Questions to Ask a Pest Control Company Before You Book

Updated 2026-11-08 · PestList Singapore

Nine questions

1. Are you registered with NEA? Only companies registered with the National Environment Agency as Vector Control Operators can be engaged for vector control work, and NEA publishes the list of registered operators (NEA). NEA also says it does not endorse the companies on that list, so registration is the minimum, not a recommendation.
2. Who will do the work? Vector Control Technicians must be licensed and Vector Control Workers certified, and a registered company must employ at least one dedicated technician with at least 3 consecutive years of recent experience (same NEA page). NEA suggests asking how many trained technicians and workers a company has, their years of experience, the methods and equipment they use, and their track record.
3. Which products will you use? Pesticides and repellents for use against mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, rats and rat fleas must be registered with NEA before they are sold, and NEA publishes the list of registered products (NEA). Each is labelled “For General Use” or “For Restricted Use”, and restricted products are only for licensed technicians and certified workers. Ask for the product names and read the labels.
4. Is it safe for my children and pets? HealthHub advises keeping children away from areas just sprayed with insecticide, letting them back only after it has been cleared up, and keeping rat poison, cockroach powders and other baits out of their reach (HealthHub). Ask how long each room should stay empty, where any baits will go, and whether pets, fish tanks and food surfaces need moving or covering.
5. How many visits does the price cover? Some prices cover more than one visit. One published Singapore list includes two treatments in every bed bug price and four weekly visits in its rat and mouse programme (Protect Pest Control). Getting rid of rats often takes several visits (Rentokil).
6. Is there a warranty, and what does it cover? For termites, one company describes a protection programme with a 5 to 7 year warranty (Rentokil). For other pests, ask whether a return visit is free if they come back, and for how long after the treatment.
7. What do we need to do before you come? Clearing kitchen cabinets, moving furniture away from walls, bagging bedding, or leaving the home for a few hours. Ask in advance, so the visit is not wasted.
8. One-off or a contract? One published list charges S$140 for a one-off ant or cockroach treatment in an HDB flat and S$520 for a 12-month bi-monthly contract (Protect Pest Control). Count how many one-off visits you would otherwise book in a year before you sign.
9. What changes between an HDB flat and a landed home? Inside an HDB flat the upkeep is yours, and the Town Council looks after the corridors, void decks and other areas outside it (MyNiceHome, HDB), so report pests in common areas to the Town Council too. Landed homes are priced by house type and storeys on the published list: a one-off cockroach treatment runs from S$150 for a one-storey terrace to S$230 for a three-storey bungalow (Protect Pest Control).

Red flags

• Not on NEA’s list of registered Vector Control Operators.
• Will not name the products they plan to use.
• No written list of what is included: the pests, the rooms, the visits and the warranty.
• A long contract pushed before anyone has inspected your home.

Compare like with like

Ask two or three companies the same nine questions and get the answers in writing. A cheaper quote that covers fewer visits, fewer rooms or no return visit is often not cheaper. For published prices, see what pest control costs in Singapore, and for termites, termite treatment in Singapore.

Checklist before the visit

• Check the company on NEA’s list of registered Vector Control Operators.
• Ask for the product names and read the labels.
• Plan where children and pets will be during the visit and after it.
• Get the pests, rooms, visits and warranty in writing.
• Compare the one-off price with the contract price.
• In an HDB flat, report pests in common areas to your Town Council.