Rentokil Pest Control is warning of a surge in pest activity in UK homes, with reported activity for some pests up to 70% higher in 2024.
The company said that there have been increases for many types of pests, with bed bugs leading the way, with a 67%, increase and German Cockroaches following, with a 20.7% rise, according to its figures.
Rentokil Pest Control said the increases are down to a combination of milder weather conditions, refuse collection disruption from strikes, bad weather, and more people travelling, which have created the ideal breeding grounds for pests to thrive.
The pests with the largest increases in reported activity year-on-year included:
| Pest type | The rise in reported activity YoY 2024/23 |
| Bed Bugs | 67.9% |
| German Cockroaches | 20.7% |
| Slugs | 16.5% |
| Silverfish | 12.0% |
| Oriental Cockroaches | 10.8% |
| Ground Beetles | 8.1% |
| Garden Ants | 5.1% |
| Mice | 4.9% |
| Rats | 1.7% |
If the milder weather conditions experienced in 2024 continue in 2025, Paul Blackhurst, head of Technical Academy at Rentokil Pest Control, predicts this impact on pest activity in the year ahead.
Bed bugs
An increase in bed bug populations was initially reported in late 2023, however, these continued into 2024 with Rentokil Pest Control reporting a year-on-year increase of 67.9%. Factors such as more people choosing to travel and the boom in alternative accommodation options like B&Bs and holiday rentals could be behind this increase.
Mice and rats
Milder weather over the past few years has allowed rats to survive the winter and repopulate into the spring and the summer.
Additionally, disruption to waste management and collections in 2024 saw rodents invading residential areas, attracted by decaying food scraps and unpleasant smells. If the bin strikes continue this year these issues could remain a problem in 2025.