Does Buckinghamshire Council deal with rats?
Last reviewed by Dan Burn, RSPH Level 2
Short answer
Yes. Buckinghamshire Council treats rats in homes through its contractor, Dial A Pest, for £84 including VAT, or free for residents on means-tested benefits. You book online or on 03444 828325, and visits run on set days for each area. The council doesn't treat squirrels, glis glis, honey bees, pigeons, bats or silverfish.
What the council charges
| Pest | Full price | Means-tested benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Rats | £84 | Free |
| Mice | £84 | Free |
| Wasps | £72 | Not listed |
| Bed bugs | £180 (up to 3 bedrooms) | £90 |
| Fleas | £180 (up to 3 bedrooms) | £90 |
| Cockroaches | £180 (up to 3 bedrooms) | £90 |
| Ants | £180 | £90 |
How to book
- Book online from the council’s “Book a pest treatment” page, or call Dial A Pest on 03444 828325.
- For the subsidised rate, call or email instead. You’ll be asked for proof of benefits.
- Visits run on set days for each part of the county. Check the appointment days when you book. If you pick the wrong day, the contractor will contact you to rearrange.
What the council won’t treat
Buckinghamshire Council’s service does not cover honey bees, wild birds such as pigeons, bats, glis glis, silverfish or squirrels. For squirrels or glis glis in a loft you’ll need a private firm; for honey bees, a local beekeeper.
Council or private firm?
| Buckinghamshire Council | Private firm (e.g. Eleven Pest Control) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rats | £84, or free on means-tested benefits | From £149 with us, 2 visits |
| When they come | Set days for your area | A time agreed with you, usually [same or next day] with us |
| Squirrels and glis glis | Not treated | Squirrels treated; glis glis only by firms registered under Natural England’s licence |
| Slough and Windsor | Not covered | Covered by us |
The council is the cheaper choice for rats and mice, and the obvious one if you’re on means-tested benefits. A private firm makes more sense when you need a set time, have a pest the council doesn’t treat, or live just over the border.
If you live in Slough or Windsor
These towns are run by different councils. Slough Borough Council’s pest page tells residents to arrange a qualified contractor and doesn’t list a treatment service. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead runs its own service through Dial A Pest, with April 2026 prices of £48 for rats or mice.
Questions people ask
Is council rat treatment free?
Only for residents on means-tested benefits, who need to show proof when booking. Everyone else pays £84 including VAT.
How quickly will the council come out?
The council's contractor visits each area on set days, so the wait depends on where you live. Check the appointment days when you book.
Who carries out council pest treatments?
Dial A Pest, part of SDK Environmental, under contract to Buckinghamshire Council.
Will the council treat squirrels in my loft?
No. Squirrels and glis glis are on the council's list of pests it doesn't treat, so you'll need a private firm.
Does Buckinghamshire Council cover Slough or Windsor?
No. Slough Borough Council asks residents to use a qualified contractor, and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead runs its own service through Dial A Pest.
Sources
- Book a pest treatment at your property (Buckinghamshire Council)
- Domestic pest control service (Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead)
- Pests and infestations (Slough Borough Council)