How to Get Rid of Rats in Your Home and Garden

Getting rid of rats is rarely about the rat you can see. It is about why it is there: food, shelter and a way in. Deal with only one of those and the problem usually returns.

Here is a straight look at what you can sensibly do yourself, what to avoid, and what a pest controller does differently when rats are in a house, outbuilding or garden.

Start by removing the reasons to stay

Rats stay where life is easy. Take away the easy meals and you make the place less attractive, even though this will not clear an established infestation by itself.

Walk the garden with a critical eye. Look at bird feeders, spilled seed, fruit left under trees, open compost bins, chicken feed and bins that do not close. Indoors, store dry food and pet food in lidded hard containers.

• Use bird feeders with trays, and sweep up spilled seed
• Keep compost bins closed and avoid putting cooked food in them
• Clear piles of timber, rubble and clutter from beside walls and sheds
• Use bins with tight lids and keep the area around them clean

What not to do

Do not put out bait or poison yourself. Rats can carry it away, and pets, children, birds and other wildlife can be harmed by the bait or by eating a rat that has taken it. A rat that dies inside a wall or ceiling void can also cause a smell that lasts for weeks.

Be cautious with snap traps too. A trap set in the wrong place can injure a child or pet, and rats are wary of anything new in their territory. Ultrasonic gadgets and strong smells are not a reliable fix, as rats usually get used to them.

Close the way in

Rats can squeeze through surprisingly small gaps, so a thorough check of the building matters. Look at gaps around pipes, air bricks with damaged covers, broken drain covers, ill-fitting doors and holes where cables enter.

Repairs need to be done at the right time. If you seal rats inside a property before the infestation is dealt with, they may chew through new materials or end up trapped in the structure. That is why the order of work matters.

How a professional approaches it

A good visit starts with inspection, not treatment. The technician looks for the run lines, burrows, nesting spots and entry points, and works out whether rats are mainly in the garden, in the property or both.

Treatment is then planned around the findings, using methods suited to your site and the risk to people and animals. Follow-up visits are normal, because rats rarely disappear after a single visit. The time and cost depend on the size of the problem, the type of building and how easy the access is.

Garden rats versus house rats

Rats living in a garden burrow or under a shed need a different approach from those in a loft or wall cavity. Garden activity often links to drains and neighbouring land, so the fix may involve more than one property.

If you rent or let out a property, check your tenancy agreement and official guidance about who typically arranges treatment, as it varies. Essex Pest Solutions works with homeowners, landlords and businesses across Essex.

Frequently asked questions