The short answer
Yes. Sheffield City Council's pest control service treats bed bugs in homes for a fee: £362 including VAT per treatment for a standard three-bedroom semi, or £106 if you receive one of several benefits, with further visits at £58 each. You book through the council and pay when you book. Council tenants should contact their local Housing Office first.
Plenty of councils in England have stopped treating bed bugs or never offered it. Sheffield still does, and for some households it is the cheapest way to get a professional in. Here is what the council offers, what it costs, and how it compares with going private. Figures are from the council’s pest control page as we read it on 28 October 2026; check the page before booking, because charges change.
What the council charges
| Price, including VAT | |
|---|---|
| Bed bugs, full charge | £362 per treatment |
| Bed bugs, with a qualifying benefit | £106 per treatment |
| Each further visit | £58 |
| Call-out if you decide not to go ahead | £40.80 |
The council says the price is per treatment based on a standard three-bedroom semi, and that larger properties should call for a quote. Cockroaches are charged at the same rate as bed bugs.
Who gets the lower rate
The discounted charge is for occupiers who receive housing benefit, income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, pension credit or income-related employment and support allowance. The council asks for proof.
How to book
The council’s page gives a contact centre number and an online “ask us a question” form. Payment is taken by card when you book. If the officer visits and you then decide not to go ahead, the call-out fee applies.
If you are a council tenant
The council asks its own housing tenants to contact their local Housing Office first rather than booking pest control directly. If you rent from a housing association, speak to them before paying for anything; many arrange treatment for their tenants.
If you rent privately
Talk to your landlord or letting agent before booking. In most cases the landlord arranges and pays for treatment, especially in a shared house where several rooms are involved. Our page on landlords and student lets covers who usually pays and how shared houses are treated.
Council or private: how they compare
| Council | Private firm | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price, 3-bed home | £362, or £106 on benefits, plus £58 a visit after the first | Spray course roughly £360 to £750 (national guide prices) |
| Methods | Insecticide treatment | Spray, steam, heat, or a mix |
| Heat treatment | Not offered | Available, roughly £1,000 to £1,700 for a 3-bed |
| Larger homes, HMOs, businesses | Quote on request, domestic only | Any size |
Private figures are rounded national ranges from published cost guides, not Sheffield quotes.
When the council is the obvious choice
- You get one of the qualifying benefits. £106 is far below any private price.
- It is a standard-sized home and a straightforward infestation.
- You are happy with an insecticide treatment.
When a private firm may suit you better
- You want heat treatment, for example because a spray has already failed, or because there is a baby or someone vulnerable at home.
- You need several visits, where £58 each soon adds up, and a private firm includes follow-ups in a fixed price.
- It is a large shared house, a student block, a guest house or other business.
- You need it done around work, at a particular time, or discreetly.
What to do before anyone comes
Whichever route you choose, the preparation is much the same. NHS guidance boils down to three things: a 60°C wash followed by a long hot tumble dry, bagging up what cannot be washed, and plenty of vacuuming. Keep sleeping where you normally do, so you do not spread them to a new room, and do not use shop-bought sprays before the treatment.
If you are not yet sure it is bed bugs, our guide on how to check for bed bugs walks through the room in order, and the price checker puts the council and private prices side by side for your home.
Want a private quote as well?
There is nothing wrong with getting a private price to compare with the council. Fill in the form below and we will find a local Sheffield pest controller and tell you who they are. It costs you nothing.