Local authority pest controllers made 870 residential visits for rat and mice infestations in Renfrewshire in 2023, 190 more than the previous year.

The figures from a Freedom of Information request (FOI) obtained by Direct Line Home Insurance show that in comparison to last year, 680 visits were made in 2022, but 1,026 were made in 2021.

Renfrewshire Council currently charges £69.55 for domestic pest control rat and mice treatments and to address problems with insects (excluding wasps), with the price dropping to £52.20 for those eligible for a concession.

Indeed, rodents are not, however, the only pests which prompted visits. 

The figures also showed that 10 residential visits were made by local authority pest controllers for bedbugs in 2021 and 13 in 2022.

In 2023, however, this number dropped to 7.

In terms of visits to address cockroach problems, only 1 was made in 2021, 2022 and 2023 respectively.

The research also showed that across the UK, 48 people were admitted to hospital in 2022/23 having been bitten by a rat, while councils in the UK experienced a 23 per cent increase in bedbug call outs in 2023 compared to 2022.

Only 8% of the 353 local authorities who replied to the insurance company’s request for information with usable responses said they provided pest removal services free of charge.

The majority said they required residents to pay a fee that ranges from £10 to £264.

According to the firm, 104 of the 397 councils contacted did not provide a pest control service at all, meaning 26 per cent of Britons would be required to use a private contractor to resolve these issues.

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson, said: “Given the reactive nature of the service the number of requests for residential visits by our pest control team will naturally fluctuate year on year.

“Where complaints are made regarding pests and rodents, the area is visited as soon as possible, and an appropriate course of treatment is undertaken by a pest control officer to deal with the situation.

“As general advice, we would remind all residents and businesses to make sure their waste is binned correctly as this will help to stop encouraging any rodents.”

If any resident has concerns with vermin in their property or area, they should contact the council’s pest control service on 0300 300 0380 who will arrange to visit.