HOW TO HIRE · GARDEN & OUTDOOR · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a pest controller in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A pest control in Ireland costs €100–€280 per treatment, typically around €180. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a pest controller in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers pest controller work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — initial assessment of — initial assessment of the pest problem.
- How does severity of the infestation change the price?It is the difference between a quick visit and a long one. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does size of the area being treated change the price?The quote rises step by step with the floor area. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does specific methods employed change the price?The style chosen can double the hours on the same job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?What does this service include? — pest control services typically include an initial assessment, treatment application, and follow-up inspections — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a pest controller job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER OF PEST CONTROLLERS EXISTS, but the products are controlled: professional-use biocides and rodenticides may only be bought and applied by someone holding the required certification, and the law sits on the PRODUCT rather than on the person's trade. Ask what they intend to use and what certification lets them use it.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
What product they will use, and the certification that permits professional use of it; Where bait is placed and how it is secured against children and pets; A written treatment plan with follow-up visits included or priced; What they will NOT do — proofing and repairs are usually separate; Public liability, and what happens if the treatment damages anything; For a recurring contract, what triggers a free return visit.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability; ask whether treatment damage is covered. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers pest controller work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — initial assessment of — initial assessment of the pest problem.
A good answer: It is the difference between a quick visit and a long one. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The quote rises step by step with the floor area. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The style chosen can double the hours on the same job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: What does this service include? — pest control services typically include an initial assessment, treatment application, and follow-up inspections — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a pest controller job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability; ask whether treatment damage is covered — wildlife Management — this involves safely managing and relocating larger wildlife that may pose a threat to your garden.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the pest controller starts, and an itemised invoice after — fumigation Services — fumigation is used for severe infestations, enveloping the area in gas to eradicate pests.
Getting the quote right
- Severity of the infestation — it is the difference between a quick visit and a long one.
- Size of the area being treated — the quote rises step by step with the floor area.
- Specific methods employed — the style chosen can double the hours on the same job.
- What does this service include? — it affects the finish as much as it affects the price.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: severity of the infestation — it is the difference between a quick visit and a long one
- They will not talk about it: size of the area being treated — the quote rises step by step with the floor area
- They will not talk about it: specific methods employed — the style chosen can double the hours on the same job
- A price for the pest controller before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the pest controller has begun
What a pest controller costs: €100–€280 per treatment
The figures are for the job, per treatment, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Rodent control and Insect extermination each carry their own band. Pest Control price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Pest controllers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstSeverity of the infestation — it is the difference between a quick visit and a long one — that is what the pest controller is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneSize of the area being treated — the quote rises step by step with the floor area — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfSpecific methods employed — the style chosen can double the hours on the same job — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherWhat does this service include? — it affects the finish as much as it affects the price — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the pest controller is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, check for any specific treatment requirements or restrictions.
- What does this service include?
- Pest control services typically include an initial assessment, treatment application, and follow-up inspections.
- Initial assessment of
- Initial assessment of the pest problem.
- Check for any
- Check for any specific treatment requirements or restrictions.
- Rodent Control
- This involves identifying and removing rodents such as rats and mice from your property.
- Insect Extermination
- Specialists target common garden insects like ants, wasps, and aphids to protect plants and structures.
- Termite Treatment
- This service focuses on detecting and eliminating termites to prevent structural damage.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a pest controller: questions people ask
Investing in pest control can save you money in the long run by preventing damage to your property and garden. Pest control is a vital service aimed at managing and eliminating unwanted pests that can damage your garden and property.
Pest control services can manage a wide range of pests, including rodents, insects, and larger wildlife. This work typically involves identifying pest problems, assessing the extent of the infestation, and implementing effective treatment strategies to eradicate pests safely.
Most pest control methods are safe when applied by professionals, but it's essential to discuss any concerns with your provider. Check for any specific treatment requirements or restrictions.
Prepare by clearing the area of personal items and providing access to affected spaces for the technician. The scope of pest control can vary greatly depending on the type of pest, the level of infestation, and the specific needs of your outdoor space.
NO REGISTER OF PEST CONTROLLERS EXISTS, but the products are controlled: professional-use biocides and rodenticides may only be bought and applied by someone holding the required certification, and the law sits on the PRODUCT rather than on the person's trade. Ask what they intend to use and what certification lets them use it.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and put right if it is not. Say what is wrong in writing first.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in garden & outdoor
Pest controllers near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Courts Service — small claims
- Revenue — PEST CONTROL - IMMOVABLE GOODS (Private dwellings/Non-residential immovable goods) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only