- Landlords and tenants are being warned to stay alert this autumn as rodent insurance claims are expected to rise following warm weather breeding conditions.
- Data from Direct Line Landlord Insurance shows emergency pest cover claims jumped by 57 per cent between September and October, making autumn the peak season.
- Rats and mice accounted for nearly 80 per cent of vermin-related emergency claims across 2025 and the first half of 2026.
- A survey found that nearly a third of landlords experienced a rat or mouse infestation in the past two years, costing an average of £315 to resolve.
- Insurers advise sealing potential entry points, securing food and waste, and acting swiftly at the first sign of pests to avoid costly structural and wiring damage.
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