Households in Bridgend County Borough Council, one of a few councils in Wales that provides free pest control for rats and mice, may soon be faced with fees for pest control services that include tackling rats and bedbugs.
The council currently offers a free domestic pest control service through Rentokil, but residents may soon be charged as the contract is due to expire.
Locals have access to free pest control for rats, mice, bedbugs and cockroaches with charges for fleas and wasps. The council pays Rentokil £63,000 per year for the contract, regardless of the workload undertaken.
The contract was due to expire in April 2021 but was extended to October 2021.
The council’s cabinet was due to consider the way in which future pest control services will provided during a meeting this evening (May 18).
Currently, 22 Welsh councils do not provide a pest control service, while 11 charge residents for the treatment of all pests; and three charge, for all pests except for rats.
Under the current contract for the council, Rentokil must respond to all requests for domestic pest control within three days.