Pest control

Pest control

Pests in your home

Golding Homes defines a home as an individual property: a house, bungalow or maisonette with no communal areas including loft area or roof space), or an individual flat in a block.

We will arrange for a contractor to visit your home to complete an initial investigation, if you report any of the pests listed below inside your home:

  • Bedbugs
  • Silverfish
  • Mice
  • Pigeons
  • Daddy long-legs
  • Cockroaches
  • Rats
  • Wasps     

It's your reponsibility to keep your home free from pests.  

We'll arrange for our pest control contractor to contact you within 5 working days to book in a date to visit and carry out an inspection.

They'll send us a report within 5 working days of their visit. Once we've reviewed this, we'll contact you within 5 working days (or sooner if classed as an emergency) to discuss the outcome, agree who is responsible for any costs and what happens next.

It's your responsibility to deal with anything which is not listed above. If you have concerns about protected species* including bees, you should report these directly to the relevant specialist organisation.

If you're affected by pests issues from an empty Golding Homes property, please let us know.

Pests in communal areas

Golding Homes defines communal areas as all areas and facilities of a shared building not specifically reserved for the exclusive use of the tenant(s) of one property and, where these areas are external, within the confines of the boundary. This includes shared lobbies, hallways, stairways, laundry and recreational rooms, playgrounds, garden or other leisure areas, day centres, parking areas, pathways, garden spaces and waste enclosures.    

In a block, where there are communal areas such as those described above, Golding’s responsible for pest control in communal areas, internal and external, including the roof.   

If you report pests in communal areas, we'll arrange for our contractor to remove them and we'll follow up on any actions they recommend.

*Protected species

Nesting birds are protected by legislation so you'll have to wait for them to leave then log a repair to fix any damage/block entry points.

All bird species, apart from pigeons, are protected by law between March and the end of October.

It's illegal to kill or disturb bats in their roosts.

Visit the Bat Conservation Trust website for advice

or

contact the National Bat Helpline on 0345 1300 228

Bees are endangered and nests should only be removed if they pose a threat to people nearby.

Visit the swarm page on the Beekeepers' Assocation website for information, advice and to find contact details for a local beekeeper.

 The RSPCA website has lots of helpful information about dealing with fleas and caring for pets.

 

Pest control advice

How can I prevent infestation?

Don't let them in

  • Look for any holes around pipework, or in the brickwork, roof, skirting boards and floorboard.

-    Golding Homes tenants can book in a routine repair to have entry points sealed up or damage caused by pets repaired once treatment is complete. Remember, all routine repairs can be booked using our MyGolding customer portal/mobile app.

-    Shared Owners and Leasholders can contact us to report communal pest control issues. They are responsible for pest control arrangements in their own homes.

Don't feed them

  • Keep your home clean, especially the kitchen. Clean surfaces and floors regularly to remove traces of food and clean up spills straightaway.
  • Don't leave food (including pet food) or dirty dishes out, particularly overnight.
  • Put rubbish out in sealed bags or bins.

Don't make them comfy

  • Don't leave rubbish and old furniture out. These make a great space for mice and rats to nest. Contact your local authority for bulky collections.

Keep the garden tidy

  • An overgrown garden is an attractive place for mice and rats to nest.
  • Always use a bird table when feeding garden birds, putting the food out of reach of mice and rats.

Be a good neighbour 

  • Keep communal areas clean and pick up any rubbish (particularly food). Contact your local authority if there's a problem with your bins.

 

 Will you repair any damage caused by pests?

Golding Tenants

If you have reported any of the pests named on the list at the top of this page, we'll work with you to resolve this.  The contractor will assess any damage caused by pests when they do their inspection and this will form part of their report. We'll discuss this with you when we contact you to talk about the report and what will happen next.

If customers cause damage by failing to prevent or treat a pest problem they may be responsible for the cost of the repairs. 

Golding Shared Owners or Leaseholders in flats

If you're a Golding Shared Owner or Leaseholder in a flat, we'll arrange repair of communal areas and the building (unless your lease says otherwise).

Golding Shared Owners or Leaseholders in houses

If you're a Golding Shared Owner or Leaseholder in a house, you're responsible for all repairs. If pests have damaged your possessions or furniture, you're responsible for repair or replacement. You should check if your contents insurance covers damage by pests.

Pigeon Mess

Customers are responsible for keeping balconies clean, free from rubbish and food waste so that pigeons aren't attracted to gather on the balcony.  Feeding pigeons will encourage them to return and often they'll do so in greater numbers so please don't leave food out for them. Please contact your local pest control provider for further advice on keeping pigeons away.

National Pest Technicians Association

How to find your local council:

You can find your local council at https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council.

 

Responsibilities and actions

Table of responsibilities and actions
                                                                                                                                                                            

Repair

Priority

Responsibility

Notes

Pest Control  

Communal Areas 

Routine Us We'll remove pests from communal areas as detailed above.

Pest Control

Individual homes  

 Routine Please refer to details in the notes column It's your responsibility to keep your home free from pests. We'll work with you, as detailed in the information above, if you report the following pests: bedbugs, daddy long-legs, silverfish, cockroaches, mice, rats, pigeons, wasps.

Pigeon Mess  

Void properties

 

Routine Us An environmental clean will be undertaken by a nominated subcontractor. If the property is in a block, we may arrange further prevention measures.

Pigeon Mess  

Communal areas (Blocks)  

Routine Us We'll deal with pigeon mess in communal areas. This'll cover all areas including walkways, doors, and the external side of windows etc. If the area affected cannot be safely reached, this work will then be given to a sub-contractor to do.  

Pigeon Mess  

Balconies (Block properties)  

Routine Us

Customers are responsible for pest control in their properties and in spaces for their exclusive use, such as balconies.   

Golding Homes or their nominated subcontractor will attend to clean pigeon mess off balconies in a block property, as this can have a detrimental effect on adjacent properties.  

Pigeon Mess   

House or Maisonette

 

  You

Customers are responsible for cleaning pigeon mess in or around their properties or engaging an independent contractor to carry out the work.