Home Pest Prevention Checklist

Who this is for

A walk-round, season by season, of whatever lets pests in or feeds them. Each check has a tick for spring, summer, autumn and winter and space for what needs doing; sightings and fixes go in the log on the second page.

Householders who would rather fill a gap or replace a split bin than deal with mice, rats, ants, wasps or moths later, and anyone who has had a problem once and wants to keep on top of it.

What this helps you track

• Gaps in walls, the roofline, doors and windows where pests get in
• Food, pet food and bins that give them something to eat
• Damp, clutter and stored boxes where they shelter
• The loft, garage and basement checked for signs
• Each sighting and fix, with the date it was dealt with

How to use it

1. Write the home, the year and who is doing the walk-round.
2. Each season, walk the outside first, then doors, windows and storage spaces, then the kitchen, and tick the season where a check is fine.
3. Where something needs doing, write it in the action needed column.
4. Record any sighting, and every fix as it is made, in the log on the second page with dates.
5. If you find signs of a problem you cannot deal with, or are unsure what you are looking at, ask your council or a pest control service.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

Does this replace a pest control service?

No. It helps you spot and fix the things that attract pests or let them in. If you find signs of an infestation, or a pest you are not sure about, contact your council or a pest control service.

Why walk round every season?

Gaps, damp and clutter change with the weather, and different pests turn up at different times of year. A tick per season on one sheet shows the whole year, and anything that keeps coming back.

What should go in the log?

Anything seen, such as droppings, gnawing, nests, ant trails or moth damage, with where and when, and every fix made: a gap filled, a bin replaced, food moved into sealed tubs. Dates make patterns easier to spot.

Is there a separate sheet for food cupboard pests?

Yes. The pantry pest inspection and trap log is built for moths and beetles in stored food, with each cupboard checked and any traps recorded.