Rats

Call us for a quote on 0808 163 1487 or Contact Us

For over 100 years we have protected properties across the UK from pests

All local technicians are highly trained and qualified pest controllers

Innovative and unique treatments that resolve pest problems effectively

Rats: A Guide to Understanding and Controlling Infestations

Fast, professional rat control for UK homes and businesses. Rentokil experts provide certified, and effective rat control and prevention solutions across the UK.

Rats are one of the most common pests in the UK and can pose a serious threat to your health, property, and peace of mind. If you’ve seen signs of rats, acting quickly is vital.

At Rentokil, we combine over 100 years of pest control experience with innovative technology and adhere by the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use practices (CRRU-compliant) to protect homes and businesses from rat infestations safely and effectively.

Whether you’ve noticed gnawing, sounds at night or found droppings in the loft, our qualified technicians provide discreet, and dependable solutions across the UK.

The Risks of Rat Infestations

A rat infestation can quickly escalate from minor to major damage. Rats gnaw through wood, insulation, and electrical cables, leading to fire risks and expensive repairs. Their droppings and urine spread diseases such as Weil’s disease (Leptospirosis), Rat-bite fever, and Salmonellosis.

For businesses, a rat problem can lead to product contamination, reputational harm, and breaches of UK Food Safety and Health & Safety legislation. Rentokil’s CRRU-compliant pest control ensures risks are reduced responsibly while maintaining full legal compliance.

Essential Rat Awareness and Prevention Guide

Unchecked rat activity poses a severe risk to any property, but early detection and proactive prevention can save you from extensive structural damage and costly repairs.

Acting quickly deprives rats of the food, water and shelter they need, helping to stop infestations before they multiply. Use our Rat Awareness and Prevention PDF Guide as a helpful checklist.

Watch for warning signs that include: nocturnal scratching in walls, dark spindle-shaped droppings, fresh gnaw marks, a stale, ammonia-like odour and greasy rub marks along skirting boards.
Safeguard your environment by: sealing potential entry points (keeping in mind that rats can squeeze through gaps as small as 24mm) storing food in airtight containers, fixing leaking pipes to eliminate water sources, and securing outdoor rubbish bins.
Understanding their habits: such as a brown rat's preference for ground-level nesting or a black rat's tendency to nest up high, is crucial, especially given their remarkable abilities: adult rats not only squeeze through a 24mm hole due to their collapsible skeleton, but can jump up to three feet vertically, and track food scents from over a mile away.

Rat Awareness & Prevention Guide PDF

Understanding Rat Behaviour

Rats are adaptable, intelligent rodents that can quickly exploit weak points in a building. Understanding their habits helps prevent and control infestations effectively.

Black Rats vs Brown Rats

Black rats (Rattus rattus) – agile climbers that often nest in lofts or roof spaces.
Brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) – skilled burrowers, commonly found in sewers, gardens, or beneath outbuildings.

Our targeted treatments identify which species is present, allowing technicians to choose the safest and most effective control methods.

Rat Species

Identify Your Unwanted Guests: Learn About Rat Species

Identify a Rat Infestation

Identify some common signs of rats to help tell if you have a problem

Difference Between a Rat and a Mouse

Effective Rodent Control Starts with Knowing the Difference.

How Rats Enter Homes and Businesses

Rats can squeeze through gaps as small as 2 cm which is about the width of a thumb. That means a rat can enter through a space no larger than a £1 coin. They are also capable climbers and can scale rough brickwork, cables, and drainpipes to reach roof spaces and lofts.

Common access points include:

Damaged drains or pipework

Uncapped or cracked drainage pipes, old sewer connections left open after building work, or gaps where plumbing exits walls (such as behind washing machines, sinks or outdoor taps).

Gaps under doors or around dock levellers

Especially in garages, warehouses, or loading bays where brush strips or seals have worn away.

Cracks in brickwork or weep vents

Even a small crack in mortar can be gnawed wider by a determined rat. They will chew, dig, or enlarge any weak point to create an entry route.

Utility access points

Around gas pipes, air bricks, or cable entry holes for broadband or power supplies.

Rats are strong enough to gnaw through plastic, wood, and soft metal, and will dig around concrete footings if soil or insulation provides an easier path. They may also climb inside vertical pipes or soil stacks to gain entry through broken joints or roof vents.

Rat Control for B2B Customers

Protect Your Business: Book a Free Survey for Expert Rat Control.

Pest Connect

24/7 connected monitoring and control of rodents

Commercial Pest Control with Rentokil

Expert Commercial Pest Control Solutions from Rentokil.

The Rentokil Process

1. Contact

Call us and we will arrange for your local team to contact you

Local experts
Calls returned within 24 hours (Mon - Fri)
Trustpilot Accredited

2. Survey

We will discuss your pest problem, arrange a survey if necessary, and provide a quote and recommendations

Appointment at a time convenient to you
Solutions tailored to your pest problem
BPCA certified

3. Treatment

Our BPCA certified technicians will come out to provide your treatment

Appointment at a time convenient to you
Tailored treatment & effective solutions offered
Child & pet friendly treatments

4. Aftercare

We'll continue to monitor for pests to ensure any new activity is resolved quickly

Pest identification & prevention advice
Effective & discreet solutions
Peace of mind

Effective Rat Control Methods for Your Home

DIY traps may catch one or two rats but rarely tackle the source of an infestation. Rentokil offers Integrated Pest Management that combines safe, professional solutions:

Traps and Bait Stations: Secure, tamper-resistant boxes with traps or licensed rodenticides, used only by trained Rentokil technicians under CRRU guidelines.
Environmental Proofing: Sealing entry points, improving waste management, and eliminating nesting areas.
Hygiene Guidance: Reducing access to food and water sources.

Our pest experts use targeted techniques designed for both domestic and commercial environments.

Protecting Your Business from Rats

For UK businesses, rat infestations can be catastrophic and can cause stock loss, reputational damage, and non-compliance with food safety and health legislation. Rentokil provides discreet, auditable pest control programmes tailored for all sectors.

We conduct on-site risk assessments, provide digital reporting (that can be accessed 24/7), and create service plans tailored to your premises.

Eliminair Connect non-toxic multi-catch rat trap in-situ outside office building

Eliminair Connect Multi-Catch Rat Trap Solution

Eliminair Connect Rat Trap is a next-generation non-toxic multi-catch containment rat solution utilising high-pressure air technology to deliver zero-chemical dispatch in under 15 seconds. Designed for high-compliance environments, this fully compliant, HACCP-certified, system provides proactive 24/7 protection. It delivers a 57% higher entry rate than the closest market alternative* making Eliminair Connect three times more attractive to rats than other similar traps.

As part of Rentokil’s digital PestConnect ecosystem, it provides active monitoring giving facility managers seamless compliance and uninterrupted protection.

*Based on controlled lab testing of trap entry rates against four competitive multi-trap units

Rise of Rats

Understand the growing threat of urban rat infestations.

Rat Prevention Top Tips

See how to prevent rats with practical advice & easy-to-follow steps

DIY Rat Products

Our products range includes rat traps and rat killer, which if used correctly are suitable for use within the home and outdoors

Rat bin bung protecting commercial waste bins from rat access

Commercial Rat Bin Bung

Unsealed drainage holes in commercial bins create an open invitation for rats, directly threatening your site hygiene and operations. When rats gain easy entry, they gain an abundant food supply—drastically reducing the effectiveness of your pest control treatments while increasing health risks for staff and customers.

Worse yet, visible pest activity around waste areas can quickly compromise your business reputation and invite costly regulatory penalties. Sealing these vulnerable drainage holes with Rat Bin Bungs is a critical first step in shifting from reactive pest control to a proactive, reliable defence that protects your business from rats and maintains a safe environment.

Sewer Control Solutions

Brown Rats in Sewers and Drains: A Hidden Threat

Written by Paul Blackhurst

How Rodents Sneak into Your Premises and How to Stop Them

Written by Paul Blackhurst

Rat Infestations After Storms and Flooding

Written by Jackie Stocks

Rentokil’s Advanced Rat Control Solutions

PestConnect 24/7 Digital Monitoring

Our innovative PestConnect system provides continuous digital monitoring for rats. When rodent activity is detected, it automatically alerts our technicians, enabling rapid response and prevention before an infestation has time to escalate.

Eliminair Connect

Safeguard your operations with the Eliminair Connect Rat Trap, a next-generation, non-toxic multi-catch solution built for proactive, 24/7 protection. By leveraging high-pressure air technology, it achieves a zero-chemical dispatch in under 15 seconds without compromising on safety or sustainability. Fully compliant and HACCP-certified, it offers the ultimate high-compliance defence to keep your facility pest-free and audit-ready around the clock.

Dual Autogates

Dual Autogate systems open only when rodent activity is detected, reducing the amount of rodenticide exposed to the environment, but still allowing fast and effective rodent control.

Comprehensive Site Inspections

Each treatment begins with a full survey of your property to identify entry points, nesting areas, and contributing factors. From there, our experts design a plan suited to your specific risks and needs.

Rat Proofing to Prevent Infestations

Prevention is the most sustainable form of pest control. Denying rats access to food, water, and shelter dramatically reduces infestations.

Store food in sealed metal or glass containers.
Keep kitchens and outdoor areas tidy.
Secure bins with tight-fitting lids.
Maintain drains and repair structural gaps.

Rentokil’s Flexi Armour system provides robust, proofing solutions for homes and businesses.

Rentokil’s Advanced Rodent Proofing – Flexi Armour

Our Flexi Armour range offers durable solutions that prevent rats from entering through even the smallest gaps.

Flexi Seal - Our exclusive proofing product contains metal wires that can help to seal around pipe entries and small gaps in properties.
Weep Vents - Breathable steel mesh inserts that allow airflow while blocking rodent access to cavity walls.
Dock Levellers - Tight-fitting seals for loading bays, a common weak point in warehouses and logistics centres.
Door Seals - Flexible, hard-wearing barriers for roller shutters and pedestrian doors.

By sealing entry points, Flexi Armour reduces the need for rodenticides and supports your environmental sustainability goals

Proactive Rat Prevention Tips

A few simple habits can make a big difference:

Store waste in robust bins with lids.
Clean bird feeders and remove fallen seed.
Keep gardens free from clutter and debris.
Avoid putting cooked food waste in compost.
Inspect and maintain drains regularly.

For expert advice, read our guide on brown rats in sewers and drains.

Rats Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to get rid of rats?

The most effective, sustainable rat elimination strategy is a multi-step approach prioritising prevention and removal. Crucially, eliminate attractants (food, water, shelter) by sealing entry points with materials like wire mesh or cement, securing outdoor bins with tight-fitting lids, and clearing garden clutter. For active infestations, use traps (e.g., snap traps) or professional-grade rodenticides in secured bait stations. Due to rats' rapid reproduction, complex nest locations, and the need for safe, compliant treatment, hiring a certified pest control professional is advised for thorough inspection to identify entry points, safe targeted treatments, and advice on long-term proofing solutions.
Is it normal to see a rat in your garden?

Occasional rat sightings are more common than you think, as they thrive in UK urban gardens, parks and rural areas. Gardens provide essential food (bird seed, fallen fruit, compost), water (leaks, bird baths), and shelter (under sheds, decking, woodpiles) they need. Seeing one rat at dusk or at night may be minor. However, frequent daytime sightings or other signs like droppings, gnaw marks, or burrows (5–10 cm wide holes near structures) may indicate an established infestation nearby, requiring immediate action.
What scent will keep rats away?

Certain strong, pungent odours may deter rats temporarily, but they don’t solve infestations. Rats have a highly developed sense of smell, making them sensitive to strong odours like peppermint, eucalyptus, citronella and ammonia (mimicking predator urine). These scents can overwhelm their senses for a short time and disrupt their navigation and ability to find food. However they are short-term deterrents. Professional exclusion, rodent proofing and sanitation are essential.
What do rats eat?

Rats are opportunistic, adaptable omnivores, consuming a wide variety of plant and animal matter based on availability. Eating everything from discarded fast food, pet food, bird seed, grains, meat scraps and carcasses to fallen fruit, garden vegetables and content of compost bins. Some species show preferences, such as Norway rats favouring high-protein meats and pet food, while Roof rats usually prefer fruits. Their lack of fussiness is key to their success, highlighting the need to secure all food sources to help prevent an infestation.
Are rats dangerous?

Yes, wild rats are dangerous to human and pet health, and property. They are known carriers of serious diseases, transmitting illnesses like Leptospirosis, Salmonellosis, and Hantavirus through bites, scratches, droppings, urine, saliva, or parasites (fleas/mites). Their constant gnawing causes property damage, including chewing electrical wiring and plumbing, potentially creating fire hazards. Due to these risks, any confirmed rat infestation requires prompt, professional attention.

Contact Rentokil: The UK’s Rat Control Experts

Don’t let a rat infestation threaten your home or business.

With nationwide coverage, BPCA-qualified technicians, and CRRU-compliant solutions, Rentokil is the trusted name in rat control and prevention across the UK.

📞 Call us today or book your inspection online to eliminate rats quickly, safely, and responsibly.

Next Steps

Find your local branch

Please try again...

Get in Touch

Contact an expert about getting rid of rats

Rat Control

Rat Control Solutions for Business