Most common household pests in the UK by region

Home interior specialists, Hillarys conducted some research earlier this year to identify the most common household pests in the UK by region. Below we list which unwelcome guests you’re most likely to see depending where you live. 

Northern Ireland

Rats were found to be the most common pest problem in Northern Ireland. As autumn comes to an end and the winter months start to take their toll on food supplies, rats can become even more problematic.

Wales

Rats were also found to be the biggest bugbear for the residents of Wales. If this is a problem you’re familiar with, there are a number of ways you can rodent-proof your property. The best way to do this is to block off common entry points which include:

• Kitchen cabinets, fridges and stoves
• Windows and doors
• Fireplaces
• Pipes under sinks and washing machines
• Floor and dryer vents
• Attics
• Basements
• Cat flaps
• Around holes for electrical, plumbing, cable and gas lines 

Midlands

It’s a common misconception that you only get cockroaches in hot, tropical climates but as the residents of the Midlands know, this isn’t necessarily the case. Cockroaches are the biggest pest problem for this area and they’re often found inflicting terror on homes, restaurants and commercial and industrial premises. 

North

The north is unfortunately prone to a number of pest problems. The most common were found to be mice, ants and rats. 

As well as rodent-proofing your home, another top tip for any kind of pest prevention is to remove any potential food sources. Any creature will be drawn to an easy meal so make sure you wipe down surfaces, hoover regularly, clean out cupboards, store rubbish in secure bins, don’t leave pet food out and make sure you don’t have any leaking taps or pipes. 

Scotland

Birds are the most common annoyance to the residents of Scotland. While birds may not seem as scary as a wasp, cockroach or rat infestation, they can still cause a lot of damage. 

Birds carry a number of diseases which are harmful to humans, their fouling damages buildings and they can become aggressive if they feel threatened.

South

The south west of England in particular was found to be a hotbed for wasps while those living in London are most likely to call pest control with a bed bug problem. Unbelievably, bed bugs can survive for five months without needing to feed so they can be tricky to get rid of.

Insects were found to be another common problem in the south. Because insects can breed at an alarming rate, unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for infestations to get out of control.

If you have a pest control problem in Epsom or any other area of the UK, please don’t hesitate to contact Prokill and we’ll be more than happy to help. You can also get in touch to book your free, no obligation pest control audit which will determine the extent of your problem and the best way to eliminate it.