Some interesting news in Winchester for 2026 is that the City Council has suspended its pest control services from 1st Jan 2026. The good news is that Ridtek Pest Control can help you out with your pest control issue. Use our contact page or call us on 01962 388 222 for advice or to schedule a visit.
Information on the Winchester City Council Pest Control closure can be found on their website by clicking this link.
Winchester City Council Pest Control
Winchester City Council does still offer a service for reporting an issue with pests from a neighbouring property.
Information
Below is info regarding Rats and the Law as per the Winchester Council Environmental Health Web Page.
If you’re experiencing issues with rats originating from a neighbouring property or land that you do not occupy, Winchester City Council’s Environmental Protection Team has legal powers under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 to take action.
This legislation allows the Council to require landowners or occupiers to take necessary steps to eliminate rat or mouse infestations.
This legislation allows the Council to require landowners or occupiers to take necessary steps to eliminate rat or mouse infestations.
Contact:
If you suspect a nearby property or land is infested, please contact Winchester Environmental Health:
- Telephone: 01962 848 097
- Email: eh@winchester.gov.uk
When reporting a problem to Winchester Council Environmental Health, you will need to provide:
- Your name, address, and telephone number
- The address of the affected property or land
- Whether the property is occupied or vacant
- A description of the waste or conditions causing concern
Complaint Process
Once a complaint is received, an officer will investigate and may inspect neighbouring properties to assess:
- The presence of food sources that may attract vermin
- Any harbourage (nesting areas) for rats or mice
If evidence is found, the officer may issue a legal notice requiring the owner or occupier to remove the attractants or nesting materials.
Please note: Overgrown gardens or the accumulation of non-organic waste (e.g. fridges, car parts, rubble, furniture) are generally not enforceable under this legislation unless they are directly contributing to a vermin issue.
If rats are nesting on land you own or occupy, it is your responsibility to carry out effective pest control under the same Act. However, the Council can investigate neighbouring properties if there is evidence that external factors (like food sources) are contributing to the problem. Call Ridtek for advice.