Rats, rodents and pest control
As a property owner, it's your legal responsibility to keep the property rodent-free. If you rent, it's your landlord's responsibility. This is under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949.
Rats, rodents and pests can be a serious risk to your health. They can also cause expensive property damage. Follow our tips on how to prevent rodents from entering your home.
If you've already got rodents on your property, you should contact your local council or an approved pest controller.
Who to contact about rodents
Your local council or an approved pest controller should investigate the problem.
Contact your council
Some councils offer a pest control service, but most will simply offer advice. Contact them to find out what the next steps are for you.
Hire an approved pest controller
If your council doesn’t offer pest control, you should contact a BPCA approved pest control company. They'll carry out a survey to find where the rodents are coming from.
Pipe and sewer responsibility
The pipes within your property boundary are your responsibility. The public sewers under roads and pavements are ours. Find out more about pipe and sewer responsibility.
Sometimes, the council or pest control company may identify or suspect a defect with one of our sewers. If it’s confirmed that rats are coming from our sewers we can investigate and, if needed, repair our sewer.
In these cases only, you should contact us and provide your report reference number. We use this to confirm you've contacted the council or pest control. Without a reference number, we may not be able to help you.
If you choose to deal with the rats yourself, make sure you follow the government guidance.
How to prevent rats and mice
Did you know rats can enter your property through a gap as small as 1.5cm? These tips can help you prevent rodents at home.
- Remove any potential nesting sites by keeping gardens clean and tidy. Cut back any overgrown areas.
- Make sure that drain inspection covers are in place and in good repair
- Be aware that any food source, such as compost heaps, would attract rodents
- Seal any gaps around your heating and water pipes. Seal disused pipes entirely.
- Ventilation bricks and slots should already have a fine wire mesh incorporated. If this is worn, replace it externally with 3.15mm insect mesh.
- Don’t leave household waste where rats can get access to it. Keep dustbin lids and composters closed.
- If you're feeding birds, use a bird table or feeder basket. Don't put bird seed out on the ground.
- Never pour fat, grease and food scraps down sinks. Not only can it block your drain and cause flooding, it's also an attractive food source for rodents.
- Interceptor caps in manholes are there to prevent odours only. A missing cap will not be the cause of rodent activity.
Download the British Pest Control Associations (BPCA) leaflet for more advice about how to stop rats getting in your home.
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