Bed Bugs pest control in London

What to look for

These signs can help inform an inspection. They are not a confirmed identification on their own.

Small red bites in a line or cluster on exposed skin
Blood spots or dark faecal spots on bedding and mattresses
A sweet, musty odour near the bed
Shed skins or live bugs in mattress seams and bed frames
Rusty brown stains on sheets or pillowcases

What to do next

Keep a clear photograph or safely contained specimen for identification.
Avoid moving bedding or furniture into unaffected rooms. Ask for a written preparation checklist before laundering or disposing of items.
Compare the proposed treatment method, preparation requirements, number of visits and any exclusions.
Follow the appointed professional’s instructions for re-entry, cleaning and follow-up monitoring.

Questions for a treatment quote

Ask which method is suitable for the identified species and your property. Explain whether children, pets, food preparation or vulnerable occupants need special consideration. Get re-entry and cleaning instructions directly from the appointed professional.

A quote should separate inspection, treatment, follow-up and proofing. Avoid assuming one visit or an advertised guarantee covers every recurrence.

Confirming bed bugs, and what preparation actually involves

Why bites alone are not a confirmation

The NHS lists bites as one sign among several, alongside “spots of blood on your bedding – from the bites or from squashing a bedbug” and “small brown spots on bedding or furniture (bedbug poo)”. Bites are described as raised and itchy and “often in a line or grouped together”. Appearance also varies with skin tone: the NHS notes bites usually look red or pink on lighter skin, and on darker skin they “may look brown, red or purple and may be harder to see”. That variation is a practical reason not to treat a bite photograph as a diagnosis.

Keep any physical evidence — a contained specimen, or a photograph of staining on the mattress seam — rather than only photographs of skin.
Bites can be caused by other insects, and some people react little or not at all, so the number of bites is not a measure of how large an infestation is.
Ask the surveyor what evidence they found and where, and expect that to appear in writing before a treatment is priced.

What the NHS says you can do yourself, and where it stops

The NHS advises washing affected bedding and clothing “on a hot wash (60C)” and tumble drying “on a hot setting for at least 30 minutes”, putting items that cannot be washed “in a plastic bag and into the freezer for 2 to 3 weeks”, and cleaning and vacuuming regularly — noting that “bedbugs are found in both clean and dirty places, but regular cleaning will help you spot them early”. It also advises against keeping clutter around the bed, bringing second-hand furniture indoors without checking it first, and taking luggage or clothing indoors unchecked after staying somewhere with bed bugs.

The same guidance is explicit about the limits: “It’s very difficult to get rid of bedbugs yourself because they can be hard to find and may be resistant to some insecticides.”
The NHS position is to “contact your local council or pest control service if you have bedbugs”. Council availability, charges and eligibility differ by London borough.
Do not start disposing of furniture before a survey. Ask for the written preparation checklist first — laundering and moving items can spread activity to rooms that were not affected.

Questions that change a bed bug quote

Because resistance to some insecticides is documented in the NHS guidance above, the method and the number of visits matter more here than in most treatments. These are reasonable things to ask before agreeing a price.

Which rooms are in scope? Bed bugs are not necessarily confined to the room where bites were noticed, and an adjacent room may need inspecting.
How many visits are included, at what interval, and what happens if evidence is still found at the follow-up?
What preparation are you responsible for, and what must be done before the technician arrives?
How will the job be judged complete — on a monitoring result, or simply after the planned visits have been used?
In a flat, who arranges access to neighbouring properties or communal areas if the survey indicates it is needed?

Local context

In a shared London building, activity may involve adjoining flats, communal waste stores or service routes. Give the managing agent a dated record and agree access arrangements before the survey.

Find your borough guide

Related advice

Suspected Bed Bug Bites: Why Identification Matters

Skin marks can have several causes, and people react differently.

Read guide

Bed Bug Treatment Guide: What to Expect from Professional Treatment

The assessor should look for evidence around beds, furniture and relevant adjoining spaces.

Read guide

How to Prevent Bed Bugs: A London Homeowner's Guide

Inspect the seams, joints and undersides of second-hand beds and upholstered furniture.

Read guide

Further information

Published by Pest Protect London. Updated 9 September 2026. General information; treatment decisions require an assessment of the property. Editorial policy.