The term ‘pest’ covers a range of animals and insects that carry and transmit disease or cause injury to humans and animals, cause damage to structures, crops and stored food, and can cause, or are themselves, a ‘statutory nuisance’.
Who is responsible for dealing with rats/mice?
The owner or occupier is responsible for rats and mice if
- The property or land is providing food or harbourage
- The property or land is providing access to drains or sewers
Who is responsible for dealing with other pests?
The owner or occupier is responsible for other pests, such as pigeons and insects, i.e. wasps, ants, fleas, flies, lice, bedbugs, cockroaches, silverfish, termites in or on their property or land that render it filthy, verminous or cause a statutory nuisance.
Nottingham City Council will enforce the duty on land/property owners/landlords or occupiers (as appropriate) to keep their land/property free from rats and mice, and is required to investigate complaints of statutory nuisance and filthy/verminous premises and persons, and take appropriate action.
Make a complaint about rats or mice on someone else’s property or land
Use this service to make a complaint about rats or mice on someone else’s property or land, and other pests causing a nuisance.
- In the ‘What would you like to report’ drop down box select ‘Environmental Issues’
- In the ‘Please select one of the following’ drop down box select ‘Pest/infestation’
- Complete the rest of the form with the requested information.
Report Rats or Mice on someone else’s property or land
Make a complaint about filthy or verminous persons or premises
Make a complaint about filthy or verminous persons or premises
Rats or Mice on your own property or land
Nottingham City Council currently offers a limited pest control service visit : Nottingham City Council Pest Control service for more information and to book a treatment.
Frequently asked questions
- Ensure rubbish is stored correctly, inside and outside of the property.
- Ensure all food is correctly stored and not left out or open inside or outside the property.
- Remove all bird feeders, water baths and sources of food from outside the property.
- Make sure the property is “pest proofed” to stop pests entering the property.
- Traps, rodenticide and insecticide are available online to order, at supermarkets and DIY shops if Citizen’s wish to treat the problem themselves. It is recommended that Citizen’s should always follow the manufactures Health and Safety instructions when using such home treatment products. Treatment must always be controlled and be located away from Children and pets.
What should I do if I see rats/mice or other pests?
The law requires you take or arrange appropriate action to destroy rats/mice on your property/land. If you do not and the Council becomes aware of, or receives complaints of, rats/mice on your property action will be taken requiring you to deal with the rats/mice.
Pigeons roosting/nesting in/on your property (roof space, under solar panels) can also cause a statutory nuisance. It is your responsibility to abate a statutory nuisance.
The law requires you take or arrange appropriate action to destroy rats/mice on your property/land.
If you do not and the Council becomes aware of, or receives complaints of, rats/mice on your property action will be taken requiring you to deal with the rats/mice.
You should also advise the owners/occupiers of neighbouring flats/properties that you have seen rats/mice or other pests so that they can take appropriate action.
Follow the guidance above to reduce the risk of rats/mice regularly foraging on the land/property and seeking harbourage.
If you see rats/mice, or evidence of them in the property you must advise your landlord and give them the opportunity to deal with the problem.
If the landlord does not/will not deal with problem make a complaint using this link: Landlord has not dealt with the rat/mice issue
You have a legal duty to destroy the rats/mice on your property and take steps to ensure they do not return. You are advised to seek professional advice and the service of a certified pest control company.
Ensure your tenant is following the advice on how to reduce the risk of rats/mice.
If you do not take appropriate action the Council will take legal action against you and/or your tenant.
The pigeons may cause a statutory nuisance to the tenants and neighbouring properties. You are advised to seek professional advice and the service of a certified pest control company.
If you do not take appropriate action the Council may take legal action against you and/or your tenant.
You are advised to seek professional advice and the service of a certified pest control company.
If the tenant’s behaviour has rendered the property ‘filthy, verminous or a statutory nuisance, you may decide to take action using your tenancy agreement or make a complaint to the Council by clicking here.
The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949, section 2 places a statutory duty on Councils to ‘…take such steps as may be necessary to secure so far as practicable that their district is kept free from rats and mice…’, destroy rats and mice on land of which they are the occupier and otherwise to keep such land so far as practicable free from rats and mice and to enforce a similar duty on owners and occupiers of land in their district.
The Public Health Act 1936 and Environmental Protection Act 1990 (as amended) places a statutory duty on Councils to investigate premises that are filthy/verminous and matters that might be statutory nuisances, and serve notice on the person responsible/owner/occupier of property requiring them to cleanse the premises and abate the nuisance. They are used to dealing with pests such as insects and roosting/nesting pigeons, that may render premises filthy/verminous and/or cause a statutory nuisance to the neighbourhood.
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