Why there is no instant fix
Brown rats are wary of anything new in their surroundings — a behaviour known as neophobia. Something unfamiliar placed on their route is often avoided at first, and only investigated once it has become part of the background. That natural caution is why professional rat control is a process rather than a single moment, and why we explain what the treatment involves before anything is booked.
What affects how long it takes
- How long the rats have been there and how many there are
- Whether there is plenty of other food available to them
- Where they are living — a garden burrow is quicker to deal with than a colony spread through floor voids
- Whether the route in is still open, bringing new rats in
- Whether neighbouring properties are affected too
What you can do to help
Removing other food makes a real difference: bird feeders, pet food, open bins and compost all compete with the treatment. Leave anything placed as part of the treatment exactly where it is, and do not clear away or block holes during the process. Keep children and pets away from treated areas as advised.
How you know it is working
Activity falls away: fewer or no new droppings, no fresh gnawing, and the night-time noises stop. Sprinkling a little flour along a known run and checking for footprints is a simple way to see whether rats are still moving about. The signs to watch for are the same ones described in the first signs of rats.
Why DIY often takes longer
Shop-bought products are weaker than those available to professional pest controllers, whose use is governed in the UK by a rodenticide stewardship scheme. DIY treatment also rarely addresses how the rats got in, which is the main reason rats come back after treatment.
After the rats have gone
The job is not finished until the way in is closed. Read how to stop rats getting back in, and consider our rodent proofing service for small gaps.
Getting started
Rat control in Brent is £190 for a flat and £240 for a house. The sooner it starts, the smaller the problem — book rat control here or call us.
