Signs of rats, mice or wasps
- Droppings in cupboards, the loft or under the sink
- Scratching in the ceiling, walls or floor at night
- Gnawed food packaging, wood, cables or pipes
- Greasy smear marks along skirting boards
- Wasps flying in and out of the eaves, a vent or a shed
Pest control in Cardiff
In the terraces of Cathays, Roath and Splott, rats feed on split rubbish bags in rear lanes and nest under decking, sheds and garden clutter. Treatment there goes with clearing food and cover, sealing gaps at ground level and checking drains for breaks.
In shared houses in Cathays and Plasnewydd, mice in one house often mean the houses either side are affected. Food stored in bedrooms makes them harder to clear.
Get a quote in CardiffCardiff pests: council limits, lanes and gulls
The council charges homes and businesses to treat rats, mice, squirrels, wasps and fleas, and is not treating bedbugs or cockroaches in homes at present. It gives advice only on birds, bees and ants.
The council does not carry out proofing, so gaps the rats used can stay open. Old outside toilets and lean-to extensions often have gaps at floor level.
Rats travel through broken drains under back yards, so a damaged pipe can bring them into a house whose walls are sound.
Herring and lesser black-backed gulls nest on flat roofs, and both are protected. Natural Resources Wales has to issue a licence before their nests or eggs are taken.
Areas of Cardiff we cover
- Cathays CF24
- Roath and Adamsdown CF24
- Splott CF24
- Butetown and Cardiff Bay CF10
- Grangetown CF11
- Canton CF11
- Ely and Caerau CF5
- Llanishen CF14
- Pentwyn CF23
- St Mellons CF3
What pest treatment covers
Droppings, damage and entry points checked to confirm the pest and how it is getting in.
Traps or secured bait boxes, checked on return visits and removed when activity stops.
Gaps around pipes, damaged air bricks and door bottoms sealed with mesh, wire wool and fillers.
Insecticide applied at the nest entrance in lofts, eaves, sheds and cavities.
Kitchens, stores and shops checked for droppings and entry points, with bait boxes placed away from food.
How a rat or mouse problem is treated
- Identify
Droppings, damage and runs are checked to confirm the pest and find where it gets in.
- Treat and proof
Traps or secured bait boxes are set, and gaps around pipes, air bricks and doors are sealed.
- Check and remove
Return visits check the traps or bait, which are taken away once activity stops.
What the price depends on in Cardiff
- Whether the pest is rats, mice or wasps
- How large the infestation is and how many visits it needs
- How many entry points need proofing
- Where the activity is, such as a loft, a wall cavity or under floors
- How many floor-level gaps in outside toilets and lean-to extensions need sealing
- Whether drains under the yard need checking for breaks
Pest control in Cardiff: questions
Does Cardiff Council charge for rat treatment?
Yes. Its published residential charge for rats covers three visits, and current prices are on the council’s website.
The council treated our rats but they came back. What next?
The council does not do proofing, so the gaps may still be open. A check of outside walls, air bricks and drains finds the entry points to seal.
Gulls are nesting on our shop roof in the city centre. What can be done?
Netting or spikes can be fitted once the young have left in late summer. Taking an active nest or its eggs is an offence unless Natural Resources Wales has licensed it for that site.
Seen rats or mice in Cardiff?
Give the postcode, where the droppings or activity are, whether the council has already treated, and the type of building: a house, an HMO or business premises.
This service is carried out by Fixwise Property Services, a Dragon Multi-Trade brand.