Scratching in the loft at night. Movement in cavity walls. Droppings in the garage. A rat seen running across the garden. Damage to stored items, insulation or food.
For many people, the biggest problem is not actually seeing the rat. It is the noise, the disruption and the worry that comes with knowing something is living where it should not be.
For businesses, rat activity can lead to customer complaints, staff concerns, food contamination risks, audit issues and damage to reputation.
If you think you may have rats, tell us what you have noticed. We will explain the most sensible next step. Prices are plus VAT.
What have you noticed?
Common signs include:
- Scratching, scurrying or gnawing noises in lofts and cavity walls
- Rat sightings in gardens, sheds or around buildings
- Droppings
- Gnawing damage to timber, plastic, cables or stored items
- Smear marks along walls and runs
- Burrow holes around buildings, banks and gardens
- Missing bird food or pet food
- Damage to refuse sacks or waste storage areas
Many people first become aware of a problem because they hear activity at night rather than seeing the rats themselves.
Brown rats at a glance: brown to grey coat, blunt snout, small thick ears, heavy body, and a long tail that is usually shorter than the head and body together.
Droppings are usually dark, often around 12 to 15 mm long, and may be pointed at one or both ends. Fresh droppings can look slightly shiny. Older droppings become dry and dull.
You do not need to confirm the species before contacting us. Tell us what you have seen, heard or found.
Why is it happening?
If rats are present, there is normally a reason. They need food, water and shelter. If all three are available, they will investigate and can establish themselves.
Brown rats are known as commensal rodents, meaning they live alongside people and take advantage of the food, water and shelter created by human activity. They climb well, including drainpipes, cables and climbing plants. They swim well and commonly use drainage and sewer systems. They can burrow and need regular access to water. Drainage systems can provide both shelter and routes into buildings, particularly where defects are present.
They are cautious of new objects. That is one reason a single trap or bait box on day one does not always finish the job.
A female can produce several litters a year when conditions are favourable. A small problem can become a larger one if the cause is left in place.
Outdoor rat problems
One of the most common causes of garden rat activity is bird feeding. Spilt seed, uneaten feed and feeding areas can provide a reliable food source.
Other common causes include composting, livestock feed, poor waste storage, dense vegetation and water sources.
Indoor rat problems
Many people assume rats in lofts arrive only through roof defects. Sometimes they do.
In our experience, a large proportion of recurring internal rat problems are associated with drainage defects.
Rats commonly live in drainage and sewer systems. If a drain is damaged, poorly connected or badly constructed, they can leave the system and enter cavity walls, floor voids and loft spaces.
This is one reason why rat problems often return after treatment. The rats are not always the whole problem. The route they are using is.
How Guardian approaches a brown rat problem
We start by understanding why the rats are present. Treating the rats and leaving the cause usually means the problem comes back.
1. Investigation
We look for signs of activity, likely harbourage, food and water, possible entry points and evidence of drainage issues.
2. Root cause
That may include bird feeding, waste, structural defects, drainage defects or harbourage around the building.
3. Control
In a house we use traps first where that will work. Poison can mean an animal dying out of reach in a wall, loft or insulation.
If rodenticide is needed, we carry out an environmental risk assessment and follow current responsible rodenticide use. We do not treat rodenticide as the automatic first step in a home.
On commercial sites the method depends on the premises, the risk and any audit or food safety requirements.
Drain investigations
Guardian has its own drain inspection camera equipment. The team has completed drainage investigation training relating to rodent control.
Where a drain problem is suspected, we can investigate further and explain the most appropriate next step.
Ask us for the drain information guide if you want to understand how rats use drainage systems before we visit.
What happens when we visit?
The first visit focuses on understanding the problem: signs of activity, likely access points, potential causes and the most appropriate control method.
Where appropriate, treatment is normally carried out during this visit.
If a dead rat is accessible and can be removed safely, we will remove it. We cannot guarantee recovery from inaccessible areas such as cavity walls, beneath floors, inside insulation or within drainage systems. This is one reason we prefer traps in houses where they are suitable.
After each visit, domestic and one-off customers receive an electronic report with our findings and recommendations. Planned commercial contracts also receive the agreed site records and pest management folder.
Will one visit be enough?
Usually not.
A standard domestic rat treatment normally includes an initial visit and two planned follow-up visits. The timing depends on the control method, the level of activity and what is found during the treatment. If traps are used, we will explain how they are monitored and what you should do between visits.
Further visits can be arranged if required.
How long the work takes depends on the level of activity, the underlying cause, whether drainage or structural issues are involved, and whether recommended changes are made.
We do not guarantee that rats will never return.
Commercial considerations
For businesses the impact often goes beyond the rats themselves: food contamination, customer and staff concerns, audit observations and reputation.
We can investigate the cause, put control measures in place and provide recommendations to reduce the chance of the problem coming back.
Simple one-off problems can often be discussed initially over the phone. Planned contracts and more complex commercial work normally begin with a site survey so we can assess the risks, understand the site requirements and prepare a clear proposal. Commercial prices are quoted plus VAT.
Frequently asked questions
Why can I hear rats in my loft but never see them?
Rats are mainly active when the building is quiet. Many problems are found through noise before a rat is seen.
Does seeing one rat mean I have an infestation?
Not necessarily. Seeing one rat is still worth investigating, because rats are often present before they are seen.
Are rats dangerous?
Rats can damage property, contaminate food and are associated with several diseases. That is why prompt investigation is recommended.
Why do rat problems keep returning?
Recurring problems often mean a cause has not been dealt with. Common examples are drainage defects, food sources and harbourage around the building.
Can rats climb?
Yes. Brown rats climb well, including drainpipes, cables and similar vertical routes into lofts and cavities.
Can rats swim?
Yes. They swim well and commonly use drainage and sewer systems.
Could my drains be causing the problem?
Possibly. Many recurring internal rat problems are linked to defects in the drainage system.
Do you use poison first in a house?
No. In a house we use traps first where that will work. Rodenticide is used only where it is justified after an environmental risk assessment.
Can you remove dead rats?
If a dead rat is accessible and can be removed safely, we will remove it. We cannot guarantee recovery from inaccessible areas such as cavity walls, beneath floors, inside insulation or within drainage systems. This is one reason we prefer traps in houses where they are suitable.
Tell us what you have noticed
You do not need to know where the rats are coming from before contacting us.
Tell us what you have seen, heard or found. We will explain the most sensible next step.
