The staggering number of pest infestations across Lancashire - and what’s behind it

More than 17,000 reports of pest infestations were made in Lancashire between 2023-2025, new research reveals.

Borough councils were asked for the number of cases of rats, flies, bed bugs and other vermin they were called out to deal with over the two year period, by Confused.com.

Not all Lancashire councils responded to the Freedom of Information (FOI) request, but the figures for those that did are below:

Burnley Borough Council total: 3,319

Chorley Borough Council total: 3,274

Fylde Borough Council: 12 (data only available from 2025)

Hyndburn Borough Council total: 2,171

Ribble Valley Borough Council total: 877

Rossendale Borough Council total: 66

South Ribble Borough Council total: 4,306

West Lancashire Borough Council total: 3,421

Preston Council did not respond.

Decreases

Although South Ribble Borough Council dealt with the biggest number of reports of those who responded, it also had the biggest decrease during 2024-25, with an 85.6 per cent drop in cases (from 1,937 to 278).

Infact, all but West Lancashire Borough Council (WLBC) recorded a drop in reports from 2024-25. In West Lancashire, the reports increased during the same time by 10.7 per cent ( 1,061 to 1,175 cases).

Confused.com researchers say missed waste collections are fuelling the problem across the country. A survey of 2,000 UK homeowners and renters found that more than one in four (24 per cent) reported their household waste has been missed or collected late more often than before.

And the consequences are immediate. Among those with infrequent waste collection, almost half (45 per cent) have noticed more flies around their bins, 44 per cent report stronger smells, and nearly one in five (19 per cent) have spotted rodents. More than one in five (22 per cent) have personally seen rats in or around their home in the last 12 months.

This week, WLBC apologised to residents for continued delayed or missed bin collections - caused by ‘challenges around staff availability’ - but claims a working group has been set up to address the issues.

Nationally, the data shows:

• Bedbug and cockroach complaints have surged by a third in three years.
• Rats account for over half (51 per cent) of all pest complaints, with Glasgow City Council dealing with an average of 10,485 cases per year.
• To make matters worse, fly-tipping incidents have risen by 18 per cent in three years, reaching 785,213 cases in 2025 alone.
• Confusion around council services runs even deeper. Two in five residents (40 per cent) don’t know what pest control their council offers, and over one third (34 per cent) don’t know whether they’ll be charged.

To help households navigate the confusion, the team behind Confused.com home insurance has created a Pest Control Checker that allows residents to find out instantly what services are provided by their council and what it’ll cost.

Tips to stop pests:

• Keep bins sealed and stored away from your home where you can
• Empty food waste regularly and rinse containers before recycling
• Clear up spills and crumbs quickly, as even small amounts can attract pests
• Report any missed collections to your council straight away

Matthew Harwood, home insurance expert at Confused.com, said: ““It’s worth knowing that most standard home insurance doesn’t cover pest infestations, so any treatment costs usually come straight out of your pocket unless your council provides it free of charge. That makes it even more important to know what help is available locally, as support varies widely from one council to the next. Our Pest Control Checker lets you enter your postcode to see what’s on offer, whether it’s free or charged, and how to report an issue.”