Where Camden's Rats Come From
Drain faults under Kentish Town's terraces
Kentish Town's Victorian terraces, mostly split into flats, sit on drainage well over a century old, and a cracked pipe or displaced joint lets rats up with no hole visible outside. Given how few of these houses have a garden of any size, a drain fault is usually the more likely explanation than anything outside.
Railway cuttings and the canal near King's Cross
The railway lines and the stretch of canal near King's Cross give rats cover to move through the area largely unseen, feeding on food waste from the station and nearby food outlets. Buildings backing onto the cuttings or towpath tend to see more activity than streets set further back.
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
Shutting the Entry Point for Good
A treated property can pick up rats again fast if the original gap is still open, so we'll flag it before we leave.
