Where Lambeth's Rats Come From
Drain faults under Brixton's terraces
The Victorian terraces around Brixton's market and town centre sit on drainage that's rarely been fully replaced since it was laid, and a cracked pipe or a displaced joint under the street is the most common reason rats appear indoors with no visible entry point outside. Activity reported in one flat in a converted terrace often has its real cause several doors away, under the pavement rather than in that particular garden.
Gardens backing onto Brockwell Park in Herne Hill
Herne Hill's Victorian villas near the railway station back onto Brockwell Park in several streets, and rats living in the park's undergrowth will readily move into a garden that offers a compost heap, a shed base or fallen fruit from an old tree. This above-ground route is a different picture from the drain-related activity closer to Brixton, so it's worth telling us whether your garden backs onto open land when you call.
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
Stopping Lambeth's Rats Coming Back
Whether the cause is a drain fault or a garden route, closing off the way in matters as much as dealing with the rats found inside.
