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Rentokil Review

Author Icon By Brenda Woods Updated 02/06/2024

There are many pest control companies throughout the country, but they aren’t all equal. This Old House Reviews Team has created an in-depth evaluation of industry leader Rentokil to help you find your best fit for you and your home. This Rentokil review details services offered, pricing, reputation, and more.

Rentokil is a well-known name in pest control, with branches across the globe and almost a century of experience in the industry. The pest control company supports more than half a million customers worldwide, including both residential and commercial properties. Rentokil is the parent company of top regional pest control providers like J.C. Ehrlich, Presto-X, and Western Exterminator, which provide the individual services.


Compare Other Pest Companies

Star Rating BBB Rating Phone Link
Terminix Terminix
A 866-569-4035 Visit Site
Orkin Orkin
A+ 877-868-1416 Visit Site
Hawx Hawx
B 818-273-1741 Visit Site
J.C. Ehrlich J.C. Ehrlich
A+ 866-694-7028 Visit Site
Aptive Aptive
B+ 844-573-7111 Visit Site
Terminix
Logo Terminix
Star Rating
BBB Rating A
Phone 866-569-4035
Visit Site
Orkin
Logo Orkin
Star Rating
BBB Rating A+
Phone 877-868-1416
Visit Site
Hawx
Logo Hawx
Star Rating
BBB Rating B
Phone 818-273-1741
Visit Site
J.C. Ehrlich
Logo J.C. Ehrlich
Star Rating
BBB Rating A+
Phone 866-694-7028
Visit Site
Aptive
Logo Aptive
Star Rating
BBB Rating B+
Phone 844-573-7111
Visit Site
Providers
Star Rating
BBB Rating
A
A+
B
A+
B+
ProsCons

National and regional expertise

Contacting Rentokil can be tricky; no online chat

Most comprehensive general pest control plan

Rentokil website not easy to follow due to its connection to other pest control companies

Bed bugs included in general plan

Tick and mosquito services not separate


Plans & Services

Rentokil offers integrated pest management (IPM) services, focusing on not only eliminating existing pests but preventing future infestations. The IPM approach means your pest control specialist will evaluate the pests’ feeding and breeding habits, plus its lifecycle, and your home’s conditions before tailoring a treatment plan to your needs.

Rentokil and its partners control the following pests:

  • Ants
  • Bed bugs
  • Bees
  • Cockroaches
  • Crickets
  • Fabric pests
  • Fleas
  • Flies
  • Mosquitoes
  • Moths
  • Spiders
  • Stink bugs
  • Wasps

Depending on your location, the pest control company may cover wildlife like rodents, snakes, and birds. Rentokil also offers separate control for termites, ticks, and mosquitoes.

Whether you are assigned a specialist from Ehrlich, Presto-X, or Western Exterminator, you can sign up for the comprehensive Pestfree365 program.

Pestfree365 Program

This program covers 36 of the most common household pests, from crawling insects to flying and stinging insects. While many other pest control companies offer bed bug control as a separate plan, Rentokil includes bed bug control in this program. An annual termite inspection is also included, but if you have a termite infestation, you will be charged for the treatment.

Pestfree365 involves regularly scheduled services by state-certified, trained professionals. A specialist will visit your home for an inspection and then return every four months. Customers can make unlimited service calls between the scheduled visits.

According to Rentokil, the specialist who visits for your initial inspection should be the specialist from then on, whenever possible. That way, your specialist has regional expertise and knowledge of your home’s condition. Your pest control specialist will write up a report after every visit.

Methods

Rentokil uses three types of methods for pest control—physical, chemical, and mechanical.

  • Physical – Rentokil can change the environment of your home to make it less appealing to pests. These measures could include controlling light, temperature, and humidity by changing light bulbs, innovative heat treatments, and dehumidifiers.
  • Chemical – The pesticides Rentokil uses are designed to minimize environmental impact while controlling pests.
  • Mechanical – These include glue traps, insect light traps, and mechanical traps. Rentokil uses vacuums to clear out spiders and spiderwebs.

Termite Control

Rentokil offers a targeted approach to termite control. A state-certified pest specialist conducts a thorough inspection of your home, creates a treatment plan—Rentokil strives for environmentally friendly and pet-friendly treatments when possible— and gives prevention advice. From their, they will monitor the issue.

To combat subterranean termites, Ehrlich strategically places bait stations in the soil around the perimeter of your home. For extreme drywood termite infestations, Ehrlich uses a fumigation service or spot treatment.


Locations

Available in 46 states, Rentokil has broad national reach. The only states where the company is not available include Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, and North Dakota.


Cost Breakdown

The exact cost you’ll pay for Rentokil services depends on several factors:

  • Pest type—Some pests cost more to eradicate than others.
  • Degree of infestation—If you have a serious infestation, it will be more expensive to resolve the issue.
  • Treatment process—Different types of pests require different types of treatments, and some may cost more than others.
  • Number of treatments—The more treatments you need, the more the service will cost.
  • Property size—The size of your home may affect how much you ultimately pay.

On average, the Pestfree365 program for a 2,000-square-foot home would range from $600–$1,220 annually.

Rentokil offers regular sign-up and referral discounts. For each person you refer, you receive a $40 credit toward your next month’s payment.


What To Expect with Rentokil

When you schedule an inspection with Rentokil, a licensed pest control expert will visit your property, assess your home for signs of an infestation, and identify the pest you’re dealing with. After the inspection, the expert will provide a full risk assessment and recommend different treatment methods and resources to help you implement pest-preventative practices that will prevent future infestations.


Rentokil Reviews

Rentokil and Ehrlich, Presto-X, and Western Exterminator all have multiple individual pages with the Better Business Bureau, based on location. For all of them, certain pages are not rated, while others have ratings ranging from A+ to F. This disparity indicates that certain branches are more responsive and thorough when addressing customer complaints than others. Some pages are BBB-accredited while others are not.

Below are BBB reviews left by real customers.

Heidi B. said:

“The [Rentokil] team is an extremely professional set of pest control experts, and we give them our highest rating. We were quite anxious about the unknown nature of our father’s bed bug infestation and what needed to be done, and we had interviewed several companies. However, the [Rentokil] team’s courteous and respectful response to all of our questions, no matter how small, and their incredible attention to detail gave us confidence we had found the right team for the job. They immediately completed the inspection, and Dave and Brandon gave us thorough instructions about how to prepare the house. As soon as we were ready, they were there for the treatment. When the team returned for the follow-up inspection we were bug free, and have been since! Thank you, Thank YOU, THANK YOU.”

Kathy T. said:

“My rep was Bryce. He was fantastic!! I have had service for years, and have been pleased from the first application.”

Joe K. said:

“I had this company come out for bed bugs. My cost was $1000… They used a heating treatment. A couple of days later I found another bug. I called my contact and in a nice way was told it’s not possible. He said he would call me back in a day or two when he could return. Obviously, he never did. I called about three more times on different days and times and never heard back. The one I saw must have been the last one because I never found any more. My problem is they don’t guarantee results and clearly give you the run around with no intentions to return. I don’t recommend them.”


Comparison of Rentokil to Competitors

Let’s take a look at how Rentokil stacks up against its top competitors, Orkin, Terminix, and Aptive.

Provider

Orkin

Terminix

Aptive

Overall Score Out of 100

94

98.5

91

States Available

47

47

23

Annual Cost

$575

$550–$700

$560–$620

BBB Rating*

A+

A-

A-

Online Chat

Website

Orkin.com

Terminix.com

Deals not available through This Old House

Phone Number

877-868-1416

866-569-4035

*N/A signals inconsistent accreditations and ratings


Our Conclusion

Overall, we give Rentokil a score of 85 out of 100. Its Pestfree365 program offers extensive coverage, even including bed bugs and a free termite inspection. We also appreciate that Rentokil works with experienced pest control groups who strive to assign you a specific regional specialist for your home for consistency across service visits.


Company Information

  • Company name: Rentokil
  • Company type: Public
  • CEO: Andy Ransom
  • Year founded: 1925
  • Headquarters: 1125 Berkshire Blvd Ste. 150, Wyomissing, PA, 19610
  • State availability: 46
  • BBB rating: N/A

FAQ About Rentokil

Is Rentokil worth it?

Hiring Rentokil for pest control services is definitely worth it for the peace of mind it brings. Homeowners don’t have access to the same high-quality, commercial-grade equipment and products that Rentokil does. The company has nearly a century of experience, and is well worth it.

What is included in pest control?

Pest control services include preventative maintenance, treatment, and monitoring for pest infestations. Most plans involve an initial visit, followed by quarterly or bi-monthly inspections or treatments. Most pest control companies offer a guarantee that if pests return within 30 days of treatment, a technician will come to your house to re-treat at no extra cost.

What does Rentokil do?

Rentokil offers comprehensive pest control across the globe. Its Pestfree365 program covers nearly 40 common household pests, and its targeted termite treatment program takes a multi-pronged approach.

How long does it take Rentokil to kill mice?

Rentoki’s fast-action mouse killer can kill mice within just 24 hours.


Our Rating Methodology

The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our pest control recommendations with a detailed rating methodology that we use to objectively score each provider. We review pest control plans, navigate the provider website, speak with customer service representatives by phone and online chat (if available), request quotes, and analyze customer reviews for each provider. We then score the provider against our review standards for plans and services, reputation and customer responses, customer service offerings, workmanship guarantees, financing, and availability to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.