Licensed flea treatment for active infestations and end of lease requirements. Our three step process combines pest treatment with a truck mounted steam clean, something no pest-only operator can offer.
"Phil talked me out of a treatment I didn't need and told me how to fix it myself. Guess who I called when the real problem showed up."
Homeowner, Burleigh Heads
★★★★★
"End of lease carpet and flea treatment in one visit. Agent signed off first inspection, full bond back. Easiest part of moving."
Tenant, Varsity Lakes
★★★★★
"Old dog smell we'd given up on is gone. He explained exactly what he was doing and why. Rare honesty."
Family, Helensvale
★★★★★
"Told us upfront which stains would come out and which might not. Everything he said would happen, happened. Refreshing."
Homeowner, Robina
★★★★★
"Punctual, immaculate work, and the carpets dried exactly when he said they would. You get what you pay for."
Owner, Mermaid Waters
★★★★★
"Second property he's treated for us. Communication before arrival is next level for a tradie."
Landlord, Coolangatta
Looking for flea treatment on the Gold Coast? CPH Services Gold Coast is both a licensed pest management operator and a professional carpet cleaner. Flea problems come in two distinct situations: a precautionary end of lease flea treatment required by your lease, and an active flea infestation in a home where pets live. Both require professional treatment, but the scope, process and cost are different. Not sure which applies to you? Call 1300 85 48 28 and we will work it out with you.
Know your situation: two very different jobs
The single most important thing to understand before reading this page is the difference between an active flea infestation and a precautionary end of lease flea treatment. They are treated under the same name but they are not the same job. A precautionary end of lease treatment is a lease compliance requirement where pets were kept, whether fleas were ever present or not, and comes with the certificate your agent needs. An active infestation is a live flea population breeding in your home and needs the full three step treatment. If you are vacating a rental, see our end of lease carpet cleaning and flea treatment page for the full rental exit detail.
How quickly fleas can take over a home
One of the most common things we hear from pet owners is that they do not know where the fleas came from. Their pet is clean, well cared for and treated regularly. That is often true. But fleas spread with remarkable speed and from sources that are easy to miss.
A female flea lays up to 50 eggs per day. A small number of fleas introduced from outside can establish a full household infestation within weeks
Fleas transfer easily between dogs during play at parks, on walks, and through contact with unfamiliar dogs, without your dog showing any obvious distress
The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is the dominant flea species in Australia and readily infests both cats and dogs
Flea eggs fall off the animal into carpet, bedding and furniture, hatch into larvae, and the home becomes infested independently of the pet
Flea pupae can remain dormant in carpet fibres, floor gaps and soil for months. A property can appear flea free and then produce a new generation weeks later
Gaps between timber floorboards are a particularly effective harbourage for flea eggs and larvae, especially in older properties with wider gaps
On the Gold Coast, fleas are active year round. The warm, humid climate does not give them a season off. This is different from cooler Australian cities where flea activity drops in winter.
The three step treatment: why it produces better results
For any active flea infestation we follow a specific three step sequence. First, an initial flea treatment spray is applied to all carpeted areas. Second, a truck mounted steam carpet clean: the high heat kills adult fleas and larvae, and the industrial extraction physically removes them from the carpet pile. Third, a residual flea treatment is applied after the clean and continues killing emerging fleas as dormant eggs hatch. The critical second step is only possible with professional carpet cleaning equipment. A pest-control-only operator can spray, but cannot provide the heat or extraction of a truck mounted steam clean. That combination produces significantly better results for a carpeted property with an active infestation.
Outdoor areas are also treated as part of a full flea job. Fleas harbour in shaded garden areas, under decks, along fence lines, in leaf litter and in lawn areas. Treating indoors only leaves the outdoor population intact to reinfest your home and pets.
What to do before we arrive
We send a pre-job booking guide with every appointment confirmation. For an active infestation in a furnished home, the preparation steps make the treatment significantly more effective.
Before the appointment
Move furniture from carpeted areas onto tiled or hard floors where possible, particularly near skirting boards and where pets rest
Vacuum all carpeted areas thoroughly. Vacuuming stimulates dormant flea eggs to hatch, bringing them into contact with the treatment. Empty the vacuum outside immediately after
Wash all pet bedding in hot water on the morning of the appointment and remove it from the property before we arrive
Have your pets treated by a vet or with a vet recommended flea product on the morning of the appointment. All pets in the household, treated simultaneously
Cover and seal fish tanks and bird cages. Remove pet bowls and food surfaces
Remove pets from the property before we start and keep them off site during treatment and for a minimum of two hours afterwards
Critical note for cat owners: dog flea treatments often contain permethrin, which is highly toxic and potentially fatal to cats. Never use a dog flea product on a cat. Your vet will advise the correct cat specific treatment. Keep cats out of treated areas until all surfaces are completely dry.
What to expect after treatment
This is the section most customers wish they had read before calling us three days after the job. An active flea infestation does not disappear overnight. The treatment starts working immediately, but fleas at different life stages respond at different rates. Flea pupae are resistant to heat and most spray products, and can continue hatching for up to three months in a heavy infestation. Seeing some live flea activity for two to four weeks after treatment is normal; the residual product continues to kill emerging fleas as they hatch.
Post-treatment routine
Vacuum at least twice per week. This stimulates dormant eggs to hatch and contact the residual product sooner
Do not mop treated floors for at least 48 hours. Mopping removes the residual product
Open windows for ventilation on return, and stay out of treated areas for a minimum of 2 hours post treatment
Continue your pet's vet prescribed flea prevention program. Treating the home without ongoing pet prevention is the most common reason infestations return
Preventing re-infestation
The most important prevention step is year round vet prescribed flea prevention for your pets. A pet on a consistent prevention program that picks up a handful of fleas from the park will shed them before they can breed and establish in the home. Beyond that: check your pets after walks and dog park visits, vacuum carpeted areas and wash pet bedding regularly, keep grass mowed and garden beds clear of leaf litter, and trim vegetation away from the house. If you are on a regular pest control maintenance schedule with CPH Services Gold Coast, flea activity is monitored as part of every visit.
Bought a new home and inherited a flea problem?
It happens: a previous owner had pets, the property was not treated before settlement, and you are finding fleas before you have moved a single piece of furniture in. Act quickly. An empty property is the ideal treatment environment and gives us the best possible result. Do not bring your own pets onto the property until treatment is complete, and do not lay carpet or rugs on top of an untreated infestation. We treat inherited infestation jobs with the same three step process, indoor and outdoor areas, and a follow-up at 7 to 10 days in most cases.
Flea treatment pricing
The cost depends on your situation. A precautionary end of lease flea treatment is a smaller job than a full active infestation treatment. Prices are estimates and are confirmed after a brief conversation about your property and situation. We do not charge you for the conversation. Call 1300 85 48 28.
Written by Phil, CPH Services Gold Coast. Licensed pest management technician working Gold Coast properties since 2011. IICRC accredited carpet cleaner. Three Best Rated Best Business, 2016 to 2026.
Got questions? Straight answers below. Or skip ahead:
Do I need a flea treatment if my pet has never had fleas?
If you are a renter vacating a property where pets were kept and your lease contains a flea treatment condition, then yes. Queensland tenancy law makes this condition enforceable regardless of whether your pet ever had fleas. The practical reason to comply: your agent can deduct the cost from your bond at market rates if you do not provide a certificate from a licensed technician. That deduction will cost more than the treatment done now. If you are an owner occupier with no flea evidence and no lease obligation, then no treatment is required.
How do fleas get into a home even when a pet seems healthy?
Fleas transfer within seconds during contact between animals. A dog that interacts briefly with another dog at a park or on a walk can pick up fleas without showing any immediate symptoms. A female flea lays up to 50 eggs per day. Those eggs fall into carpet and bedding within hours and begin developing independently of the animal. On the Gold Coast, fleas are active year round due to the warm, humid climate.
Can fleas live in timber floors, not just carpet?
Yes. Gaps between timber floorboards are effective harbourage for flea eggs and larvae. Debris and organic material accumulate in these gaps and provide food for developing larvae. Flea pupae in floor gaps can remain dormant for months. We treat timber floor gaps as part of every active infestation job, not just carpeted areas.
What is the three step flea treatment and why does it work better?
Our three step process for active infestations is: apply initial flea treatment spray to all carpeted areas, complete a truck mounted steam carpet clean (high heat kills adult fleas and larvae, industrial extraction physically removes them from the pile), then apply a residual flea treatment after the clean. The critical second step is only possible with professional carpet cleaning equipment. A pest-control-only operator can spray, but cannot provide the heat or extraction of a truck mounted steam clean. That combination produces significantly better results for a carpeted property with an active infestation.
Why am I still seeing fleas two weeks after treatment?
Flea pupae are resistant to both heat and most spray products. They can remain dormant deep in carpet fibres, floor gaps, or soil and continue hatching for up to 3 months in a heavy infestation. Seeing some live flea activity for two to four weeks after treatment is normal. The residual product we apply after the steam clean continues to kill emerging fleas as they hatch. Vacuuming twice weekly speeds the process by stimulating pupae to hatch and contact the residual treatment sooner.
Do I need to treat my pet as well as the home?
Yes. Treating the home without treating the pet means the pet continues to carry fleas and reintroduces them after the property treatment. Have your pet treated by a vet with a vet recommended flea product on the morning of the treatment appointment. All pets in the household must be treated simultaneously.
Is the flea treatment different for cats versus dogs?
The property treatment is the same regardless of whether you have cats, dogs, or both. The difference is in the pet treatment, which is your responsibility and your vet's domain. Dog flea products often contain permethrin, which is highly toxic and potentially fatal to cats. Never use a dog flea product on a cat. Your vet will prescribe the correct species specific treatment. In the home, keep cats out of treated areas until all surfaces are completely dry.
How much does a flea treatment cost?
For a precautionary end of lease flea treatment with no active infestation, the standalone cost is from $145. Combined with a carpet clean for a standard four bedroom single level home, the bundle comes in at the low to mid $300s. For an active infestation requiring the full three step treatment, the pest control component starts in the mid $200s depending on property size, and the carpet steam clean is an additional cost. A full treatment package for a four bedroom single level home typically starts from approximately $450. These are estimates. We confirm pricing after a brief discussion about your property and situation.
I bought a home and found fleas before moving in. What should I do?
Act quickly and call us before you move furniture in. An empty property is the ideal treatment scenario and gives us access to every area without obstruction. Do not bring your pets onto the property until treatment is complete. If your pet has already been on the property and is showing signs of flea activity, get them treated by a vet before the appointment. We treat inherited infestation jobs with the same three step process and include a follow-up visit at 7 to 10 days.
Do you provide a certificate after flea treatment?
Yes. We issue an official Pest Management Advice Service Report for every flea treatment. It includes the technician's licence number, the product used and its active ingredient, the areas treated, and a signed risk assessment. This is the documentation required by property managers for rental exit conditions.
Do you service my suburb?
We service the Gold Coast from Tweed Heads north through to Coomera and surrounding areas, including hinterland suburbs on request. Call us on 1300 85 48 28 if you are unsure.
Ready for an honest estimate?
Tell us about the job in 60 seconds. Personal reply, usually the same day. No pressure, no lock-in, no call centre.
