Find a trusted pest controller in Melbourne

Termites in Melbourne: patchy, not absent

Termites aren’t as widespread in Melbourne as in Sydney or Brisbane, but they’re far from unknown here. Several councils, including Glen Eira and the Mornington Peninsula, have designated their whole municipality as likely to be subject to termite attack, so new homes and extensions there need termite management built in. Older weatherboards and period homes on timber stumps give termites a hidden way in through the subfloor, and the first sign is often a soft floorboard or a door frame that sounds hollow.

If you’re buying, a timber pest inspection with a written report costs a few hundred dollars and is worth booking before you sign. Your technician can tell you how often to re-inspect after that.

Wasps, rats and possums through the year

Melbourne’s seasons shape the call list. European wasp nests grow through summer and peak in early autumn, and most are built in or close to the ground: under lawns, in rockeries, retaining walls and old piles of rubbish. Keep children and pets away and leave the nest alone; a technician can destroy it safely.

As the nights cool, rats and mice head for roof spaces and wall cavities, and scratching in the ceiling on a cold evening is often the first clue. Baiting deals with the ones already inside, but sealing the gaps they use is what keeps the next lot out.

Not every noise up there is a rodent. Brushtail possums are protected in Victoria. You can trap one living in your house, but it must be released on your property, within 50 metres of where it was caught, after sunset on the same day, and ringtails can’t be trapped without a permit. Once it’s out, block the way in or it will be back.

Apartment blocks bring their own headaches. German cockroaches and bed bugs travel between units through shared walls, ducts and pipes, so treating one apartment on its own often doesn’t hold. If you live in a block, let the building manager or owners corporation know, as a whole-building treatment may be what finally fixes it.

Pest control licences in Victoria

In Victoria, a Department of Health pest control licence is required for anyone who uses pesticides as part of a pest control business. Search the technician on the pest control licence holder register, and for termite work, check the licence carries the General authorisation that covers timber pests. Our Victorian licence checks page explains the lookups for other trades too.

What pest control costs in Melbourne

General pest work in Melbourne is often a little cheaper than in Sydney. A house treatment typically costs around $180 to $400, a unit $150 to $250 and a rodent program $200 to $400. Treating an active termite colony usually runs $2,000 to $5,000, depending on the home’s size, slab and access, and bed bugs often $400 to $1,000 over several visits. The pest control price guide has the full list, as a guide rather than a quote.

How needatradie finds your pest controller

needatradie isn’t a directory, and your details won’t go to a handful of pest companies. Describe the pest and the suburb, and you’ll be matched with one licensed local technician, already checked for insurance, ABN and reviews. See how pest controllers work, find other Melbourne tradies, or get a free quote.