Where the Borough's Rats Come From
Riverside gardens near Twickenham and Barnes
The large gardens backing onto the Thames around Twickenham and Barnes give rats plenty of cover to move along unseen, following old boundary walls and hedgerows between properties. Compost heaps and bird feeders in gardens like these are a common draw, with a gap under a shed or garden wall the usual way indoors.
Old drain runs in Richmond's Georgian streets
In the Georgian townhouses around Richmond town centre, rats occasionally reach a property through a drain run that's moved with the age of the building rather than through the garden — activity under a floor with no visible burrow outside is the sign to look out for.
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
Closing the Gap So the Rats Don't Come Back
We'll explain the treatment and how the entry point can be closed once the rats are gone, before anything is booked.
