When many people think of services such as pest control, they often imagine that the local council can help.
In the past, many councils offered pest control, as they had in-house pest control officers. The cost was usually part of the council tax payments made by local residents.
Over the years, a lot of local authorities have stopped offering pest control, or have changed to a fee-based system using external contractors. While there are some that offer free pest control services, this is rare.
In many cases, local council pest control is limited and expensive, and many residents choose to look for private companies like Copley Pest Solutions.
Being a top-rated provider of pest control services across Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Leeds, Halifax, Sheffield, Harrogate, and throughout Yorkshire as other regions of the UK, including Blackpool in Lancashire, Copley is trusted by a range of residents and companies.
With our expertise, we can treat a wide range of pests, and draw on local knowledge to understand local council pest control services. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you understand the council pest control services offered throughout Yorkshire.
Do Local Councils Offer Free Pest Control Services?
While many councils previously offered free pest control services, today most charge a fee, which is payable at the time of booking your pest control appointment.
In some cases, councils will offer a discount for residents on qualifying benefits, such as council tax reduction benefits or Universal Credit. Some councils offer free treatment for certain pests, but in many cases you will have to pay.
How Much Do The Council Charge For Pest Control Services?
Every council throughout the UK has different pest control fees. Throughout Yorkshire, these are the charges for local council pest control services.
Bradford
Bradford Council no longer offers pest control services, meaning homeowners and business leaders need to work with private companies like Copley to keep their property’s pest-free.
Leeds
Leeds City Council offers residential and commercial pest control solutions. Residential pest control fees are listed in the table below. Commercial pest control contracts receive bespoke quotes. Please note: These prices are correct as of the time of publication and subject to change. For an accurate quote, please contact Leeds City Council.
| Pest Type | Treatment Cost (Including VAT) |
| Ants | £76 |
| Bed Bugs | £190 (Maximum 3 treatments) |
| Wasps | £76 |
| Carpet Beetles | £76 |
| Moths | £76 |
| Cockroaches | £190 |
| Fleas | £115 |
| Mice | £160 |
| Rats | £160 |
| Silverfish | £76 |
| Squirrels | £140 |
Halifax
Calderdale Council (which covers Halifax) no longer offers pest control services, meaning homeowners and business leaders need to work with private companies like Copley to deal with a pest problem.
Huddersfield
Kirklees Council (which covers Huddersfield) provides pest control for some species. The costs are listed below. Please note: These prices are correct as of the time of publication and subject to change. For an accurate quote, please contact Kirklees Council.
| Pest Type | Treatment Cost (Including VAT) |
| Rats – inside property (3 visits) including drainage investigation | £234.00 |
| Rats – Outside Property (3 visits) | £119.00 |
| Mice – Inside Property Only (3 visits) | £156.00 |
| Cockroaches (3 visits) | £202.00 |
| Bed Bugs – Initial Survey Visit | £70.00 |
| Bed Bugs – Treatment By Quotation | POA |
| Wasps’ Nests – first visit | £90.00 |
| Each Extra Wasp Nest Treated On First Visit | £46.00 |
| Fleas – per treatment | £134.00 |
| Call Out Charges – out of hours in addition to fixed charges | £70.00 |
| Cancellation/Administration Fee (<1 working day) | £33.00 |
Sheffield
Sheffield City Council offers domestic and commercial pest control services. These are the domestic pest control fees. There are also discounted rates for those on qualifying benefits. The council can treat other pests, but will provide a bespoke quote on request. Please note: These prices are correct as of the time of publication and subject to change. For an accurate quote, please contact Sheffield City Council.
| Pest Type | Treatment Cost (Including VAT) | Discounted Charges For Households On Qualifying Benefits |
| Call-Out Fee | £40.80 | £40.80 |
| Rats | £128.40 | Free |
| Mice | £128.40 | £61.20 |
| Cockroaches | £348.00 | £102.00 |
| Fleas | £132.00 | £70.00 |
| Bed Bugs | £348.00 | £102.00 |
| Wasps, Bees or Hornets | £79.20 | £61.20 |
| Ants (Garden) | £79.20 | £61.20 |
| Beetles | £110.00 | £70.00 |
| Flies | £110.00 | £70.00 |
| Moths | £132.00 | £70.00 |
| Silverfish/ Firebrat | £110.00 | £70.00 |
Harrogate
North Yorkshire Council, which covers Harrogate, provides pest control services for some pest species for homes, as well as bespoke commercial pest control contracts. These are the domestic pest control prices. Please note: These prices are correct as of the time of publication and subject to change. For an accurate quote, please contact North Yorkshire Council.
| Pest Type | Treatment Cost (Including VAT) |
| Wasps (maximum of two nests in one treatment) | £75 |
| Ants, silverfish and woodlice | £95 |
| Cluster flies | £99 |
| Moths, beetles, cockroaches and earwigs | £160 |
| Rodents – rats and mice (up to three visits) | £120 |
| Moles (up to three visits) | £125 |
| Fleas (up to two visits) | £160 |
| Grey squirrels – indoor only (up to three visits) | £160 |
| Advice visit / additional pest technician (per hour) | £57 |
Rotherham
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council provides pest control treatments for private residences, with discounts available for homeowners in council housing. Please note: These prices are correct as of the time of publication and subject to change. For an accurate quote, please contact Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.
| Pest Type | Private Home Treatment Cost (Including VAT) |
| Rats | £86.00 fixed price, for up to 4 visits£43.00 for Rothercard holders |
| Mice | £86.00 fixed price, for up to 3 visits£43.00 for Rothercard holdersMissed appointments incur a £39.00 fee for additional visits. |
| Insects, Wasps, Ants, and Fleas | £113.00 fixed price, for up to 1 visit£56.50 for Rothercard holders |
| Squirrels and Moles | £113.00 fixed price, for up to 3 visits£56.50 for Rothercard holders |
| Bed Bugs and Cockroaches | £256.00 fixed price, for up to 4 visits£128.00 for Rothercard holders |
| All other treatments (e.g. Red Spider Mites and Woodlice) | £113.00 fixed price, for up to 1 visit£56.50 for Rothercard holders |
| Out-of-hours fixed fee, weekdays and Saturday | £169.00 |
| Out-of-hours fixed fee, Sunday and Bank Holidays | £224.00 |
York
City Of York Council does not pest control services, meaning homeowners and business leaders with pest issues need to work with private companies like Copley.
Blackpool
While Blackpool is in Lancashire, not Yorkshire, it is a close neighbour and Blackpool Council offers limited pest control services for homes, with commercial services available on request. These are the domestic pest control prices. Please note: These prices are correct as of the time of publication and subject to change. For an accurate quote, please contact Blackpool Council.
| Pest Type | Treatment Cost (Including VAT) |
| Rodents (rats and mice) | £106.54 up to 3 visits by the pest controller for a 3 bedroom house, advice to prevent future infestations. An additional £10 per bedroom will be charged for larger properties. |
| Insects (ants and fleas included, woodworm and bed bugs not included) | £79.32 to cover a one-off for up to 6 rooms. Additional rooms will be charged £8.69 (£8.88 from 30 March 2026) per extra room and the cost of insecticides used. |
| Bees and wasps | £68.06 to treat affected areas outside and inside, provided area is less than 2 stories tall and any attics are boarded. |
What Is The Alternative To Council Pest Control Services?
Even if your local council offers pest control treatments, there are many downsides to using council services.
One of the main issues is that councils often have long waiting lists. Leeds City Council takes up to 5 working days just to respond to pest control requests.
Many councils will have waiting lists that last weeks or even months, by which time pests can cause significant damage to your property. Vermin also pose a health risk and can be highly distressing, which is why it’s worth considering a company like Copley Pest Solutions for your pest control services.
Whether your local council doesn’t offer pest control services, they won’t treat the pest species you’re dealing with, or you want an alternative option, Copley Pest Solutions is the ideal choice.
Our teams cover Yorkshire, Lancashire and further afield, offering treatment for all common pests, including rats, mice, squirrels, ants, moths, wasps, fleas, bed bugs, cockroaches, pigeons, crows, seagulls, magpies, sparrows and more.
Additionally, we offer specialist services, including heat treatments, waste management, rodent proofing, CCTV drain surveys, void property clearance, canine bed bug detection and more.
If you need further treatments, find other pests or require additional services to ensure your infestation is permanently removed, Copley’s friendly team are here for you.
So, whatever kind of pest control solutions and proofing you need, we can help. Our team aim for same day or next day visits across Yorkshire and all the areas we cover where possible, ensuring prompt removal of your pest problem.
If you’re ready to book your pest treatment and get fast support to remove your pest infestation, contact us on 08003029447.
