Bed bug help in Brighton and Hove

The answer in Brighton and Hove depends on who owns your home. Council tenants and leaseholders have a clear route, because the council’s page says treatment is free for them. Everyone else has to look elsewhere. This guide explains both routes.

We are an information site, not a pest control firm, so we do not treat homes or set prices.

What Brighton and Hove City Council says about bed bugs

We read the council’s page in October 2026. It is written for people in council housing. It states that all treatments are free of charge to council tenants and leaseholders.

To report a problem, you contact the Council Housing Repairs Helpdesk. The page says a pest control contractor will then get in touch within 3 working days. It also says the contractor can provide a free testing monitor, which you can use after the treatment has run its course over about three weeks.

The page does not say whether the council treats private homes. Because it is silent on that point, private renters and owners should not assume they can use the service. Check the council’s site directly if you are unsure.

If you live in a flat

Flats make bed bugs harder, because the bugs can move through shared walls, pipes and floors. If you live in a block, tell your landlord or managing agent early. Our guide to bed bugs in flats explains how neighbours can work together and why a treatment in one flat may fail if the next flat is not checked.

Know what you are looking for

Bites alone do not prove you have bed bugs, because other insects bite too. Our guide to bed bug bites shows how they look and why some people barely react. Look for live bugs, shed skins and small dark spots on bedding as well.

It also helps to understand why they arrive. Our page on what attracts bed bugs explains that they follow body heat and carbon dioxide, not dirt. A tidy home can still have them, so do not blame yourself.

Treatment options you may hear about

Heat is one method. Our guide to steam treatment for bed bugs explains where steam works, where it does not and why it is rarely enough alone. For example, steam may miss bugs deep inside a sofa frame.

Ask any provider how they will deal with eggs and what follow-up they include. Therefore get the plan and the cost in writing before you agree.

Renting privately in Brighton and Hove

If you rent from a private landlord, tell them as soon as you see signs. Write it down and keep a copy with the date. Then ask who will arrange treatment. The government’s How to Rent guide for England sets out what tenants and landlords should expect.

If you get no reply, for example after a week, the council’s housing or environmental health team may be able to advise. You can find the right team through the GOV.UK local council finder. Our bed bug help guides also explain how to word your message.

When to ask for more help

Use our request help form if you need support to decide your next step. We pass your enquiry to a UK pest control company that covers your area, so it can contact you about an inspection or treatment. We cannot promise a visit or a price. For a broader overview of the options, read our bed bug treatment guides.

Nearby places

Larger cities and neighbouring areas often work differently. See our page on council pest control in London or our page on bed bug help in Southampton to compare what each council says.

Keep this in mind

Bed bugs are common, and they do not mean your home is dirty. Act early because delay lets them spread. Keep notes and photos, and ask for every promise in writing.