Where Ealing's Rats Come From
Old drain runs under Acton's terraces
Acton's Victorian and Edwardian houses were built with drainage that has since been altered, extended and reconnected many times as properties were converted into flats. A cracked or displaced pipe under one of these conversions gives rats a way up into a floor void with no obvious entry point from outside, which is why unexplained activity under a ground-floor flat so often turns out to be a drainage fault rather than a garden issue.
Canal-side gardens near Greenford
The Grand Union Canal runs close to Greenford, and gardens backing onto the towpath or nearby waterside land give rats a route between properties that has nothing to do with drains at all. Compost bins, bird feeders and garden sheds along here are the usual draw, and a burrow beside a shed base is often the first thing anyone notices.
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
Making Sure the Rats Don't Return in Ealing
Once the rats are dealt with, the entry point they used usually still needs closing — small accessible gaps can be sealed once the cause is confirmed.
