Peel has a plan to help Mississauga homeowners get rid of rats

Mississauga residents dealing with a rat problem outside their homes can get reimbursed for up to half the cost of getting rid of the pests under a Region of Peel pilot program that runs until Nov. 30.

Homeowners in Peel who hire an approved pest control vendor to do the job can apply for partial reimbursement under the Residential Rat Control Subsidy Pilot Program, introduced last year and now extended until late this year.

The program is available only to help with rat issues “on the exterior of residential properties. Interior issues are not eligible for subsidy,” Region officials note, adding eligible residents will be reimbursed for 50 per cent of the cost of hiring a pest control service up to a maximum of $200 per calendar year.

The program is not available to businesses, institutions, apartments, and apartment-style condominiums, the Region says.

Mississauga residents may be particularly interested in the program, given the city’s recent ranking as the “second-rattiest city in Ontario” for the third-straight year. 

As far as rodent infestations go, Canada’s sixth-largest city played second fiddle only to Toronto once again last year, according to Orkin Canada and its annual top 25 “Rattiest Cities in Ontario” list.  

At a Region of Peel council meeting in March, Mississauga Ward 9 Councillor Pat Saito noted that residential construction areas are a large breeding ground for rats.

Peel officials say residents who are considering applying for the program/reimbursement should first, among other things, ensure that the exterior of their property is free from contributing issues such as junk piles, overgrown vegetation, pet waste, bird feeders and compost piles.

Also required is proof that you hired a Region of Peel-approved pest control vendor for services provided between March 22, 2021 and Nov. 30, 2022.

For more information, call 905-791-7800.