To sell this stinking rat hole, I mean house because we have rats?

[RedWineAllMine]

So to cut a long story short, purchased first house a year ago, have since discovered the bastards that sold it to us never told us of the rat problem. I found rat droppings tonight in living room, and knawed pieces of wooden coving and doors throughout the house. I have been away so noticed it when I came back. I have just paid £99 for the council pest control, they will be here within the next 2 days. I know it's rats because we caught one in the loft not long ago, but laid down poison and that was the end of that until now....
So, told my Partner we are selling or I'm leaving him once council have sorted the rats. I can't live here.

Burn it.

I feel a little sad for the mice that I toss into the rubbish, weekly, but set the trap, again, thankful that they're not rats, though they're fat enough.

Also had a bird feeder in the garden, but had to get rid of that because I recently saw rats around it.
I hate hate hate this house. Wish I could burn it, but it would be deliberate, so insurance wouldn't pay out. And it fuckin stinks coz previous owner was a fag ash lil n it's all in the walls. I smell like a charity shop. Honestly I'm not joking. If my partner is insisting on not moving would I BU to ditch his ass because of this? I've sunk to a new low tonight. Was enjoying my wine until I saw it, but not any more.

Moving out sounds drastic! Why don't you just get the rat problem sorted?

You can hear them under the floor boards and in the cavity's of the wall now. Spoke to neighbours, they said the previous owners had a rat problem for years but never did anything about it. I think it's beyond getting rid of. This will be a bad infestation, n I'm dreading what council pest control man is going to say to me when he comes, although I can't wait for the visit now. Literally just went online, filled in the form n paid £99 just like that. As for horrible smell, I've suggested ripping up the carpets n freshly decorating.
Has anyone had their local council pest control out and are they any good?

Get some traps and use cat food as the bait, they can't resist it. If you use poison, they die under the floorboards and stink.

Leave the poor rats alone. They were there long before you. Drink more wine and you and Roland and his 193992 family members can become friends.

I live in Edinburgh - in the New Town - and although posh it is overrun with mice!
My advice would be to get a cat. I used to hear them moving around inside the walls and yeah, it was horrific.
Hope you get it under control. It's awful when something like this gets you down so much, that it affects your perception and enjoyment of your home.
Sympathies.

Great idea Salt! I would feel bad killing them mind, but they are filthy, so as nice as that would be it isn't plausible

We live on a hill, so have a massive hollow under the house that is accessible via a creepy side door in the garden, think horror movie n that's your door. So I think they are getting in from that hollow. Can't have a cat, I'm allergic.

Never had rats but had a v nasty mice problem once. Tried everything, was told they were ‘warfrin Resistant super mice’! Wtf!? Anyway, long story short, get a cat!
A big BIG cat

Oh dear just seen you’re allergic to cats!
In that case back to plan A.......
Move or burn it

You sound completely intimidated by your home RedWine. How did you ever come to buy it?

Goodness, I feel for you redwine. It would drive me insane hearing that horrible scratching noise and if I saw one . I really hope the council people are able to resolve the issue and leave you rat-free. It's awful not feeling comfortable in your own home

Can you borrow a ferret or are you allergic.

It sounds awful. I couldn't sleep easy hearing them in the walls. I would see if you can sue the previous owners for the cost of pest control.

It wasn't my house of choice, it was my partners, I agreed in the end but he knew I wasn't fond of it. I loved another house we saw but it needed a kitchen extension. So wasn't going to buy a house for same price and have to spend thousands on it straight away. It's in a very random area, I know no one here. Miles away form people I know/friends etc. We have rat problem and this awful foisty smell about the house which I can only put down to previous owner smoking, which she did because the utility room was the worst but we decorated it. It lingers on all of my clothes, and when I go away, the house smell comes out of my suitcase and I can smell it on all of my clothes. I'm so depressed with it all, n to top it off found rat droppings tonight.

Oh goodness,I can sympathise totally,even if the pest controllers say it's all sorted,you'll always be on edge,they'll return,not properly up and left! I don't think it's drastic moving,quite the opposite,can you and your wine go to a friend,or family's house,where you can chill and relax properly,until your ready to move away from the horrendous creatures who are dominating your life?

Council should do a decent job. We’ve had two rat problems in 10 years and they’ve been great both times. If not, call Rentakill or similar. They’ll be more expensive, but they’ll do the job.

From the smell you’ve described it sounds like have damp as well.

Leave. Now. I'd not even still be in the house if I knew there were rats crawling about while I was sleeping. Bastards for not telling you when you bought the house but what the hell I think you are going to have to stoop to the same levels if you want to sell.

I agree with Lelly that sounds like a damp issue

Don't know if I'm allergic to ferrets, never had one. I'm seriously thinking of moving out until we get it sorted. I could stay at a friends etc yes, Partner works away, comes home when he comes home. I'm scared of getting a disease, as I know their diseases can be life threatening. They knawed on the bedroom door next to my bedroom, so they have been upstairs also. I feel sick!

If you can afford it, get in a professional company ASAP. Get rid of the rats that way quickly and also ensure they can't access your house again.

Even a big cat won't help.

I made a brilliant rat/mouse trap that I copied from living in Asia.

I caught 9 of the fuckers the first time I put it out. I won’t post details on here as I got throughly rinsed the last time I did.

Google or YouTube rolling water bucket trap. You’ll need a bucket, an empty coke bottle, a metal skewer and some water. Turns out rats are awful swimmers.

Also I know you said are allergic to cats but if you have a shed/outbuilding you can rescue a feral from a cat rescue place, set up some food/water and a bed in the shed, put a cat flap in and then leave it be. Females are particularly good mousers and brilliant at catching the baby rats.

I thought damp, but there is no visible damp around the house. We do have a crack at the front of the house, could it be that? Oh great! Rats, damp, foisty stinky smelly house. I'm embarrassed to live in my own home. Hated it from day one. No one wants a rat infested house as a first buy do they.
The smell is hard to describe, but it's so bad, people I sell things to are complaining the items I'm selling them smell, and it's that smell that I smell. It only hits you when you first walk in, then I guess I must get used to it. But I can smell it on my clothes when I'm out and about. Posted my sister some stuff n she said she had to throw the bubble wrap away because it smelt real bad. She described it as a foisty charity shop smell.