Is Pest Control A Legal Business Requirement In The UK?

If you run a business, you’ll know there are dozens of requirements and laws which must be followed. In fact, these requirements can often be overwhelming – this is especially true if you’re working in the food industry. But what a lot of business owners want to know is this: is pest control a legal business requirement?

Why pest control is not a legal business requirement

The good news is that pest control is not a legal business requirement, but it can be a good idea to have a pest control contract. There are no laws stating that you have to sign up for pest control. The simple reason for this is that not all business gets pests. Therefore, not every business needs pest control.

Despite this, it’s probably in your best interest to have some type of pest control. This is because, despite not being a legal business requirement, pests can still get you into legal trouble. For example, let’s say you run a food business. In this case you’ll have to deal with health inspectors.

If your business is found to have pests, then you may have to pay fines. It’s also possible that your business may be temporarily, or even permanently closed. If a customer becomes sick, or ill, then this could also happen. Pest contracts also involve pest prevention for commercial buildings which will help avoid these situations.

Can pest problems get you into legal hot water?

Other businesses are also at legal risk. The best example of this is businesses in the hospitality sector. The big issue here are bed bugs. Many hotels and B&Bs have been sued by customers over bed bugs. Yet another example are storage businesses, or warehouses. If the goods stored in your warehouse are damaged, then you may be liable for damages.

Bottom line: while pest control is not a legal business requirement, it’s still a good thing to have. This is simply because, if your customers are harmed by pests, then they may have a case against you.

Getting professional pest control is also good practice in general. Pests can cause extensive damage to your business. They damage property as well as stock. If you have a food business, they can completely ruin your reputation and put your out of business. Pests also create a bad atmosphere, and this can demoralize staff.

The best way to do this is by taking out a pest control contract. This is a relatively cheap and effective way of preventing pests in your business. With a contract, our technicians routinely visit your business. We perform an inspection and check for any pests in your business. After this, we perform pest maintenance and prevention. This way pests are kept out of your business. You’ll also be able to sleep soundly, knowing you are not legally at risk.