Close Menu
Pest MagazinePest Magazine
  • News
    • National Pest Awards
    • BPCA
    • NPTA
    • Companies
    • Local Authority
    • Natural England
    • HSE
    • People
    • Products
    • Best Practice
    • Brexit
    • COVID-19
  • Species
    • Rodents
    • Insects
    • Birds
    • Mammals
  • Magazines
    • June/July 2025
    • April / May 2025
    • Feb / March 2025
    • Dec 2024 / Jan 2025
    • Oct / Nov 2024
    • Aug / Sept 2024
  • Library
    • Inserts
    • Supplements
  • Professional Development
    • BASIS
    • Research
    • Stewardship
    • Training
  • Pest Test
  • Jobs
    • View All Jobs
  • Key Supporters
    • Bábolna Bio
    • Bell Laboratories
    • Pelsis
    • Envu
    • Lodi UK
    • PelGar International
    • Russell IPM
    • Syngenta
X (Twitter) LinkedIn
  • Sign-up for weekly news emails
  • Subscribe to Pest Magazine
  • About Us
    • Technical Advisory Board
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
X (Twitter) LinkedIn
Pest Test Log-In
Pest MagazinePest Magazine
  • News
    • National Pest Awards
    • BPCA
    • NPTA
    • Companies
    • Local Authority
    • Natural England
    • HSE
    • People
    • Products
    • Best Practice
    • Brexit
    • COVID-19
  • Species
    1. Rodents
    2. Insects
    3. Birds
    4. Mammals
    5. View All

    Helping a luxury car showroom eradicate an infestation and steer clear of rodents

    25 March 2024

    Case Study – Freeing a pig farm of a severe rodent infestation in just 10 days

    11 May 2023

    Chinese takeaway issues apology after video of rats and raw chicken emerges

    14 July 2021

    Republic of Ireland rodent callouts jump 35%

    25 June 2021

    13 confirmed sightings of yellow-legged hornets so far in 2025

    13 May 2025

    Red Spider Mites on the hunt for spaces to hibernate

    3 December 2024

    Rentokil encourages vigilance as wasp activity increases ahead of the early autumn nesting period

    25 September 2024

    Rentokil warns of a surge in biting insects as humid weather continues

    3 September 2024

    Worcester City Council increases budget to control gull numbers by £35,000

    26 October 2022

    BPCA urges householders and businesses to seek professional advice if birds are becoming a problem

    3 May 2022

    NatureScot restricts the use of general licences on Lochan Estate in Perthshire

    7 February 2022

    Natural Resources Wales confirms Welsh general licence extension until June 2022

    17 December 2021

    Conservation charity warns of need for joined-up approach and a fast-track to effective grey squirrel controls

    30 May 2025

    Squirrel charity welcomes new legislation on use of gene editing

    14 June 2022

    Ferrets to be removed as permitted target species for the DOC 250 spring trap

    13 April 2021

    Charity says planting of 30,000 hectares of trees must be matched by grey squirrel control

    10 February 2021

    Conservation charity warns of need for joined-up approach and a fast-track to effective grey squirrel controls

    30 May 2025

    13 confirmed sightings of yellow-legged hornets so far in 2025

    13 May 2025

    Red Spider Mites on the hunt for spaces to hibernate

    3 December 2024

    Rentokil encourages vigilance as wasp activity increases ahead of the early autumn nesting period

    25 September 2024
  • Magazines
    1. June/July 2025
    2. April / May 2025
    3. Feb / March 2025
    4. Dec 2024 / Jan 2025
    5. Oct / Nov 2024
    6. Aug / Sept 2024
    Featured

    Pest 99: June/July 2025

    By Simon King10 June 2025
    Recent

    Pest 99: June/July 2025

    10 June 2025

    Pest 98: April / May 2025

    8 April 2025

    Pest 97: February / March 2025

    12 February 2025
  • Library
    • Inserts
    • Supplements
  • Professional Development
    • BASIS
    • Research
    • Stewardship
    • Training
  • Pest Test
  • Jobs
    • View All Jobs
  • Key Supporters
    • Bábolna Bio
    • Bell Laboratories
    • Pelsis
    • Envu
    • Lodi UK
    • PelGar International
    • Russell IPM
    • Syngenta
Pest MagazinePest Magazine
News

Rentokil Pest Control reports surge in commercial rodent enquiries

Simon KingBy Simon King14 March 2022No Comments3 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Rentokil Pest Control has highlighted the growing problem of pests facing recently reopened hospitality businesses.

Comparing the number of commercial enquiries received from businesses looking to deal with rats, mice and other rodents during the lockdown in January 2021 to January 2022, the company has seen an 82% year-on-year increase.

Central London and the South East of England have developed into the biggest hotspots for rodent activity, with a 91.4% year-on-year rise, closely followed by the North West, North Wales and Midlands at 86.4%.

Businesses in the North-East and East Midlands have submitted 79% more enquiries in January this year than in 2021, while London’s Home Counties and East Anglia, together with the South West/Mid Wales have both seen year-on-year spikes of over 50% (77.8% and 58.6% respectively).

In response to the surge in rodent numbers in commercial premises, Rentokil Pest Control is encouraging businesses to keep an eye out for the tell-tale signs of pest activity in their hotels, restaurants and bars.

Following an unseasonably warm January – with a mean temperature 0.8°C above the 1991-2020 long-term average – it is not just the public flocking back to hospitality businesses, putting their reputations, properties and bottom lines at risk.

Paul Blackhurst, head of technical academy at Rentokil Pest Control said: “Rodents are a key public health concern, which can cause considerable damage to both a business’ premises and reputation. With the busy Easter period fast approaching, it is imperative that businesses across the country address the rise we have seen in rodent activity, and make sure they are aware of the early signs that indicate a potential rodent infestation.

“The periods of lockdowns and restrictions faced by hospitality venues over the past two years have led to a change in rodent behaviour. The lack of footfall in certain areas of towns and cities saw these nocturnal and fearful creatures become more confident as they were not being disturbed by regular human activity and noise.

“Now, with regular business activity gradually returning, and with potentially more people now eating out, food waste is naturally on the rise and this could increase the number of rodents and other pests looking for an easy meal. For offices, restaurants, bars and cafes, it is time to take note and mitigate against the risk of reputational and financial damage that a rodent infestation can bring.”

Mr Blackhurst said that Rentokil Pest Control has also seen a linear growth in flea activity in people’s homes after the last year, with a 73% rise in the number of residential enquiries.

The company said that this ‘jump’ in the number of fleas could be down to the much-publicised increase in the number of lockdown pets over the last 12 months.

The company’s latest data has also revealed the top five pests enquiries across both commercial and residential premises in 2021.

Mr Blackhurst added: “Mice, rats and rodents’ top the list in both settings, while birds account for the second highest number of pest enquiries for businesses, and wasps and bees in homes.”

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleRRAC launches app to track rodenticide resistance across the globe
Next Article Radical overhaul of Red Tractor needed to support reduction in pesticide reliance, says NFFN
Simon King

With more than 25 years' experience in business-to-business publishing, Simon is editor of LBM titles Pest and OvertheCounter. Big fan of Manchester United.

Read Similar Stories

National Pest Awards 2025 – book your place at the industry event of the year

BASF unveil #SelontraCertified

BPCA to host wasp webinar

Latest Stories

National Pest Awards 2025 – book your place at the industry event of the year

23 July 2025

BASF unveil #SelontraCertified

22 July 2025

BPCA to host wasp webinar

21 July 2025
Key Supporters
© 2025 Lewis Business Media. All Rights Reserved.
Lewis Business Media, Suite A, Arun House, Office Village, River Way, Uckfield, TN22 1SL

Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions

  • National Pest Awards
  • OvertheCounter
  • Pet Business World

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.