Selling a House with Pest Infestation: UK Ultimate Guide

Rodents chew through electrical wiring, which creates fire risks.

They damage insulation in your loft and walls. Mice and rats also gnaw wooden beams and joists. Their droppings spread diseases and smell really bad. They breed fast, so a small problem becomes huge quickly.

Buyers hate finding evidence of rodents during viewings.

Woodworms are beetle larvae that eat through wooden beams and joists.

They create tiny holes and leave behind powder. Over time, they weaken floors, roof timbers, and structural wood. Death watch beetles cause even worse damage to old buildings. If you’re selling a house with rot issues, woodworm often goes hand in hand with damp problems.

Surveyors always check for woodworm during inspections.

Cockroaches spread germs and trigger allergies and asthma.

They hide in kitchens, bathrooms, and anywhere warm and damp. These pests are really hard to get rid of completely. You need professional treatment that costs hundreds of pounds. Buyers see cockroaches as a sign of poor hygiene.

Even one cockroach spotted during a viewing can kill your sale.

Bedbugs live in mattresses, sofas, and soft furnishings.

They bite people whilst they sleep and leave itchy red marks. Getting rid of them needs professional heat treatment or strong chemicals. Buyers worry about taking bedbugs to their new home in furniture. The problem feels really personal and disgusting.

Most buyers walk away if they find out about bedbugs.

Wasps build nests in lofts, wall cavities, and chimneys.

Active nests are dangerous and need professional removal. Old nests attract other insects and pests. Bees are protected so removing them needs specialist beekeepers. Nests can block chimneys and ventilation.

Buyers won’t complete the sale whilst active nests remain.

Most ants just annoy people and don’t cause damage.

But carpenter ants tunnel through wooden structures like termites. They hollow out beams and joists over time. Regular black ants in kitchens indicate food hygiene problems. Garden ants coming inside are less worrying.

Buyers can usually live with minor ant problems.

Pigeons nest in lofts, chimneys, and under roof tiles.

Their droppings spread diseases and damage roof materials. Nests block gutters and downpipes causing damp problems. Bird mites from nests can get into your home. The mess and noise put buyers off.

Professional bird proofing costs hundreds of pounds.

Lots of flies suggest drainage problems or rotting materials.

Fruit flies breed in bins and old food. Drain flies come from blocked pipes and sewers. Cluster flies gather in lofts during autumn and winter. Large numbers of flies worry buyers about hidden problems.

Fixing the cause matters more than just killing the flies.

Grey squirrels get into lofts and cause serious damage.

They chew through wiring, pipes, and insulation. Squirrels are noisy and keep people awake at night. They leave droppings everywhere and attract other pests. Blocking their entry points is hard because they’re clever.

Buyers hearing squirrels during viewings often pull out.

Active pest infestations typically reduce your sale price by 5% to 20%.

A house worth £250,000 could drop to £200,000 to £237,500 because of pests. Minor problems like ants might only knock off 5%. Serious rodent or woodworm damage can reduce value by 15% to 20%. Want to know how much you can sell your house for with pest problems? Expect big price cuts.

Most house hunters avoid properties with pest problems completely.

They worry the infestation will come back even after treatment. Your buyer pool shrinks to maybe 20% to 30% of normal numbers. The few interested buyers know you’re desperate and offer really low prices.

Mortgage lenders refuse to approve loans on properties with active infestations.

They see pests as risks to the property’s structure and value. Your property becomes un-mortgageable until you fix the problem. Only cash buyers or specialist lenders will consider infested properties.

Homebuyer surveys always check for signs of pest damage and infestations.

Surveyors spot droppings, holes, nests, and timber damage. Their reports flag pest problems as major concerns. Buyers read these surveys and either pull out or demand big price reductions.

Professional pest control costs £150 to £500 for most infestations.

Serious woodworm treatment runs £1,000 to £5,000. Repairing structural timber damage costs £2,000 to £10,000 or more. Buyers deduct these amounts from their offers.

Woodworm and rodents weaken floor joists, roof timbers, and wall plates.

This damage threatens your home’s structural safety. Lenders and surveyors take structural damage really seriously. Your sale won’t go through until an engineer confirms the property is safe.

Even after treatment, many buyers still won’t consider your property.

They worry about pests coming back or hidden damage you haven’t found. You might need to drop your price even after fixing everything.

Building insurance costs more for properties with pest damage history.

Some insurers exclude pest damage from cover completely. Buyers worry about future insurance problems. Clear treatment guarantees and certificates help reassure both buyers and insurers.

Standard homebuyer surveys check lofts, basements, and crawl spaces for pest activity.

Surveyors look for droppings, nests, and damage to timber. They note suspicious holes, stains, and gnaw marks. These surveys cost £400 to £600, and most buyers get them done. Finding pests at this stage usually stops the sale dead.

Full building surveys involve a detailed inspection of your entire property.

Surveyors check behind cupboards and examine all structural timbers. They identify exactly which pests you have and how bad the damage is. These thorough surveys cost £600 to £1,500 but reveal everything.

Timber and damp specialists produce detailed reports on woodworm and beetle infestations.

They identify the species, assess damage severity, and estimate treatment costs. These specialists charge £200 to £500 for inspections. Lenders usually demand timber reports if surveys raise concerns.

Pest droppings are the most common giveaway during inspections.

Mouse droppings look like dark rice grains. Rat droppings are bigger and darker. Insect casings show woodworm problems. Nesting materials in lofts prove rodents or birds live there. This physical proof is impossible to argue against.

Surveyors assess how pest damage affects your home’s structure.

Weakened floor joists, damaged roof timbers, and eaten support beams all get noted. They might recommend engineer reports for serious cases. Want a house valuation without selling? Pest damage will reduce it significantly.

Surveyors notice distinctive smells from rodent urine and droppings.

Dead animals create horrible odours. Active infestations often make scratching or scurrying noises during inspections. Bad smells during surveys raise serious red flags.

Sharp-eyed buyers spot droppings, holes, and pest damage during viewings.

They check corners, skirting boards, and window sills carefully. Opening cupboards might reveal droppings or cockroaches. Even one pest sighting makes buyers walk away.

Concerned buyers often hire pest control experts to inspect before buying.

These specialists cost £100 to £300 and provide detailed reports. They identify pest types, suggest treatment methods, and estimate costs. Professional pest reports often reveal problems standard surveys missed.

Most house sales take months, but we can buy your property in as little as 7 days.

This quick process is perfect if you need to move soon or want to avoid being stuck in a long chain of buyers and sellers. We have the cash on hand so don’t need to wait for mortgages or a chain to collapse. 

Did you know 1 in 3 sales fall through on the open market?

We know how frustrating it is to get 6 months into a process and have a buyer pull out.

When we give you the final price for your house, that’s the amount you’ll get. Guaranteed!

You won’t face any costs with us.

We handle all the expenses involved in buying your property, including legal fees and surveys. You get cash in your bank when the sale is complete, and there are no surprise estate agent commissions to worry about.

Our team supports you through the whole selling process.

We keep you updated about what’s happening and answer any questions quickly. You’ll always understand what’s going on with your sale and what happens next.

Our property experts will value your house at no cost to you.

They look carefully at your property and check local market prices to give you an accurate figure. This professional service comes with no obligations.

Forget about cleaning and tidying for viewings.

We don’t need multiple visits or open houses to make our offer. This means no strangers walking through your home, and no disruption to your daily life.

Whether your house needs work or is in perfect condition, we’ll buy it.

We have experience with all types of properties and conditions. This means you can sell your house to us no matter what state it’s in.

Our expert team manages all the legal requirements for you.

We work with experienced property lawyers who make sure everything runs smoothly, and put your property at the top of their list. This gives you peace of mind that your sale is being handled properly from start to finish.