A guide to mouse treatment.

Mouse infestation treatment in the UK typically costs £100–£300 for a single property, with most cases resolved in 2-3 visits over 4-8 weeks. Local councils offer subsidised mouse treatment in many areas (£40-£90 per visit); private pest controllers offer faster response and broader services (£100-£300 per programme).

Mice are persistent because UK homes contain many hidden spaces (cavity walls, suspended floors, lofts) and an entry hole the size of a pencil tip is enough. Treatment focuses on baiting and entry-point sealing in equal measure.

Typical UK costs

Signs of mice

• Droppings — small (3-5 mm), dark, rod-shaped. Found near food sources or along walls.
• Gnaw marks — on food packaging, plastic, wood, even electrical wires.
• Sounds at night — scratching in walls, ceilings, or under floors. Active mainly between 9pm and 4am.
• Smell — established infestations have a distinctive musky, ammonia-like smell.
• Nests — shredded paper, fabric, insulation. Often in lofts, behind appliances, in cavity walls.
• Smear marks — greasy marks on walls along regular travel routes (along skirting, around pipes).

Treatment approach

1. Inspection — identify entry points and main activity areas. Mice can squeeze through 6 mm gaps; check holes around pipes, vents, gaps under doors.
2. Baiting — anticoagulant baits in tamper-proof stations, placed along travel routes. Stations rather than loose bait for child / pet safety.
3. Snap traps as backup — for non-rodenticide-tolerant areas (food preparation areas, kitchens).
4. Entry-point sealing — wire wool packed into holes (mice can't chew through), expanding foam, mesh over vents. The single most important long-term solution.
5. Follow-up visits — at 2 and 6 weeks. Refill bait, remove dead mice, check for ongoing activity.
6. Confirmation — sustained absence of fresh droppings, no overnight noise, intact bait stations.

Things people often miss

• Entry points are everywhere — gaps around pipework, vents, weep holes in cavity walls, gaps under garage doors, broken air bricks. A 6mm gap is enough.
• Food storage — open food (cereal, flour, pet food, bird seed) is a magnet. Store in sealed glass or hard plastic containers.
• Pet food bowls — leaving pet food out overnight feeds mice. Take up at night or feed mice with it.
• Compost bins — outdoor composters near the house attract rodents. Site away from walls, line with mesh, don't compost cooked food.
• Wire wool, not just foam — expanding foam alone fails because mice chew through. Pack wire wool into holes first, then foam over.
• Loft insulation — popular nesting site. Once mice infest insulation, full inspection and possibly partial replacement may be needed.
• Cars and motorhomes — overlooked nesting sites. Damage to wiring can cost £hundreds; check garage and drive areas.

Frequently asked questions

Want a local pro to handle this? Council pest control for routine cases, BPCA-member private specialists for urgent or complex situations. Combined treatment + entry sealing prevents recurrence; treatment without sealing means new mice within months.