Birmingham Council Fined for Rodent Infestations, Retailer Hit with £2 Million Penalty
City faces scrutiny over hygiene standards in council properties and major retail outlets.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Carla Rooney
Birmingham City Council has pleaded guilty to two separate charges of rodent infestation within its own flats, while a major retailer received a £2 million fine for severe hygiene breaches across multiple city stores.
Magistrates ordered Birmingham City Council to pay £3,500 in costs for each of two cases, totaling £7,000.
The court issued abatement orders for both affected properties, mandating the council complete all necessary remedial works within a strict 12-week timeframe.
These findings emerge as the city confronts broader public health concerns, highlighted by the massive penalty against B&M Retail Ltd in July 2025.
That penalty stemmed from serious food hygiene failures, including mouse infestations that led to enforced shutdowns at three of its Birmingham stores.
The council's environmental health team initiated investigations into B&M stores between November 2024 and October 2025.
These investigations followed a surge of public complaints regarding pests, poor cleaning standards, and structural defects that allowed pests to enter the buildings.
Inspectors visited the B&M store at St Andrews Retail Park on November 11, 2024, after receiving reports of pests on the premises.
Officers discovered extensive evidence of mouse activity, including droppings and gnawed food products still available for sale.
B&M Retail Ltd had previously received the lowest possible one-star food hygiene rating.
A subsequent inspection at the B&M in Priory Square Shopping Centre on January 22, 2025, revealed an active mouse infestation.
Investigators documented gnawed food products, mouse droppings, and urine contamination on both food packaging and shelving at the Priory Square location.
Inadequate cleaning standards and specific structural flaws facilitated pest entry at the Priory Square site.
A further inspection at B&M's store at The Fort Shopping Park on October 27, 2025, confirmed widespread mouse activity.
Officers found droppings and gnawed food products across the shop floor and within storage areas, with mouse droppings even located near children's toys on display.
These severe breaches led to the issuance of Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notices, forcing the immediate closure of the affected B&M stores.
Michelle Brown, representing Birmingham City Council, confirmed B&M Retail Ltd had previously received the lowest possible one-star food hygiene rating.
The council's actions against B&M demonstrate a historical pattern of regulatory enforcement.
This echoes past efforts where Birmingham City Council prioritized addressing health and safety concerns, particularly in food hygiene, to protect consumers.
In a separate incident, Zaiqa Catering Birmingham Limited, trading as Handi Roti, faced immediate closure after a food safety inspection uncovered a dead mouse and widespread rodent droppings.
The business reopened after four days, following pest control measures and deep cleaning, with Director Muhammad Bilal Malik receiving a 12-month conditional discharge on July 13, 2025.
The repeated instances of severe infestations, from council properties to major retail chains, place significant pressure on Birmingham City Council's environmental health department.
These events reveal the ongoing challenge of ensuring consistent hygiene standards across diverse commercial and residential properties within the city.
The financial penalties and mandated improvements signal a clear directive for all stakeholders to address public health risks with immediate and sustained action.