Home / Things you can claim / Pests
Rats, mice or insects in your rented home? You may be able to claim.
Pests are more than a nuisance. If an infestation is linked to a problem your landlord hasn't fixed, you may be entitled to repairs and compensation. Answer a few quick questions and we'll check where you stand.
- No win, no fee: nothing to pay upfront
- For council, housing association and private tenants
- Our own specialist solicitors handle pest infestation cases
Types of pest problem and their causes
Rats and mice
Droppings, gnawing, scratching in walls and ceilings and holes around pipes point to rodents. Gaps in the building and damaged drains often let them in.
Insects
Cockroaches, bed bugs, fleas and ants can spread through a building. Keep dated photos and any pest control reports.
Who is responsible?
Landlords are usually responsible when pests get in through a defect, such as holes, broken air bricks, damaged drains or shared bin areas, or when the problem came with the property.
What your landlord must do
Under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, your landlord must keep the structure and exterior in repair. Pests are also a recognised housing health and safety hazard, and a home with a serious infestation may not be fit to live in.
Report the problem in writing and keep a copy.
Why it matters
Pests can contaminate food, damage belongings, cause bites and disturb sleep. Living with an infestation can badly affect your wellbeing.
See your GP if anyone's health is affected. Your landlord can't lawfully evict you for reporting a problem or making a claim.
What to do right now
- Photograph and film the pests, droppings and any damage
- Keep any pest control reports or visit notes
- Report it in writing and chase if nothing is done
- Keep food stored and bins managed so the cause isn't blamed on you
- Keep receipts for pest control, ruined food and damaged belongings
- Keep a log of sightings, with dates
What affects compensation
Each case is different, and we can't promise an amount. Solicitors usually look at:
- How long the infestation lasted after you reported it
- How severe it was and which rooms were affected
- The effect on your health, sleep and wellbeing
- Damaged belongings and extra costs
How your claim works
Tell us the problem
Complete the short form with your landlord and the repairs needed.
We review it
We check the facts, the dates you reported the issue, and your evidence.
Our solicitors take over
If you have a claim, one of our specialist solicitors contacts you to take it forward.
Repairs and compensation
Your solicitor pursues the repairs and any compensation you're owed.
How a pest infestation claim works
1. Report it and gather evidence
Tell your landlord about the infestation in writing and keep a copy. Photos, a log of sightings and any pest control reports help.
2. Your solicitor writes to your landlord
Before any court case, one of our specialist solicitors sends a formal letter setting out the problem and asking your landlord to inspect, repair and respond. A pest control specialist may confirm how the pests are getting in.
3. Repairs and compensation
Many landlords agree to carry out repairs and pay compensation without a hearing. If they don't, the claim can go to court, where a judge can order repairs and award compensation. Each case is different, and we can't promise an outcome.
Can I claim if I've already moved out?
Often yes, for the time you lived with the problem, but time limits apply, so speak to us as soon as you can.
Pest claims: your questions
Is my landlord responsible for bed bugs?
It depends on how they got in. Report them straight away and tell us what you've been told.
The pests keep coming back. Can I claim?
Possibly, if the cause hasn't been fixed. Repeated treatments that don't deal with the cause can still leave you with a claim.
Do I have to pay for pest control?
Often not, if the problem is linked to a defect. Keep any receipts.
What if my neighbours have pests too?
Tell your landlord. Infestations can spread through a building and may need a wider fix.
How much will it cost me?
Nothing upfront. It's no win, no fee, but some costs can still apply in certain situations. See how our fees work.
How our fees work
Disrepair Claims Hub is a trading style of Equitas Solicitors Ltd. Our own solicitors handle every claim from start to finish, and we explain our fees in writing before you sign anything. Read the full guide to our fees.
- Upfront: you pay nothing to start.
- If your claim succeeds: your landlord usually pays most of our costs. If it does not pay all of them, a success fee may apply, capped at 25% of your damages. The insurance premium, a flat £425 plus Insurance Premium Tax (£476.00 in total at the current 12% rate), is payable only if you win and comes out of your compensation. VAT [applies / does not apply] to our fees.
- If it does not succeed: you do not pay our charges, provided you have kept to your agreement with us. Your insurance is designed to cover the other side's costs and the expenses it insures. Cover can be lost in some situations, and in a few you may have to pay our charges. These are explained in the full guide.
- What's included: [list the stages covered], usually taking [X to Y months].
- Cooling-off: you have 14 days to cancel after signing without charge. If you cancel, your insurance ends too.
Complaints
We want to put things right. If you're unhappy, tell us at Enquiries@disrepairclaimshub.co.uk, on [phone] or in writing to [address]. We'll acknowledge your complaint within [X] working days and aim to reply within [Y] weeks. [Insert the steps of your procedure.]
If we can't resolve it, you can complain to the Legal Ombudsman, normally within six months of our final written response. [COLP to confirm current time limits.] You can also report concerns about our conduct to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Privacy notice
Equitas Solicitors Ltd is the data controller. We use the details you give us to assess your enquiry, contact you and, if you instruct us, handle your claim. Our lawful bases are [list them]. We share data only with [service providers, insurers, experts, courts] and keep it for [retention period]. If you upload photos or videos, we use them only to assess your claim, and they may contain location data.
You can ask to see, correct or delete your data, restrict or object to its use, or ask for a copy. Contact Enquiries@disrepairclaimshub.co.uk. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office. We only send news and offers if you tick the optional box, and you can opt out at any time. [Replace with your full UK GDPR privacy notice.]
Who we are
Disrepair Claims Hub is a trading style of Equitas Solicitors Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, SRA number 459787. Company number 5871121. Registered office: Muirfields Buildings, 5 Fairways Office Park, Pittman Way, Fulwood, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 9LF.