Where Newham's Rats Come From
Old drains under East Ham and Plaistow
The terraced streets of East Ham and Plaistow sit on drainage laid well over a century ago, much of it since extended or altered as houses were converted into flats. A cracked pipe or a loose joint under a kitchen extension gives rats a way into the floor void without ever showing themselves outside, which is why activity indoors with no visible burrow so often comes down to the drains rather than the garden.
Railway land and gardens around Manor Park
Manor Park's terraces back onto railway land and the cemetery, both of which give rats cover to move between properties above ground. Compost heaps, overgrown borders and bird feeders left out through winter draw them into gardens here before they find a gap around a shed base or drainpipe leading indoors.
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 a Newham Rat Problem Returning
We'll explain the treatment and, where the route in is a drain fault, what needs looking at separately, before anything is booked.
