‘The ant is knowing and wise, but he doesn’t know enough to take a vacation.’
~Clarence Day
Pests are pesky enough in your own house but in your holiday home they bring extra complications. Spider or ant invasions leave guests clamouring for discounts and leaving bad reviews. Larger pests, like cockroaches and rats, bring bigger problems due to their health risks. Know the best practices for various pests to keep your property desirable!
“Hope for the best, prepare for the worst!”
Regardless of the type of pest, it is vital to have a plan in place for the worst-case scenario. Preparation precludes poor performance – and poor ratings!
For example, when you own a cottage in a rural area, creepy crawlies can move in as regularly as guests. If so, it’s best to warn guests on your Airbnb listing with something along the lines of: ‘While we endeavour to keep nature firmly outside our holiday home, occasionally spiders will find their way inside, seasonally or during heavy rain.’ Similarly, if your property is next to farmland, anticipate that flies may be an issue and tell your guests there’s fly spray in the kitchen cupboard.
However, some small visitors can’t be explained away with a message on your holiday home listing. When establishing your holiday home, it is best to contact your council for information on their pest policies, which can vary widely. For instance, some councils offer a free service for rats, but charge for cockroaches, bedbugs, fleas, and wasps. Having this information at hand can help you remove your unwanted visitors more quickly in the event of an infestation!
Holiday home pest control for rodents
'Nothing says 'home sweet home' like a mouse in the pantry making himself a sandwich.' ~Unknown
Providing food and shelter are two main ways to entice rodents into your property. Rats and mice seek shelter, particularly during the winter months when the comfort of a toasty cupboard beckons or when they seek a cosy nest to protect their litters of freeloaders! A heated home with many places to hide away is alluring, and if it’s untidy, it’s perfect!
While it’s difficult to mitigate against shelter, you can minimise the food attracting rodents by using great cleaning companies and having regular commercial waste collections. Sweeping and mopping floors, regularly emptying bins, and providing clear instructions for where full bin bags need to go will also limit snacks available to rats and mice considering moving in!
Squirrels can also cause significant damage if they enter roof spaces. To alleviate this risk, keep tree branches trimmed away from the house and seal any gaps in the roof and eaves to prevent access. Wire mesh and caps can be used to block vents and chimneys. As with other rodents, keeping rubbish bins and other food sources sealed will also reduce the appeal of your home! If squirrels do get in, contact a professional for humane removal.
Holiday home pest control for creepy crawlies
‘Night night, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite. If they do, hit ‘em with a shoe, then they won’t bite you!’ ~Clarence Day
Bugs and insects can easily prevent a five star review! Creepy crawlies are unpleasant for guests, and can easily get out of hand if not promptly evicted! Stick to the following best practices to deal with each type of pest:
Bedbugs feed on the blood of animals and humans and are a serious concern in holiday homes. Using mattress covers and ensuring linen is frequently washed to prevent infestations. Regularly inspect bedding and furniture for small reddish-brown spots and/or a musty odour – if you suspect an infestation contact your council or pest control service.
Ant attacks require a quick response and are often inexpensive to fix: you can get Home Defence Ant Stop to your guests by Amazon next day delivery. Tactful positioning of ant bait traps – under sofas or behind cabinets while guests are out of the house – will usually foil the invaders. Remember to ensure they are out of reach of children and pets. Guests may never realise a single ant has been inside the house if you are prepared!
Cockroaches are persistent and can cause food poisoning. They are nocturnal: usually emerging only at night and spending the day hiding in cracks around sinks, fridges, cookers and drains. To ward off these pesky creatures keep kitchens clean, avoid leaving food out and seal entry points like holes and cracks. Check and clean any second-hand appliances like fridges and freezers carefully before bringing them inside. If you have an infestation contact your council or pest control company.
Fleas are particularly a concern if your holiday home is pet-friendly. The vacuum cleaner is their enemy! Be vigilant about vacuuming carpets and upholstery frequently to protect your home – steam cleaners are particularly effective if you spot any fleas. Use hot washes for guest bedding, regularly wash pet bedding and use a flea spray if necessary.
Silverfish thrive in damp environments. Ensure proper ventilation in bathrooms and kitchens and reduce humidity by using dehumidifiers. Store books, papers and clothing in dry areas to avoid damage.
Wasps and Hornets can be a nuisance in the warmer months. Advise guests to keep sweet foods and drinks covered outdoors to avoid attracting them and regularly inspect the exterior of your property regularly for nests. While insecticide sprays and foams can be applied to smaller nests at night when wasps are less active, it is advisable to contact a professional for safe removal.
Masonry bees like to nest in holes in old walls. To deter them, repoint damaged mortar, seal cracks in exterior walls, and apply a bee-deterring paint. Bee repelling sprays can be used as a temporary solution. If the bee infestation is significant, a pest control professional will remove them safely and effectively.
Bigger unwanted guests
‘Let’s be perfectly clear, shall we. The fox is not a little orange puppy dog with doe eyes and a waggly tail. It’s a disease-ridden wolf with the morals of a psychopath and the teeth of a great white shark.’ ~Jeremy Clarkson
Foxes can be deterred by securing all rubbish in a tightly sealed bin, and blocking holes through which they can access the garden with wire mesh. Natural repellents can be scattered around garden boundaries, and motion-sensor lights or ultrasonic devices can be installed. Foxes also generally dislike strong smelling plants, such as marigolds and garlic; integrating these plants into your garden may simultaneously deter pests such as deer and moles as well! Remember, foxes should never be fed or they will keep returning; instruct guests to refrain from feeding any animals, including birds unless you have a fox-proof bird table.
Moles can be a garden nightmare, creating unsightly molehills and damaging plant roots. Traps are one of the most effective ways to remove moles; humane traps are available and can be set in active tunnels. While less effective, some eco-friendly options for deterring moles include integrating strong scented plants, or setting vibrating stakes. You can also make safe and natural repellents from castor oil and washing up liquid, but we advise against planting actual castor plants in your holiday home as they can be poisonous to pets and children. As chemical poisons can also be harmful to other creatures, they should only be used as a last resort – and are ill-advised if your holiday home is pet-friendly! If you have a severe infestation, consult your local pest control service.
Bats and their roosts are fully protected by law; it is illegal to kill, injure or disturb bats. It is also illegal to obstruct access to or damage roosts, even if bats are not always present. If bats have already taken up residence, assure guests they enhance your property’s charm and character! However, preventive measures can stop them from roosting in the first place. Similarly to deterring squirrels and birds, check for any unsealed gaps, apply mesh where needed, and install chimney caps. If you do spot any bats and are unsure how to proceed, contact the National Bat Helpline at 0345 1300 228 for further guidance.
Deer can be a big problem for country holiday home owners, and their numbers are growing! Deer inflict massive damage on gardens and stripping flowers, shrubs and young trees overnight. They eat bark in winter when food is scarce and they scrape it with their new antlers to rub off the velvet.
However, you can detract deer by being strategic with your garden. For instance, Skimmia is a good choice low-maintenance shrub, and deer dislike jasmine – which your guests will love! A fence no lower than 1.8m with a mesh of at least 75 x 75mm should keep out British deer species. Ensure fence posts are partially buried so deer cannot knock them over, and use self-closing gates to allow vandals to escape. Tree guards should be at least 1.5m high and well-staked.
Consult the RSPCA’s advice on living with deer https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife and the RHS list of deer-resistant plants https://www.rhs.org.uk/prevention-protection/deer-resistant-plants for more information.
Birds in your holiday home
'I tried to be a morning person, but the birds were too loud, and the coffee was too quiet.' ~Unknown
Birds commonly nest in chimneys, especially in the breeding season. Being proactive is essential to avoid blockages, fire hazards and the inconvenience of hosting feathered guests in your UK Airbnb or holiday home. Prevention is particularly important with birds, as legal considerations can complicate remediation. In the UK, it is illegal to remove, damage, or destroy any active birds nest according to the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act. This means that you must wait for chicks to vacate the nest before removing a nest or preventing access. This puts the homeowner in a tricky situation if an obstructive nest is causing a safety hazard, and may lead to cancelled bookings.
The common culprits for chimney blockages include starlings, which are known for causing major chimney blockages. Others such as house sparrows are problematic because they tend to return to the same chimney each year. Jackdaws also seek the warmth and protection of chimneys, as do pigeons which can create substantial noise and mess. Generally, species such as swifts and house martins prefer nesting in eves and roofs, while tits will nest in holes from crumbled walls or pipes.
Regardless of the species, nesting materials pose a fire hazard and block ventilation, enabling smoke and fumes to enter your property. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to defend your holiday home from these hazardous situations! Installing chimney caps and cowls help keep birds out of chimneys. These devices allow smoke to exit while keeping birds and other animals out. You should also ensure your chimney is regularly cleaned and maintained.
You should inspect your chimney often, especially in spring and early summer when birds are most likely to nest. If you find nesting material or signs of bird activity, you must not light any fires or disturb the nest until the nest is no longer active. After chicks have left, can then hire a chimney sweep to clear the nest and then install a cowl to prevent further nesting.
General Troubleshooting
Plan: It’s vital to deal with any unwanted guests promptly and professionally, and planning ahead for various scenarios is key to smooth holiday home management! For example, establish a relationship with a local pest control company for regular checks and a fast response. Planning who you would call in case of each type of pest-emergency will reduce remediation time – and reduce likelihood of cancelled bookings and refunds!
Prevent: Strategically landscape your property to deter pests; keep the area around your house clear of debris and overgrown vegetation, and install barriers where necessary. Keep gaps in your home sealed and covered to prevent entry, and provide well-sealing containers for guests’ rubbish. Thorough and regular cleaning of your holiday home will keep guests happy and pests away!
Educate: Use a property guidebook and/or clear signage to provide guests with information on how to avoid attracting pests by correctly storing food and disposing of waste. Include how-to videos in guest check in information if necessary; you can even leave QR codes by the bins for easy access!
Inspect: Conduct regular inspections of the property, focusing on entry points like doors, windows and utility openings.
Control: While minor pest issues can be personally managed, professional help may be necessary. Your council may assist with pest removal (there may be a charge), and private companies such as Rentokil will also move pests such as rodents swiftly on to a new holiday home. Where possible, The Travel Fox promotes humane methods!
Taking these steps will ensure your UK Airbnb or holiday home remains open and ready for guests! And remember – planning and prevention is the best way to ensure your property remains a pest-free retreat!
