified.
| Council | Treatment service? | Published charges (examples) | Free or reduced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nottingham City | Yes, homes only | Rats inside £115, rats outside £100, mice (inside) £115, wasps £58 | Free for rats, mice, wasps and cockroaches on Council Tax Support |
| Rushcliffe | Yes, homes and businesses | Rats and mice (up to 3 visits) £108.70; wasps £79.60; fleas, bed bugs, squirrels and others £105 (VAT included) | About half price on qualifying benefits, e.g. rats and mice £54.90 |
| Gedling | Not verified | Live page not available; an archived page from April 2025 showed rats and mice at £115 | Not verified |
| Broxtowe | No | None | Up to £50 back on a private rat or mouse treatment for residents on benefits, once a year |
| Ashfield | Yes, also serves Mansfield residents | Rats or mice (up to 3 visits) £82 in district, £95 outside; wasps £72; bed bugs £179 (2026/27, VAT included) | None stated |
| Mansfield | No page of its own | Ashfield's site says its service covers Mansfield residents | Not verified |
| Newark and Sherwood | No | None; refers residents to the BPCA | None |
| Bassetlaw | No, discontinued May 2013 | None; advice sheets only | None |
Nottingham City Council's website is inconsistent: its booking page offers the treatments above, but an advice page says it "does not offer a pest control service". We have listed the prices from the booking page. If you live in Nottingham, check before you book; see also our Nottingham pest control page.
Which councils in Derbyshire treat pests?
Four do: Derby City, Amber Valley, North East Derbyshire and Bolsover. Chesterfield gives advice only.
| Council | Treatment service? | Published charges (examples) | Free or reduced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derby City | Yes, homes, landlords and businesses | Rats or mice (up to 4 visits) £109 online, £125 by phone; wasps £74 / £85; cockroaches £282 / £327; bed bugs from £218 / £250 (2026/27) | None stated |
| Amber Valley | Yes, homes and businesses | Rats and mice (3 visits) £115; wasps from £70; fleas £115; £40 if no treatment carried out (from 1 April 2026, VAT included) | None stated; cockroaches no longer treated |
| North East Derbyshire | Yes | Rats £54, mice £55, wasps £57, bed bugs £100 (each including a £25 call-out fee) | 50% reduction on certain income-related benefits |
| Bolsover | Yes, homes only | Fleas, bed bugs, cockroaches, wasps £46.23 each | Rats and mice free |
| Chesterfield | Advice only | No booking route or prices shown; free telephone advice | None |
| Erewash | No | None; refers to BPCA, NPTA and Trusted Trader | None |
| South Derbyshire | No, suspended since April 2024 | None | None |
| Derbyshire Dales | No | Only deals with pests on council land | None |
Derby City Council is the most expensive council in our area for most treatments, but it does treat a wide range of pests, including cluster flies (£129 online). See our Derby pest control page.
Which councils in Leicestershire treat pests?
Four do: Leicester City, Charnwood (rodents only), Hinckley and Bosworth, and North West Leicestershire.
| Council | Treatment service? | Published charges (examples) | Free or reduced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leicester City | Yes | Rats inside or outside free; mice or cockroaches £90 for two visits; wasps £90 (VAT included) | Rats free for everyone |
| Charnwood | Rodents only, via contractor AZK Pest Control Ltd | Rats and mice inside (up to 4 visits) £67.50; rats in gardens £67.50 | Indoor rats and mice free on specified benefits; garden rats £33.75 |
| Hinckley and Bosworth | Yes | Rats £20, mice £65.44, wasps £65.44 | Rats free and mice £32.72 on Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support |
| North West Leicestershire | Yes | Rats or mice (up to 4 visits) £58.10; wasps £63.90; cluster flies £72.10 | Free on benefits for rats, mice, wasps, fleas, cockroaches and bed bugs |
| Melton | No | None | None |
| Harborough | No | None; refers to BPCA or NPTA members | None |
| Oadby and Wigston | No | None; refers to BPCA | None |
| Blaby | No | None; refers to BPCA | None |
Charnwood says it is unable to offer wasp treatments this year and is not currently accepting new requests for fleas, cockroaches or bed bugs. See our Leicester pest control page.
Which councils in Lincolnshire treat pests?
None of the seven district councils in our coverage offers treatments.
| Council | Treatment service? | Published charges | Free or reduced |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Lincoln | No | None; advice and enforcement on rats and mice | None |
| North Kesteven | No | None; advice and a vermin complaint form | None |
| South Kesteven | No | None; refers to BPCA or NPTA | None |
| West Lindsey | No | None | Up to £41.50 back on a private treatment for fleas, rats or mice for some residents on benefits or state pension |
| Boston | No (not verified) | Archived page from June 2025 says no pest control service | Not verified |
| South Holland | No (not verified) | Archived page from July 2025 says no pest control service | Not verified |
| East Lindsey | No (not verified) | Archived page from April 2025 says no pest control service | Not verified |
Boston, South Holland and East Lindsey councils' websites blocked automated checks, so these rows rely on archived copies of their pages and are marked as not verified. See our Lincoln pest control page.
What patterns stand out?
- Lincolnshire has no council treatments. All seven districts in our coverage say, or said when last archived, that they don't offer a pest control service.
- Rats are cheapest in Leicestershire. Leicester City treats rats free, Hinckley and Bosworth charges £20, and North West Leicestershire £58.10.
- Benefit concessions are common where a service exists, but conditions vary. Check exactly which benefits qualify.
- Some councils pay towards private treatment instead. Broxtowe refunds up to £50 and West Lindsey up to £41.50 for eligible residents.
- Services are shrinking. Bassetlaw stopped in 2013, South Derbyshire suspended its service in April 2024, Amber Valley stopped treating cockroaches in April 2025, and Charnwood has paused wasps and insects this year.
How do council charges compare with a private pest controller?
Councils are often cheaper where they still treat, but private firms cover more pests, gardens, businesses and rented homes. Council prices can be lower, especially where rats are free. But councils often limit what they treat, how many visits are included, and whether they treat gardens, businesses or landlords' properties, and waiting times vary.
Our prices are published: rats and mice from £200, squirrels from £240, foxes from £250, and fleas, bed bugs, cockroaches, moles and rats in drains from £150, with follow-up visits included for rats and mice. These are starting prices: the final cost depends on the pest, the property and when you need us, for example evenings, weekends or emergencies. We work 7 days a week from 6am to 8pm. For the wider market, see our guides to rat removal cost, mice removal cost and how much pest control costs in the UK.
When to call a professional
Call a private pest controller if your council doesn't offer the treatment you need, has a waiting list, or doesn't treat gardens, businesses or rented homes. You should also call one if rats keep coming back after a council treatment, which often means an entry point such as a broken drain hasn't been found.
Urgent Pest Control is based in Southwell and covers every council area in this guide. Book online, or call or WhatsApp 07999 935 929 and we'll give you an idea of cost before we book the visit.
How we checked
We read each council's own pest control and fees pages on 18 October 2026. Where a page could not be reached, we say so and give the date of the archived copy we used. Council charges usually change each April, so check your council's page before booking. If you spot something out of date, tell us and we will update this guide.
Sources
- Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949, section 2 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Nottingham City Council: Pest control
- Derby City Council: Pest control for householders
- Leicester City Council: Pest control
- Rushcliffe Borough Council: Pest control fees
- Ashfield District Council: Fees and charges
- North West Leicestershire District Council: Pest control
- Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council: Pest control appointments and charges
- Charnwood Borough Council: Rats and mice
- City of Lincoln Council: Animals and pests
Frequently Asked Questions
About the author
The Urgent Pest Control team
A family-run pest control company based in Southwell, treating homes and businesses across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire since 2020. Our guides are written from the jobs we do and checked against UK sources. More about us
Cite this guide: “Council Pest Control in the East Midlands: Who Treats, What It Costs”, Urgent Pest Control, 4 November 2026. https://urgentpestcontrol.uk/blog/council-pest-control-charges
