NDN Rat Infestation

[fairydustandpixies]

Not sure if property is the right place to post but here goes...

My 86yr old neighbour has had a growing rat infestation since October last year (we are terraced NDNs in 200yr old houses). She's told me that they're in her cupboards, eating through packets, leaving droppings everywhere. She doesn't know where they're coming in.

I've seen several in her garden from my kitchen window.

She has five middle aged children, dozens of grandchildren, all local and who see her regularly. So far, one of her sons has put some rat poison down and that's it.

Here is the problem - the rats aren't in my house but I hear them gnawing on the party wall, the noise wakes me up at night. This afternoon I've heard loud squeaking as if from a nest under the floor (again, not my floor but I've put my ear on the floor next to our party wall, I have laminate floor so easy to hear through). They are definitely not in my house...yet! I can't put poison or traps down in my house as I have a dog. I have just ordered a plug in sound deterrent gadget which has great reviews at getting rid of rats so I'm hoping that might help.

Our local council doesn't have environmental health for domestic homes, only restaurants and the like. I've called them and they just directed me to private pest controllers. But they're not in my home so I'm rather helpless.

Does anyone have any ideas other than the electronic deterrent that I've ordered to get rid of the rats? I've tried to help my neighbour by making suggestions to get rid of them but she won't pay for a pest control company, I've just lost my job so I can't get one in for her, I feel her very large family are letting her down, it's just terrible. It worries me because she can't hear them so they could be scurrying over her bed at night as she sleeps downstairs in the room I hear the squeaking and gnawing from.

Any suggestions would be so very welcome (and yes, I have considered a flame thrower, LTB and a bull dozer, haha!).
Thank you in advance!

[tinytemper66]

A vicious cat?

[fairydustandpixies]

Great idea @tiny but she's had cats all her life and doesn't want anymore since her last one died on her lap a couple of years ago!! I can't have one because I'm allergic. My dog looks tough but is terrified of everything so he's no good either!

[Sunshineand]

Is her garden overgrown?
There must be a reason they're coming in.

[fairydustandpixies]

No, it's not at all, she's very much a keen gardener. Her house is very cluttered though.

I can hear the gnawing again right now, the sound moves along the adjoining wall, definitely from her side. It's so loud.

I could cry tbh. She's not in very often as she visits her family and has a great social life for someone her age. She's out and I'm hearing her rats wondering what the hell to do.

[MissEliza]

Why isn't she getting a pest controller in?

[CatAndHisKit]

God that's horrendous! I can't believe council won't interfere in terns of enviromental/neighbours health. This should be covered by criminal negligence of the street, not just her house, as she's not detached with lots of land around..

[needmorecoffeeandcake]

I can’t believe there’s no way for the council to intervene! This is awful.

[longtimecomin]

Rats multiply at a rapid speed, my friend had 2 'boy' rats who mated and by the of the year she had over 40. Pest control need to come. Have you mentioned it to any of her family?

[fairydustandpixies]

@miss she says she can't afford to get a pest control firm in and as her son has put down poison that should be sufficient in her opinion. The poison went down early December but it's just getting worse.

The council here absolutely state they can not and will not do anything, they only get involved with commercial premises such as restaurants, care homes and so on. For privately owned homes it's a case of looking in the 'Yellow Pages' or searching online for a pest control firm.

I don't know her family as I've only lived in the area for 18 months but they are a big family (by my standards!) and are all very local. I'm upset that they're not helping her. I'm also upset that the problem is escalating massively now and I suspect the rats will be in my home in a matter of time.

I'm hoping that the electronic thing will help, does anyone have experience or know if it will penetrate through the floor? The reviews didn't say anything about penetrating floorboards but raved about free running rodents IYSWIM.

[troppibambini]

I've just got rid of rats.
It's cost me almost £1000 they were coming up from the sewers and getting in through a pipe that hadn't been capped off by the builders that extended the house before we bought it.
They were under my floor, in the cavity wall and in my loft.
Thank god not in my house.
She really really needs to deal with this ASAP is there no way you could speak to her family.
The pest control man I used was amazing but did say they are a huge amount of calls about rats.

[troppibambini]

Poison is not enough.
Young rats bit fall for it but the big ones are clever and just ignore it.
Rats favourite food is liquorice all sorts that's what our rat man baited all the snap traps with.

[fairydustandpixies]

@long I've never met any of her family. I see them drop her off outside her house occasionally, she talks about them all the time but normally she sets off with her shopping trolley and walks for a couple of miles to visit them and babysit, dog sit, do school runs, what have you. She's 86 ffs! She's absolutely being taken advantage of.

[fairydustandpixies]

@troppi - omg. I hope you've got rid of yours now after spending that amount of money. I now feel very sick as to how much worse this can get.

There are no cavities in the walls due to the age of the properties but they are definitely under her floors and will no doubt be under mine soon.

[CherryPavlova]

I think since she’s 86 and clearly not coping that it would be reasonable to make a safeguarding referral to your adult social services. A rat infestation is a significant risk.

Additionally, there is legislation:
The Prevention of damage by Pests Act 1947 Section 2 (1) states:
"It shall be the duty of every local authority to take such steps as may be necessary to secure so far as practicable that their district is kept free from rats and mice...."
I don’t believe it’s ever been rescinded. Write to CEO of local authority explaining she’s elderly and their responsibility under the act. Copy it to your MP.

[Sunshineand]

since she’s 86 and clearly not coping that it would be reasonable to make a safeguarding referral to your adult social services.

That's fab advice!

[Sunshineand]

CherryPavlova I wonder why councils refuse to get involved then?

[troppibambini]

I think mine was the worst case scenario really.
I had to have a full drain survey £400
The work to repair the pipes £200
Initial assessment and around 10 visits £200
Then a further 8 visits £150

We had a lot of visits because he had to empty and reset traps every few days.

[fairydustandpixies]

@cherry thank you so very much! I'll absolutely do that. I really appreciate you directing me to that legislation. I didn't know that was a thing. I'll definitely copy in the MP. I'm so frustrated with the council and their response to date, you've been really helpful.

I'll keep you all updated.

All these constant government cuts, disappearing departments and the vulnerable being left to fend for themselves...no 86yr old should be living in those conditions - but I'm also still angry that her family are doing nothing to help her when she does everything for them.

...and breathe....! So upset about this, lack of sleep isn't helping!

Thanks again, everyone. So much.

[fairydustandpixies]

@troppi I did peer at my house insurance policy earlier, seems it covers for rodent damage. Could you do a retrospective claim on yours? It doesn't cover getting rid of them though.

[SandAndSea]

I would contact your local town councillor and ask for help.

I would also get a biscuit, break it into quarters and put the bits in your loft. Make a note or take photos of where you've put them. Leave them undisturbed for a few days and then see if they've moved. This will tell you if you've got them in your loft.

[Asimovsfutureishere2020]

Foxes. Apparently (according to our council expert) you'll never have a rat problem with foxes around.

[CherryPavlova]

Councils refuse to get involved because they’ve had enormous budget cuts. They need to prioritise frontline services and something has to give. Many don’t have pest control services anymore.

That doesn’t actually relieve them of their legal duties though but they’ll have considered the risk of a prosecution and decided the risk is worth carrying. There have been no prosecutions brought against local authorities but many cases against private landlords.

Most people just pay privately but clearly an 86 year old may not be in a position to do so. She is at risk.

[peachypetite]

Talk to her family?

[fairydustandpixies]

Great biscuit idea and I did actually do that this afternoon but inside my kitchen cupboards rather than in my loft. I drew a circle around them and took photos.

There are no cavities in the walls and my loft is converted into a room and on a different level to NDN (think being staggered as if on a hill but we're not on a hill!). They could only get into the loft by going through my house. Or across the roof? The chimney stacks in my house have been taken out (so wrong!!).

There are no droppings in my house, I also have a sack of dog kibble which has absolutely no holes in it so I'm currently 100% sure they're not in my house but they are definitely under the floor of NDN and no doubt heading my way.

So absolutely correct about the council. My DM can't understand how they've not come out to deal with it as her local council sent the 'mouse man' out FOC 40yrs ago! The cuts, as always, hurt those already in a vulnerable position.

I'm on the case! I felt completely helpless when the council robbed me off but I feel encouraged now thanks to your advice!

[fairydustandpixies]

@cherry - sorry forgot to tag you!

@peach - see comments up thread about her family.