Where Redbridge's Rats Come From
Sheds and outbuildings around Barkingside and Hainault
The 1930s semis typical of Barkingside and Hainault have gardens with sheds, garages and outbuildings that give rats plenty of cover to burrow under. Compost bins and bird feeders left out through winter draw them in first, and a gap around a shed base or old airbrick is usually all it takes to reach the house from there.
Ageing drain runs near Ilford
In the older streets around Ilford, some still with Victorian villas, rats occasionally reach a property through a drain run that's shifted with age rather than through the garden. Activity under a floor with no visible burrow outside is the usual sign of this route.
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 Redbridge's Rats Coming Back
We'll explain the treatment and how the entry point can be closed once the rats are gone, before anything is booked.
