How to Get Rid of Rats

Finding rats in your home or business is a genuinely horrible experience. It's totally normal to feel worried. Your concern is valid - rats aren't just a threat because they can spread diseases; they can also cause serious structural damage to your property and, for businesses, severely impact your reputation.

For reliable, long-term rat control, you need more than just DIY solutions; you need deep expertise and proven results. As the global expert in pest management , Rentokil has been Proudly Protecting You Since 1925 , building over a century of trust and know-how. We go further to protect the things that matter most, combining our unrivalled expertise with industry-leading innovative solutions to deliver Service Excellence.

Rats are tough to deal with and breed incredibly quickly. A small infestation can grow very quickly, which is why getting rid of rats fast and effectively is so crucial. They're masters of survival, with a single female Norway rat able to have up to 12 pups each time and can give birth between 8 and 12 times a year. That's why getting rid of rats fast and effectively is so crucial.

Whether you're a homeowner trying to protect your family or a business owner trying to safeguard your livelihood, the fastest and most reliable way to get rid of a rat infestation is to call in the professionals. At Rentokil we handle rat infestations every single day. You can be confident that we have the expertise and experience to solve your problem and give you peace of mind.

If you have come across signs of rats such as rat droppings, nesting materials, chewed items (like food, packaging, or wires), an unpleasant ammonia-like urine smell, or sightings of live rodents , our expert rat treatments are the quickest and most effective way to help you get rid of rats from your property. The first steps in controlling rodents are to identify where they are coming from, getting in, and what is attracting them. Without this vital information any efforts to eliminate rats will only provide a temporary fix.

• Where are rats living? Look for burrows/holes in the ground (6 to 9cm in diameter) outside. Check for potential nests under garden sheds, garages, under piles of wood. Indoors, they live under floorboards, in basements, wall voids, attics, or lofts.
• Where are they travelling? Outdoors, look for Rat Runs (smooth lines in the soil or flattened grass pathways). Indoors, look for rub marks (greasy smears or smudges) along skirting boards and walls.
• How are rats getting in? Check for gaps in walls, fences, around door and window frames, loose or broken roof tiles, damaged air vents and drains.
• Can you smell rats? A significant rat infestation has a distinctive ammonia-like, musky smell. This is because they are constantly urinating to mark territory as they travel and communicate. The scent is strongest in confined spaces like attics and basements.
• What are they feeding on? Outdoors, look for food sources like bird feeders, contents of compost bins, rubbish bins, fruiting garden plants and vegetables. Indoors, check pet or bird food, stored dried goods in packaging, or food left in bowls overnight.

Once you've discovered why and where rats are invading, your goal is to make your property as unattractive to rodents as possible. To do this you need to modify the environment to make it unfavourable for rats by removing access to food, water, and shelter. This is a key component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) focusing on non-chemical options.

Shelter is as important to a rat as food. By implementing controls you can often deter rats without immediately resorting to chemical solutions.

After you've removed the main attractions of food, water, and shelter, you may still have a rats issue. Your first thought might be to reach for DIY rat products such as traps and poison. While this is an option, it does come with serious challenges:

Because of such issues, contacting a professional pest controller is often the quickest and safest way to ensure an infestation is completely resolved.

When you choose Rentokil, you receive our comprehensive and highly effective pest control based on industry best practices. Our strategy is based on our proprietary ERDM principles (Exclusion, Restriction, Destruction and Monitoring). This is a holistic approach — we integrate a range of effective measures, not just rodenticides.

We understand that a rat problem at home is very different from one in a business premises. So we tailor our approach to your specific environment and needs.

Dealing effectively with rats in a home requires specific attention to the presence of family and pets. Our focus is on targeted placement and control for maximum safety.

Rats can pose a significant risk to your business reputation, hygiene standards, commodities, and structural integrity. Our specialised solutions are designed to mitigate risks and ensure compliance.

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  What gets rid of rats fast?

  The fastest and most effective way to eliminate a current rat infestation is through a combination of professional-grade snap traps and rodenticides used by BPCA certified pest control experts.

  • Professional Treatment: Rodenticides used by professionally qualified pest controllers are more effective than DIY options and are deployed with expertise and experience, accounting for rat resistance, Neophobia and safe and secure placement.
  • Snap Traps: When placed correctly along rat runways (usually close to walls) and baited with highly attractive food like peanut butter or dried fruit, traditional snap traps offer a quick elimination method, with immediate confirmation of success and is safer for the environment as it is non-toxic. However, rodenticides are more effective on large, widespread rat infestations.
  • Immediate Action is Key: Regardless of the method, the speed of eradication is extremely reliant on immediately removing all other food and water sources, and sealing entry points so new rats cannot replace those you eliminate.

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  How do you get rid of rats naturally?

  The most effective natural (or non-lethal) methods focus on prevention and deterrence by removing what attracts them: food, water, and shelter.

  • Exclusion (Rodent Proofing): The most essential step is blocking all entry points with chew-proof materials, like galvanised stainless steel mesh. Rats can squeeze through gaps as small as a 20 pence coin (20mm or 0.8 inches).
  • Remove Attractions: Secure all rubbish bins with tight-fitting lids, store pet and bird food in strong airtight containers, and clear up any fallen fruit or spilled bird seed or pet food immediately.
  • Tidy Up: Eliminate potential hiding and nesting spots (harbourages) such as overgrown shrubbery, woodpiles, and clutter in sheds, basements, lofts, or attics.

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  Do rats hibernate?

  No, rats do not hibernate.

  They remain active all year round. During cold periods, rats simply seek warm, sheltered, and dry places to nest and continue to forage for food and water. This is why you often see increased rat activity indoors during autumn and winter as they seek refuge from colder, outside temperatures.

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  Will rats leave if one dies?

  No, the presence of a single dead rat will not make the rest of the colony leave.

  There are a number of reasons why rats would not leave:

  • Danger Signal: The scent of a dead rat may cause others to be temporarily cautious, but the need for food and shelter will override any fear.
    
  • Food Source: In times of food scarcity, rats are known to be cannibalistic, so they may consume the carcass for nourishment and nutrients. So it may therefore attract rather than deter them.
    
  • Colony Size: Just one dead rat is a strong indicator of an active and established colony. A single death will not cause the entire rat colony to abandon a good source of food and shelter.