From the first signs to a documented treatment
In short
For pest control in Perth, check the company's WA Health business registration and the attending technician's authority for the proposed work. A general household pest endorsement does not cover termite treatment. Describe the affected areas, compare written treatment scopes and agree on preparation, return visits and the report you will receive. Ask whether your first booking is an inspection, treatment or both before accepting the price.
Step 1
Describe the problem before choosing a package
Tell the company what you have seen and where, even if you cannot identify the pest. Ask what assessment is needed before it can recommend a method. A whole-house offer may have different inclusions from a booking for one affected room.
Make the booking match your concern
| What you have noticed | What to ask for |
|---|---|
| Insects or droppings in particular rooms | Assessment of the pest, affected areas and entry points, with a treatment scope that names the locations covered. |
| Possible termite activity or damaged timber | A timber pest inspection with written findings. Ask whether any treatment is separately quoted and who will perform it. |
| Activity in shared gardens or building spaces | Confirm who can approve the work and arrange access with the strata or property manager before booking. |
Step 2
Check business registration and the technician's endorsements
Request the business's Department of Health registration number. WA Health says the business name and registration number should appear on its vehicle. If you cannot establish registration, contact WA Health using its customer guidance below. Ask for evidence of relevant public liability and professional indemnity insurance.
Check the attending technician's current licence and its endorsements, meaning the treatment activities they are authorised to perform. Commercial domestic pest work and termite or timber pest work have different authorisations. Read conditions on the card too. If the technician relies on an interstate licence, ask WA Health to confirm their authority before treatment. A sales-only endorsement allows advice and sales, but does not allow mixing or applying pesticides.
A provisional technician must be supervised by an appropriately endorsed technician. The required supervision depends on their training stage and age, so ask the company who will supervise the visit rather than assuming every trainee must have someone beside them throughout every job.
Step 3
Give each Perth company the same property details
Include your suburb and postcode so the company can confirm it services your address and disclose travel charges. Describe the building, affected rooms and any roof, underfloor or side-gate access. Supply previous inspection reports or termite system records if you have them.
Example brief: Ants appear around the kitchen window in our Morley house each morning. Photos attached. Please assess the source and quote treatment for the affected areas. We have a dog, a locked side gate and an existing termite system. Explain any preparation and whether follow-up is included.
Step 4
Compare the initial visit and ongoing costs
WA Consumer Protection recommends getting at least three written quotes. Check whether preparing a quote or visiting the property has a fee. A quote states an agreed price for specified work; an estimate is an approximate cost that can change.
Ask each company to list the target pest, areas covered, method, inspection fee, treatment charge, GST where applicable and return visits. For termite work, request the inspection findings, proposed system, areas protected and future monitoring or servicing charges. Check warranty exclusions and maintenance conditions rather than treating a return-visit offer as unlimited cover.
Get agreement on how additional findings or inaccessible areas will affect the work. Consumer Protection says extra work requires your permission. Keep the accepted quote and any approved price changes, along with payment and cancellation terms.
Step 5
Confirm precautions and request a treatment summary
Before the visit, ask which products will be used and why, what needs covering or moving, and whether people or animals must leave. Mark areas to treat and avoid. Confirm the waiting time for people and pets to return, and ask what activity to expect afterwards and when to call again.
Agree in advance on the post-treatment report you will receive. Ask it to identify the technician, date, treated locations, products and follow-up instructions. Keep it with the invoice and inspection findings for future visits.
WA businesses must create treatment records within two business days and retain them for three years. These include the treatment location, date and time, technician, pesticide brand, active ingredient, application rate and equipment. A quote or invoice does not replace that record. Ask for a customer summary; the record-keeping rule should not be assumed to mean the full business record is automatically handed to you.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 7 October 2026
- WA Health: how to choose a pest management business
Business registration checks, insurance, household preparation and post-treatment advice.
- WA Health: pesticide licensing and registration FAQs
Treatment endorsements, sales-only restrictions and provisional technician supervision.
- WA Consumer Protection: estimates and quotes
Written quote comparisons, quote fees, estimates and permission for additional work.
- WA Health: essential record keeping for pest management businesses (PDF)
Required treatment details, two-business-day recording deadline and three-year retention.
