Stabilise the room
Keep using the affected sleeping room unless a qualified professional tells you otherwise. Moving to a sofa or spare room can create another feeding location and make the inspection wider.
Place worn sleepwear and loose bedding directly into sealable bags before moving them. Do not carry uncovered textiles through corridors, lifts or communal laundry rooms.
- Photograph insects and spotting before cleaning
- Capture a specimen in a sealed clear container if possible
- Note the rooms, dates and places where signs were found
Do not destroy the evidence
Bites alone cannot identify bed bugs. A specimen, cast skin, faecal spotting or eggs near a harbourage gives an inspector much stronger evidence.
Avoid total-release foggers and unlabelled products. They may not reach harbourages, can create exposure risks and can complicate a later professional plan.
- Do not discard the bed in a rush
- Do not apply several products together
- Do not sleep elsewhere without a containment plan
Choose the next route
If you have a clear specimen, compare it with the private checker. If physical signs are strong or activity spans more than one room, seek an inspection and ask what evidence the treatment proposal is based on.
Council pest-control provision differs by borough. Check your council and your tenancy position rather than assuming the same service is available everywhere in London.
Sources and further checks
Open the source before acting on information that may change, including council services, prices, tenancy rules and product labels.