Southwark Liberal Democrats have urged the council to “end the rat tax” – after it was revealed that residents shell out on the most rodent control visitations of any other London borough.
This paper recently reported that pest controllers made 16,664 visits over rat and mice problems in 2022 – the most in London and the second most in the UK.
At the same time, Southwark Council is cranking up the cost to residents.
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From 2021 to 2022, the inspection fee for rodent issues was raised by 130 per fent from £24.90 to £57.30. And now, the inspection fee is set at £75.72 with full treatments costing £226.98.
The Lib Dems have said Southwark Council should offer all residents a 50 per cent discount on rat and mice pest control and eventually aim to scrap the charges altogether.
Southwark Lib Dem Leader Cllr Victor Chamberlain said: “Increasing the up-front cost has made these vital services prohibitively expensive for those who need them most.
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“Labour must get rid of this harmful ‘rat tax’. Residents are rightfully sick of the unsanitary conditions in our borough and deserve a council that cares.”
In response, Cllr James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Clean Air & Streets, said: “Unlike other councils, we compete with the private sector to offer pest control to all Southwark residents, so providing a high-quality service can mean more visits.
“Finally, we offer a 50 per cent discount to those on benefits and our council tenants receive most inspections and treatments for free. Given that we’re one of the biggest social landlords in the country, this too contributes to us having more visits.”