How Much Does Rat Control Cost in the UK? (2026 Price Guide)

A professional rat treatment in the UK usually costs between £150 and £240, with the average job around £180. That normally covers a course of two to three visits over four to six weeks — enough to break the breeding cycle rather than just knock the numbers back. Proofing up the gaps rats get in through is usually quoted on top.

Rat control prices at a glance

• Full course of treatment (2–3 visits): £150–£240
• Initial visit on its own: £120–£300
• Each follow-up visit: £80–£150
• Proofing (sealing entry points): quoted separately
• London and the South East: typically 20–30% higher

Why it's rarely a one-visit job

Rats breed fast, so a single visit seldom clears an established problem. A typical plan runs to two or three visits: inspect and lay bait, then follow-ups to top up, check progress and confirm the rats are gone.

What's included — and what isn't

• Usually included: inspection, bait or traps, follow-up visits, and prevention advice.
• Usually extra: proofing (wire wool, mesh and mortar, bristle strips), and clearing droppings or contaminated insulation.

Proofing is the part that stops them coming back, so it's worth doing.

Should you try to deal with rats yourself?

Shop-bought bait can catch the odd rat but rarely clears a real infestation, and misused rodenticide is a risk to pets, children and wildlife. Rats also spread disease and gnaw through cables and pipes. Beyond a single sighting, a professional usually works out cheaper than months of half-measures.