Why Mice Move So Easily Through Hackney's Flats
Shared walls in Dalston's converted terraces
Much of Dalston's Victorian housing has been split into two or three flats over the years, and each conversion added its own partition walls, boxed-in pipework and service runs between floors. A mouse doesn't need much more than a gap the width of a finger to use any of these as a corridor, which is why an infestation that starts behind one kitchen can turn up two floors away within a matter of weeks.
Old warehouse conversions around Hoxton
The loft and warehouse conversions around Hoxton bring their own version of the same problem — big open floor plates broken up with stud walls and shared risers, often with gaps left around new pipework that were never properly closed. Mice move along these routes at night, and because several flats can share one riser, a single entry point often needs more than one household to deal with.
Signs to Look For
- Small, dark droppings the size of a grain of rice, often near food
- Scratching or scuttling in walls, ceilings or under floors at night
- Gnawed food packaging, skirting boards or cables
- A musky smell in cupboards, drawers or under appliances
- Greasy rub marks along frequently used routes
- Nesting material — shredded paper or fabric — tucked in quiet corners
Keeping Mice Out of Hackney Flats
Once mice have been dealt with, the gaps that let them in are worth closing while they're still fresh in mind — ask about rodent proofing when you call.
