Rodent insurance claims could spike by 57 per cent this autumn after warm weather boosted rat breeding

From the Newshound archive · first published 9 October 2026 · last updated 10 October 2026.

Rat and mouse infestations have hit at least one property for close to a third of UK landlords over the past two years, with each incident costing an average of £315. Direct Line Landlord Insurance says October and November represent the busiest period for pest claims, with rodents responsible for 79 per cent of all vermin-related emergency cover. The mild autumn has encouraged breeding, and rodents are now moving inside as temperatures drop.

Between September 2025 and October last year, rodent claims under landlord emergency cover surged 57 per cent, followed by a further 9 per cent increase in November.

Rats and mice lead the pest table, though bed bugs, wasps and squirrels also appear among landlord insurance claims.

Almost two-thirds of landlords who took preventative action were still hit by infestations, underscoring how difficult the problem is to contain.