Rats in the roof space 😵

[Tomcullenisahero]

My friend has a rat (maybe more than one) in her roof space. So far she and her OH have caught two using traps but they said they can still hear scampering in the roof space. I know her OH has checked everywhere and sealed up any possible places of entry.
I keep telling her to use Rentokil but she's so certain they can catch it themselves. Has anyone else had this problem, did you use a proper pest control service and was it expensive? I think they don't want to spend money as they've caught two themselves and are adamant they can do it.
I think I'd have to move out and call pest control at the very first noise if it were me!

We just get traps and put them down. Tell her to make sure there are no holes on the outside of her property. We had a little small hole beside our boiler and that’s how the got in, they managed to make it up to the attic but they didn’t do much damage and we got them in the end.

We did. We put bait down, I found one dead one. The following year I could hear noises again and we rebaited. There are lots of main drains in the property and I think that's how they get in. We also had mice in the garage roof cavity.

I called a pest controller who was lovely, he looked around and said we were doing everything he would do. He gave us a couple more tips and went away saying not to pay him.

We had no rats yet this year.....but it is the cold which drives them inside, and no more either.

But we now have 2 cats....one of which already followed me into the loft one day....so we are ready for them. (That's not true I wouldn't really send my cats in the loft as it's dangerous for them.)

Thanks for your replies, it's good to hear you've managed to tackle the problem yourselves. I honestly thought professionals should be called in as I've never heard of anyone dealing with rats (shudder) themselves and I worry that she'll end up with loads of them. I'll stop telling her to get pest control in as I don't want to be that annoying friend, and buy her another trap lol

It's not thought of well here and people get flamed for using it....but she needs to poison as you want to get the nest gone. There is never a lone rat.....

We were advised to use this www.onbuy.com/gb/15kg-roshield-block-bait-for-rat-and-mouse-poison-control~c7197~p19634891/?exta=gshp&stat=eyJpcCI6IjIwLjQ5IiwiZHAiOjAsImxpZCI6IjI1NTMyMTEzIiwicyI6IjQyMTQiLCJ0IjoxNjA3MTAzNDMzLCJibWMiOiIxLjAifQ==&lid=25532113&gclid=CjwKCAiAiML-BRAAEiwAuWVggnRKWaLDqQebIv5puHb6JLqtwSdwHLuTwmBBZrvvR5uxhhB7pQc39xoCx7oQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

And you nail it to some wood in the loft so that it isn't moved and can't be taken outside and left in danger to other animals. You are also able to see if it is touched by the rats. Place it in the rat runs. Alternatively you can use a bait station box.

We had mice and the only thing that got rid of them permanently was poison. We dont have pets or small children so put plates of it everywhere.