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You are here: Home > Environment > Environmental Health > Pest Control > Rats

Rats

This section provides information and advice on dealing and eliminating rats if they invade your home, garden or workplace.

The Council and Rat Control

In law, rat infestations are the responsibility of the owner or occupier of a property to deal with, not the Council. 

The Council does however, have a duty to enforce this responsibility where it becomes necessary to do so. 

If you have a problem with rats you can hire commercial pest controllers or the Council's Pest Control Service. Our rat control service is available to residents and businesses alike at reasonable rates. 

Commercial pest controllers can be found in the Yellow Pages under Pest Control.

Call the Council for more details on 01737 276000, or see our list of fees.

Several visits are normally required by the pest controller to lay bait, check progress and finally, clear away any surplus. 

Advice is also given on the nature of the treatment and any precautions that are necessary. Repairs or pest proofing is not included in the Council's service, neither can dead rats be retrieved from under floor voids, wall cavities or other inaccessible locations.

Hopefully though, if you follow the precautions below,  you will never require this service.

About rats

The sight of a rat generally provokes a strong reaction. We associate them with dirt and disease, and history has taught us not to tolerate them at close quarters.

Today whilst the 'Black Death' no longer stalks our city streets, the rat is still implicated in the transmission of disease to humans so there is no room for complacency.

Rats are commensal animals, that is they live in close association with other animals, and humans and usually are nocturnal.

They are not dependent on us, but our habits often favour them and they are quick to take advantage of circumstances or exploit opportunities we deliberately or inadvertently create.

And the risk of illness is not the only threat they pose. Rats cause a great deal of damage to buildings and contents due to their habit of gnawing.

All in all it is in everyone's interest to keep their numbers to a minimum. 

Modern pest control measures are effective, but cannot be relied upon entirely. There is also a cost associated with the use of rodenticides, and because they have to be toxic, use needs to be kept to a minimum.

Reasonably, there are a number of preventative steps that we ourselves can take without necessarily resorting to professional help, or suffering loss through damage or incurring any unnecessary expense.

Preventing rats in your home

Rats can gain access to a house in a number of ways, most if not all of which can be prevented by good maintenance.

• Ensure all gaps in brickwork are permanently sealed. Gaps are not normally present but can result from improvements or disrepair, i.e. pipes or cables have been inserted or removed.
• Repair broken air vents/bricks.
• With older houses, ensure any gaps under external doors are effectively closed.
• Open eaves in older style houses also permit access and should be wired over (do not stop the loft ventilation).
• Rats in the loft have gained access either by climbing up pipes or within the cavity wall itself and may indicate a problem in the drains. Check your manholes for telltale signs i.e. droppings, soil (from tunnelling).  

Preventing rats in your garden

• Feed the birds not the rats! Take care when putting our bird-food or kitchen scraps not to encourage unwanted visitors! Large amounts scattered about may well bring rats into your garden. The RSPB can advise on feeding garden birds. Phone 01273 775333.
• Home composting is an environmentally friendly way to recycle 'green' household waste. It is not recommended to recycle any cooked food scraps and leftovers by composting. Beware too: a badly constructed or poorly maintained heap will provide attractive accommodation for rats. Further information on home composting is available from Environmental Health Services on 01737 276417.
• Rats in sewers will tunnel out where there is a break in the pipework. Holes in the ground around your inspection chamber may indicate a problem, in which case repairs will be necessary. Further advice is available from Thames Water on 0845 9200 800.
• If you have an aviary or keep animals outdoors in an enclosure or hutch, you will need to take extra care to avoid vermin. Spilt animal feed, accumulated droppings and bedding material will attract such undesirables.
• Overgrown, untidy gardens, accumulated refuse, stockpiles of materials, or plain old junk can easily become infested especially if there is a local food source. A tidy garden will avoid many problems including rats, and neighbours will appreciate it too! 
• Holes in flowerbeds, under sheds - favoured locations 

Preventing rats on your land or property

• Ensure any land or property that you are responsible for does not become infested through misuse or neglect. Vacant sites need to be protected against fly tipping and undergrowth should not become overgrowth! Old sewer connections should also be properly sealed over and drains periodically checked that they remain in good repair.
• Buildings need to be protected against vermin. Even small holes or gaps around pipes through walls provide entry opportunities. Also gaps under doors, broken airbricks and windows provide easy access. Rats can climb so check up as well as down.
• Be careful with household waste. Use a rigid bin rather than plastic bin bags. 

Preventing rats in public places

• Avoid littering, especially takeaway foods. Not only is this unsightly and potentially harmful, it also encourages rats. Unwanted food scraps, empty containers and wrapping should be disposed of in litter bins or else taken home for disposal.
• Feeding birds in public open spaces is not recommended as, apart from the nuisance created by pigeon droppings, rats are likely to be encouraged as well.
• Unwanted household furniture, carpets, mattresses and appliances, apart from spoiling the outlook, also provide shelter and accommodation for rats. For information on disposal of bulky items call Neighbourhood Services on 01737 276775. 

Non-Professional Use of Rodenticides

Certain rodenticides are available over the counter for those wishing to carry out treatment themselves. However, extreme caution is necessary when using poisons in the open or indoors.

For this reason, we DO NOT recommend self-application unless you are confident you know how to do so properly, without exposing non-target animals to the risk of accidental poisoning.

Apart from the distress caused, it is illegal and could result in prosecution.