RECORD MONTH AS RODENTS ON THE RISE
- Call-outs in first ten months of 2007 already double volumes for whole of 2005
- October figures 63 per cent higher than monthly average
- Homeserve reports it has been swamped by homeowners
8 November - UK households are experiencing a dramatic increase in rodent infestations according to Homeserve, the UK's national home emergency service. The latest figures from the company show that during the first ten months of 2007, calls to the firm's pest control business for rat and mice problems more than doubled (102%) the volume received for the whole of 2005.
October is traditionally the busiest month for Homeserve's pest management business as mice and rats claw their way into British homes to take shelter from the cold. The figures released today show that October has been a record month with call-outs for rodents 63 per cent higher than the monthly average for the first nine months of 2007.
Pest experts at Homeserve claim that the rodent problems have this year been exacerbated by a number of other factors including changing weather patterns, the growing amount of litter on our streets and changing lifestyle factors such as the trend for more people to have decking in their gardens. The recent flooding has also resulted in vermin scuttling for shelter and in many cases choosing our homes.
As a result of this growing problem, Homeserve has seen a huge increase in the number of people taking out its Pest Contamination cover, which provides professional extermination and control of rats or mice in your home and in adjoining buildings, and also the removal of wasp and hornet nests. Between January 2005 and August 2007, the company saw a 334% increase in the number of people with this policy.
Commenting on the growing problem of rodent infestation, Jon Florsheim, CEO, HomeServe Membership said:
"We expect to see mice and rat problems peak in certain months of the year such as October and November; however demand for our services has been consistently high throughout most of 2007. As well as cooler weather forcing rodents into our homes, the trend for home improvements such as decking can also lead to rodents taking up residence a little too close for comfort. Fallen leaves make comfortable nests, food scraps can fall through the gaps and decks also offer protection from cats and foxes.
"If you have rats or mice in your home, it's important to act quickly because they not only cause damage but they also carry diseases."
Homeserve's Pest Contamination Cover provides professional extermination and control of rats or mice in your home and in adjoining buildings. It also covers the removal of wasp or hornet nests from around the house and garden. Cover provides unlimited claims per year, up to £300 per claim for call-out, repeat visits, materials, pesticides and bait boxes. The cost of this cover is £39.96 a year, which can be paid on a monthly, quaterly or annual basis. For further information about this cover, visit www.homeserve.com/pests or call 0800 783 0951.
Homeserve, who offers a wide range of insurance cover for, among other things, plumbing, drains and electrical wiring and pest contamination, handled over 1.2 million home emergencies last year alone.
Ends
For more information please contact:
Phil Anderson
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
0207 282 2841 / 07779 031 936
Laura Edgecumbe
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
0207 282 2895
Editors Notes
About Homeserve
Every forty seconds a Homeserve engineer comes to the rescue of a British household.
With over 3,000 directly and indirectly employed engineers Homeserve offers the UK's only national emergency home repair service backed by a 24 hour claims handling and repair network.
Homeserve also offers insurance cover for plumbing, drains, electrical wiring and gas central heating. It has over 5.8 million policy members in the UK and a further 1.2 million in the USA and France.