Are holiday home owners prepared as ant infestations spike earlier than ever?

A holiday home insurer issues “Duty of Care” warning to short-term let owners ahead of the April booking surge.

Holiday home owners are being urged to ant-proof their properties immediately following a significant 31% year-on-year increase in pest-related searches. As the Great British Staycation season kicks off this Easter, experts warn that a failure to manage the spring scout phase could lead to a wave of refund claims and irreparable reputational damage.

Data from Schofields Insurance suggests that ant sightings are occurring earlier in 2026 than in previous years. Properties that have sat empty over the winter months are particularly vulnerable, as foraging worker ants seek out new food sources just as guests arrive with Easter treats and groceries.

The financial risk of the 1 star review

“In the age of instant online feedback, an ant infestation is a financial catastrophe for a host,” warns Phil Schofield at Schofields. “Under the Supply of Goods and Services Act, guests may be entitled to significant refunds if a property is deemed ‘not of a reasonable standard.’ One bad review about creepy crawlies can tank a listing’s occupancy rate for the entire summer.”

How to avoid ant infestations

Schofields Insurance have advised the following steps for holiday home owners to protect their properties from infestations:

“Keeping your property clean is a top priority for all owners, but in ant infestation season, the standard clean isn’t always enough. Between bookings, especially if you’ve had messy guests, cleaners should use a vinegar reset: a 50/50 vinegar-water mix on all hard surfaces to neutralise the pheromone scent trails left by scout ants. Even if you haven’t spotted an ant, a single scout ant can send out enough pheromones to cause an infestation in the time between cleaning a property and guests moving in.

“Advise your cleaners to focus on problem areas, such as moving the toaster and the microwave to clean around each during every changeover. Hidden crumbs under these appliances are the primary reason that ants stay in a kitchen once they’ve entered.

“If you provide a welcome pack for guests with sugar, tea and biscuits, make sure that everything is stored in glass or heavy plastic airtight containers or the fridge. Cardboard packaging can be easily breached by foraging ants.

“During peak ant infestation months, which starts now and last until the end of summer, and in properties which are prone to ants, you may also want to remind guests of their responsibilities to keep the property clean to remain free of ants or at least provide options to encourage this, such as a secure pantry area.

“Finally property managers should regularly check for “land bridges” such as overhanging branches or overgrown shrubs touching the exterior walls. Keep bins away from the property wall too if possible as these act as an invitation for a colony to move closer to the building.”

Schofields are Coverholders at Lloyd’s of London and provide specialist insurance for thousands of holiday homeowners and their properties in the UK.