Inspection comes before method
A useful inspection maps signs, hiding places and movement. However, it does not treat every mark on your skin as proof. Ask which rooms the inspector checked and why the proposed method fits the evidence.
Flats, shared houses and short lets often need coordination beyond one bedroom, since insects can cross walls and pipes. A plan that ignores the next room can miss the route the insects take. Our guide to bed bugs in London flats and shared buildings explains how activity moves between homes.
Before you compare methods, write down what you want from the plan:
- Confirmation of the target pest
- A record of the rooms inspected
- A named person who will measure progress at each visit
Insecticide programmes
Professional insecticide work uses authorised products according to the label. Many programmes combine treatment of cracks and furniture with advice on laundry and clutter. For example, you may get a list of items to wash hot and bag before the visit. The NHS says bed bugs are hard to eliminate and may resist some insecticides, which is why repeat visits matter.
Haringey Council shows how one London borough runs its service. When checked in October 2026, its page described an insecticide spray treatment with two follow-up visits, so three visits in total. The council also says residents must finish the preparation before the officer arrives, otherwise it cannot carry out treatment.
The same page gives after-care advice. Residents should keep out of the room for two hours after the spray dries, and avoid vacuuming between visits so the residue stays in place. Other providers may give different instructions. Therefore, always follow your own written plan.
Steam and other contact methods
Steam is a contact method. It can only affect insects that the steam actually reaches, so technique and equipment matter a great deal. Ask any provider how they will reach seams, bed frames and the gaps behind skirting boards.
Contact methods leave nothing behind, so they usually pair with monitoring or another approach. Treat any very confident claim with care. Ask the provider what evidence sits behind it, and what happens if activity returns.
Whole-room heat
Heat treatment raises the temperature of a whole room and its contents. A peer-reviewed study of conditions like these found that the temperature killing 99% of adults was 48.3°C, while eggs needed 54.8°C. It also found that adults held at 45°C needed about 95 minutes, and that eggs survived seven hours at that temperature.
These figures show why a room that merely feels hot is not enough. The coldest, most insulated spot decides the result, since heat moves slowly into mattresses, furniture and wall voids. Therefore, ask who places the sensors and how long the slowest spot stays at target.
For a plain comparison of the two main routes, read heat versus insecticide for bed bugs. It sets out when each approach tends to fit.
How long does it take?
Plans vary from a single long visit to several weeks of visits and checks. Our post on how long bed bug treatment takes explains what drives the timeline. In short, the number of rooms, the method and how well you prepare all change it.
Questions worth asking every provider
A written plan should answer a few plain questions. While prices vary, the answers below tell you whether two quotes are really comparable.
- Which rooms will you inspect and treat, and why?
- How many visits are included, and when do they happen?
- What must I do before each visit, and what must I avoid after it?
- What happens if live bed bugs appear after the final visit?
Treatment is not the end
No method removes the need to watch for new activity. Use the after-treatment monitoring guide to set up checks, and prepare your home properly before treatment day. For budget questions, see what changes a London quote.
Travel can also bring bed bugs home again, since luggage is a common route. Read about checking luggage after travel in London to keep a treated home clear.
Local services differ across London
Each council decides whether to offer pest control and what to charge. As a result, the service you get depends on your borough. Use these area guides to see how to check your own borough’s page:
- bed bug guidance for Westminster
- what Camden households should check
- the Hackney area guide
- practical help in Tower Hamlets
- the Southwark area guide
- what Lambeth residents can do first
If you need to act today, start with the first 24 hours checklist. This site gives independent guidance only and does not carry out treatment.
Sources and further checks
Open each source before you act, because council services, prices, tenancy rules and product labels can change. We list the pages this guide relied on when it was last checked.