In short
Prevention in a short-term let comes down to three things: seal the entry points, cut hiding places in the bedroom and kitchen, and set up monitoring points that are checked at every clean. Do it before the season, while the flat is empty and you have time.
In peak season, check-ins come thick and fast and the slightest incident costs booked nights. It's also when luggage travels most. Better to prepare the ground beforehand, in peace.
This plan follows the logic of the Méthode Verrou: you don't just treat, you close the doors pests use and organise monitoring. It works for a studio as well as a holiday house.
Take stock
Start with a full inspection, room by room, with the flat empty. You're looking both for signs of activity and for gaps a pest could use to get in.
- Bedroom: bedding, headboard, skirting, curtains, armchairs.
- Kitchen: behind and under appliances, low cupboards, pipe openings.
- Bathroom: boxing-in, access panels, drains.
- Entrance: gap under the door, meter cupboard, service ducts.
- Rodents: droppings, gnawed paper or insulation, greasy marks along walls.
Seal the entry points
A mouse can squeeze through a gap of a few millimetres, roughly the width of a pencil, and a young rat through a hole of about two centimetres. Cockroaches travel along pipework from one flat to the next.
Fill gaps around pipes with steel wool and sealant, fit a brush strip to the front door if you can see daylight under it, and mesh any vents opening onto a courtyard or cellar. Report problems in the communal areas to the building manager: a badly kept bin store will undo your efforts.
Get the bedroom ready
This is where the battle against bed bugs is fought.
- Zipped, fully encasing covers on mattress and base, checked for tears before the season.
- A headboard fixed to the bed rather than the wall, and not buttoned or upholstered if you replace it.
- A metal luggage rack well away from the bed, with a short note inviting guests to use it.
- Curtains and throws washed at 60 °C, and fewer decorative textiles.
Get the kitchen ready
Cockroaches, ants and mice come looking for water and food. Clear cupboards of anything left by guests, keep coffee, sugar and spices in airtight tins, fix leaks under the sink and clean behind the fridge and oven, where crumbs build up.
Provide a lidded bin and clear instructions for taking it out at check-out: it's often what attracts the first visitors.
Set up simple monitoring
Insecticide-free glue traps placed under the sink, behind the fridge and near the bed act as detectors. Checked at every clean, they flag activity before it becomes visible.
Add a “pests” line to the property log for each changeover. If an alert comes in, you'll know how long the problem has been there, and the technician will save valuable time.
The pre-season plan in 5 steps
Allow half a day for a one-bedroom flat, empty.
- 1
Step 1
Inspect
Go round the whole flat with a torch and mark clues and gaps on a floor plan.
- 2
Step 2
Seal the gaps
Steel wool and sealant around pipes, a door brush strip, mesh over vents.
- 3
Step 3
Equip the bedroom
Encasing covers, a metal luggage rack, textiles washed at 60 °C.
- 4
Step 4
Clean up the kitchen
Food in airtight tins, leaks fixed, cleaning behind appliances.
- 5
Step 5
Set the markers
Monitoring traps placed, recorded in the log and checked at every clean.
Printable checklist
Before the season: prevention planTick as you go, or print the page: the list fits on a single sheet.
Frequently asked questions
Is a preventive bed bug treatment worth it?
Spraying insecticide “just in case” isn't recommended: with no target it achieves nothing and encourages resistance. Effective prevention means early detection and fewer hiding places.
What if the pre-season inspection turns up clues?
Have them confirmed by a professional and treat before you open the calendar. It's the best possible time: no bookings are lost.
Do ultrasonic repellers work?
There's no evidence that they work durably against rodents or insects. Proofing and monitoring are a far better investment.
How often should I repeat this plan?
Once a year before peak season, and after any incident. The checks done at each clean take care of the rest.
Worried after a check-out?
Book an inspection in a 2-hour slot: the photo report tells you the same day whether the flat can reopen.
