Emergency Pest Control
Brighton and Hove& Surrounding Area

Remove all exposed food immediately and store everything in sealed glass or metal containers — rats can gnaw through plastic. Clean surfaces with disinfectant, as rat urine and droppings carry Weil's disease (leptospirosis) which can be fatal in humans.

After a pest controller treats a wasp nest, the colony will typically die within 24 to 48 hours. You may notice increased wasp activity around the nest entrance immediately after treatment — this is normal as returning wasps carry the insecticide inside. Keep windows closed and avoid approaching the nest during this period. The nest does not need to be physically removed once treated.

Yes — a wasp nest near a frequently used entrance is a genuine safety risk, particularly for children, elderly people and anyone with a wasp sting allergy. Wasps become aggressive when they feel their nest is threatened, and multiple stings can cause anaphylactic shock in allergic individuals. Do not attempt to block the nest entrance or spray it with household products. Call a pest controller for safe removal.

A typical rat treatment programme in Brighton and Hove takes two to four weeks from start to finish. The pest controller will lay rodenticide bait on the first visit, then return after 7 to 10 days to check bait take, replace stations and block any identified entry points. A final visit confirms the infestation has been eliminated. Severe infestations in older properties may take longer.

Check your mattress seams, headboard joints and bed frame crevices for small dark spots (faecal marks) and tiny rust-coloured blood stains on your sheets. Bed bugs are 4 to 5mm long, flat and brown — they hide during the day and feed at night. Do not throw away your mattress or use shop-bought sprays, as this often spreads the infestation to other rooms. Contact a professional pest controller who specialises in bed bug treatment.

The most common pest callouts in Brighton and Hove follow a seasonal pattern: rats and mice peak in autumn and winter as they seek warmth and food indoors; wasp nests are treated mainly between June and September; bed bugs occur year-round but spike in summer with increased travel; and ant infestations are most common in spring and early summer. Cockroaches are less seasonal and are typically found in older properties or commercial kitchens.