The technician left an hour ago and an email has just come in: the photo report of the visit. Many customers skim it, check that everything went well, then file it away. That is a pity, because this document answers exactly the questions people ask after a visit: what did they find, what did they do, and what do I need to do now?
At Expert Dératisation, this report is sent on the same day as every visit. It is just as useful to the tenant of a studio flat as to a restaurant manager or the syndic (managing agent) of an apartment building. Here is how to read it, section by section, and what it will be useful for in the weeks that follow.
What the report contains, section by section
The content varies with the pest and the premises, but the structure stays the same from one visit to the next. That is what makes it possible to compare two reports and see how things are evolving.
| Section | What you will find | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Identification | Date, time, address, technician, type of visit (first treatment or follow-up) | Places the visit in the follow-up and makes it easy to find |
| Findings | Signs recorded, rooms or areas affected, species identified | Shows how extensive the situation is |
| Photos | Signs, entry points, stations installed, work carried out, each with a caption | Lets you see what the technician saw, including areas you never go to |
| Products | Trade name, active substance, quantity and location | Biocide traceability and precautions to follow |
| Station map | Number and position of each bait station or trap | Helps you find the stations and leave them in place |
| Recommendations | Gaps to seal, storage, hygiene, access to clear | Shows what depends on you |
| Next step | Date or timeframe of the follow-up visit set out in the protocol | Helps you plan the next visit |
The report only records what was observed and done on that day. If a room could not be opened, it says so: that is information, not an oversight.
Reading the photos properly
A report photo is not an illustration, it is evidence of what was found. Three habits help you get the most out of it.
- Read the caption before the image. It says where the photo was taken ("under the sink, left side", "service riser on the landing"). Without it, a close-up of a skirting board tells you nothing.
- Tell findings photos from work photos. The first show a problem: droppings, runs, a cockroach egg case, a cable hole. The second show what was done: a fixed station, a sealed gap, gel applied.
- Compare from one visit to the next. The same spot photographed at the first treatment and at the follow-up shows whether activity is going down. That is the point of a stable structure.
The vocabulary you will come across
A few terms come up often. They have a precise meaning.
- Activity sign: a recent sign of presence (fresh droppings, bait eaten, trap triggered). An old sign does not count in the same way.
- Uptake: the share of bait eaten in a station. Uptake that drops from one visit to the next is a good sign; zero uptake from the start may mean the station is badly placed or the species is different.
- Entry point: the gap through which the pest reaches the premises (space under a door, duct, vent).
- Harbourage: a place where insects hide during the day, typically near a heat source.
- Active substance: the molecule that does the work, as opposed to the product's trade name.
What the report does not say
A report describes facts and the means used. It does not certify that no pest will ever return: in pest control, the professional has an obligation of means, not of result, and a re-infestation can come from a neighbouring flat, a delivery or a suitcase. That is precisely why the report spells out recommendations and schedules a follow-up visit.
A useful report does not say "all is well". It says what was seen, what was done, and what needs watching.
What you can use it for next
At home. As a tenant, the report documents the presence of the pest and the treatment carried out: since the French ELAN law of 2018, a decent rented home must in particular be free of any infestation by pests and parasites. The report makes the conversation with the landlord easier. As a landlord, it shows that you acted and tells you what to check before the next letting.
In your shop or restaurant. The European regulation on the hygiene of foodstuffs requires adequate procedures to control pests. During a health inspection, successive reports, the station map and the list of products used show that pest control is organised and followed up. Keep them together, in order.
In a co-owned building. For the syndic and the residents' council, the reports provide concrete material to present at the general meeting: areas affected, gaps to seal in common parts, progress from one visit to the next.
The report within the Sentinel Protocol
The report follows the four steps of our Sentinel Protocol. The Inspect step fills in the findings and the photos of signs. The Treat step provides the products section and the station map. The Sanitise step shows up in the work photos and the recommendations. Finally, the Follow up step relies on comparing reports and on your active vigilance between visits: if you see a new sign, note the place and date and pass them on to the technician.
Take a concrete example of rodent control in a building's cellar: the first report shows brown rat droppings near a basement vent, four numbered stations and a grille to fit; the follow-up report shows the grille in place, falling uptake and no fresh droppings. Two documents, and the whole story is easy to follow.
Going further
The photo report is one of our commitments, described on the same-day photo report page, as is the follow-up visit. It comes with every job, for example rodent control or insect treatment. For regular follow-up, see our annual contracts and the page for managing agents. Prices are published on the pricing page, and you can book a visit online. One case where the report helps a lot: rodents in lofts and suspended ceilings, where you cannot go and look yourself.
FAQ
How long should I keep a pest control visit report?
There is no single period for a household, but keep it at least until the follow-up is over and for as long as you live in or let the property. For a food business or a restaurant, keep all reports together with your pest management plan: they show the continuity of the follow-up during an inspection.
Can the photo report be used in a dispute between tenant and landlord?
It is a dated document describing what the technician observed and did. It can therefore support a discussion with the landlord, the letting agency or the managing agent. On its own, it does not settle the question of responsibility, which depends on the situation and the applicable rules.
What should I do if I notice a new sign after the visit?
Do not move the stations and do not spray household insecticide. Take a photo of the sign, note the date and exact spot, then send these details by replying to the report email. The technician can compare them with their own photos and adapt the follow-up visit.
