Where Bexley's Rats Come From
Drain faults under Bexley Village
The Georgian and Victorian housing around Bexley Village sits on drainage that has been patched and extended for well over a century. A cracked pipe or a poorly sealed connection under a kitchen lets rats up with no hole visible outside, which is why activity confined to one room with no obvious entry point so often points to the drains rather than the garden.
Marshland routes near Crayford
Housing along Crayford and the edge of the Thamesmead boundary sits close to the Crayford Marshes and the drainage ditches feeding the river Cray. Rats move along these waterways more freely than they do through a suburban garden, and gardens backing onto the marsh edge see more burrowing activity than streets further into the borough.
Signs to Look For
- Dark, tapered droppings roughly 1–2cm long, often in small groups
- Greasy smear marks along skirting boards, pipes and the edges of holes
- Gnawing on wood, plastic, food packaging or cables
- Scratching in ceilings, walls or under the floor, mostly at night
- Burrows a few centimetres across in soil, under paving or beside a shed
- A stale, ammonia-like smell in cupboards or under the stairs
Keeping Bexley Rat-Free After Treatment
Treatment on its own rarely finishes the job — we'll point out the gap they used so it can be closed properly.
