Rat Deterrent

Deterring rats is fundamentally about denying them their core survival requirements: Food, Water and Shelter. Unlike mice, rats need daily access to a water source. They only drink between 15ml and 60ml of water a day, but they need access to it easily and consistently. When it comes to food, brown rats need up to 30g a day. They're renowned for eating just about anything, but rats prefer to eat small amounts of a wide variety of foods, giving them a very varied diet.

Rat Need: Brown rats require up to 30g of food daily and are omnivorous.
Your Action: Store all foods, including animal and bird feed, in sealed rodent-proof containers.

Rat Need: Brown rats need daily access to water (15ml - 60ml).
Your Action: Remove standing water sources, promptly fix all leaks, and ensure your drainage system is sealed.

Rat Need: Shelter that is warm, protected from the elements and safe from predators.
Your Action: Seal all potential entry points in your building fabric and remove external clutter that provides them with cover.

Rats are nimble, versatile, and relentless in their search for entry. Black rats are exceptional climbers and often target lofts and roof spaces. Brown rats are more commonly found away from coastal areas. They prefer to burrow near solid structures, often using sewer and drainage systems. Both species will gnaw to widen small gaps for easy entry. From a sustainability perspective, maintaining a rodent-proof environment is essential. This proactive step naturally limits the need for control treatments, thereby reducing the potential environmental risk from chemical treatments on the local wildlife and better safeguards local ecosystems.

Making your property unattractive to rats is a good first step, but for genuine security, your premises must be made physically inaccessible. To guarantee this a proofing survey is vital to pinpoint all potential entry points. This assessment should be thorough (head-to-toe) covering everything from the roofline to below ground - with special attention paid to drainage systems.

• Seal Gaps and Cracks: Check foundations, walls, and eaves for any holes or gaps. Seal them using rodent-proof materials like cement mortar, wire mesh, metal plates, or Rentokil Flexi Armour rodent-proofing range. Do NOT use soft materials such as expanding foam, wood or silicone products as rats will gnaw through them very easily.
• Protect Vents and Drains: Cover all air bricks, vents, and utility openings with sturdy, galvanised wire mesh (with gaps at 5mm or less this can also help prevent mice from entering). Ensure all drains are properly covered and sealed with a suitable product, such as a metal cover. Plastic is the cheapest product, but rats can chew straight through them.
• Secure Utility Lines: Pay close attention to where pipes and cables enter your building. Seal any gaps around them securely. Take precautions and seek professional help when proofing around electrical cables as there are products which are not suitable, such as metal.
• Check the Roof: Rats are excellent climbers. Repair any damaged roof tiles or gaps under eaves that could provide access to your loft or attic.
• Check your Drains: 9 times out of 10, rat activity at a residential property can be linked to the sewers. There are signs which can indicate drain related rat activity, such as droppings, smearing, and gaps within a manhole or inspection chamber, droppings in your loft (may be linked to the soil stack). Other signs of concern are finding tree roots, debris or blockages in your drains which can indicate structural damage which can be capitalised by rats. If you are concerned about drainage, then a survey using CCTV cameras is required. Installing one-way valves can prevent rodents from entering your premises. Remember, rats can gnaw through plastic, so it is advised a metal valve is installed.

At Rentokil, our service strategy is built on the principles of Exclusion, Restriction, Destruction and Monitoring. We place Exclusion and Restriction first because preventing a rat infestation is the most effective way to safeguard your property against serious health and structural risks. While DIY options exist, proofing against rats requires specialised expertise and experience to ensure it meets the required standards. We don't just offer temporary fixes; we provide comprehensive solutions.

We utilise our unique and innovative rodent proofing range, Flexi Armour, which is specifically designed to exclude rodents from your premises. Furthermore, because we understand the complex entry opportunities rats use, we offer tailored rat drain surveys to prevent access via your drainage system.

In short, we offer professional, targeted, and complete rodent proofing that goes far beyond standard measures.