ThermoPest, the London-headquartered nationwide pest management provider, has observed a notable escalation in bed bug treatment costs across the UK. The trend is affecting a range of accommodation operators, including councils, hotels, student residences, HMOs and assisted living environments, where infestations often trigger operational disruption and regulatory scrutiny.
Evidence collected from ThermoPest’s remediation response work indicates a strong shift toward comprehensive heat-based treatment solutions. Compared with traditional chemical-only approaches, whole-room heat intervention is being increasingly adopted due to its higher likelihood of achieving complete eradication and reducing the need for repeat visits.
“Hotels, care providers, councils and HMO landlords are facing pressures that go beyond routine maintenance,” said James Rhoades, founder of ThermoPest Pest Control. “For hotels, the economics are immediate — an out-of-service room can quickly impact revenue. For assisted living facilities and council-managed housing, safeguarding requirements mean infestations must be resolved thoroughly. In HMOs and student accommodation, interconnected layouts allow bed bugs to spread rapidly if treatments are inconsistent.”
ThermoPest notes a growing expectation from organisations for comprehensive documentation, treatment planning and post-treatment monitoring. This shift reflects wider adoption of structured bed bug strategies rather than reactive responses.
Cross-contamination between units remains a leading cost factor, especially in older buildings with shared utilities or frequent turnover of occupants. As a result, many providers are developing clearer procedures for escalation, early identification and proactive monitoring systems.
“Bed bug control is becoming a risk-management priority for UK accommodation providers,” Rhoades added. “The organisations adopting consistent treatment standards and evidence-based approaches are seeing more predictable outcomes and lower long-term costs.”
With increasing mobility, tourism and density of living arrangements, ThermoPest forecasts continued demand growth among councils, hotels and multi-occupancy housing operators throughout 2026.
