Please help - rats!

[BlueWhale47]

I would be very grateful for advice on what to do in this situation.

I own a leasehold flat with loft access and it has become apparent that there is a rat issue within the building. Pest control came last week asking if I had any concerns regarding rodents, at which point I had not. Fast forward to a few days ago and I began to hear typical noises from loft, scratching etc.

Neighbour across from me also with loft access has had droppings etc in his loft, and neighbour below him has reported hearing noises in the ceiling. A job has also been raised for the next block along.

Since my update of hearing noises in the loft (Friday) pest control have not come out to inspect my individual property but apparently have been on site for an inspection. They seem to have said to a neighbour that it could be to do with the drains and may need a drain survey.

I have called the management company of the building almost daily for updates in order to find out what is going on, when treatment will start etc to be told varying things such as a job has been raised, treatment report needs to be signed off by property manager and vague assurances that it is a priority due to being a health and safety issue.

My issue is that it doesn’t seem to be moving very quickly, the first complaint was raised on 13th and it is now 23rd. I have not dealt with this before but surely something should have been actioned by now rather than allowing the situation to escalate?

I have not seen signs of rats in my actual property but am petrified that they will enter. I am also wondering who is liable if the situation worsens and damage is caused given they are aware of the issue for instance if wiring in the loft is damaged etc.

I am ensuring bins are kept secure and food is not left out, but worried about blocking holes as Google seems to say you shouldn’t do that unless you know where the entry points are to prevent them dying and smelling?

I have 2 young children and am very concerned about bacteria spread :(

Grateful for any advise on what I should be requesting from management company and what I can do myself that may help.

I would make your own arrangements to get a pest control company out

They could have got pest control out by now and laid some bait boxes ! It shouldn't take that long for the management company to get that approval.

I would be arranging my own if no joy by Friday.

We live near a river and get rats occasionally. We ended up buying our own traps because pest control weren’t hugely helpful. We also got a cat but I’m not sure having half-dead ones brought to you as gifts is necessarily any better!!

I have thought about getting someone out myself, my only reservation being that if they are accessing multiple different properties, dealing with mine alone won’t be any good? If it is a drain issue I’d then be taking on the cost of the survey and repair when it’s actually a structural issue.

We live near woodland which is what they are saying contribute to the issue.

I paid our local council service £120 and that covered their three visits, which cured the problem.

You could contact the management company again and tell them you are going to the environmental health department at your local council for advice. That may spur them interaction as the council have powers to ensure that this type of thing is dealt with swiftly.

I had rats for years. In the end, it was dealt with by putting a 'gate' on the sewer.

How would they get in from loft to your living space, OP?
Entry points is something you can do something about, if for some reason there are gaps in your ceiling.
I have had recurring rodent issues in my house for years.

I get rid, they come back... on repeat.
I also have issue of adjoining properties I don't own, and easily could be my visitors re-enter from there... or via the underground drains... or along the phone wires. Or leap from the trees if squirrels (which are also rodents). So much I can't control.
From 13th to 23rd is not long at all.

From the sounds of it, they had approved treatment when it seemed as if it was just localised to my building but then when the next block reported issues as well, it had to be investigated again and a new plan sent over? Communication is very disjointed. I have tried to contact pest control company directly but they won’t speak to me as my name is not on the job, and everything has to go through the management company which is basically just a call centre.

My council doesn’t deal directly with pest control and says that if you are not on eligible benefits you have to contact a private company which is annoying. That £120 visit sounds useful.

I will contact management company later today and ask for an update and reinforce the fact that this has been going on since last Wednesday with no clear communication about what is actually being done and my next step will be to contact council to report the issue. Will see if I can find someone reasonably priced to come and at least have a look in the loft to see what’s going on and any entrance points in my home; however from what had been said by pest control/neighbours so far seems it’s likely via drains/pipes.

Neighbour across from me mentioned he had rats in loft last year and that they had put some kind of mechanism in loft to track their foot prints to try and find an entry point but they couldn’t. Funnily enough I did not hear any rats in my loft or notice any issues at that time, but now can definitely hear them.

@lljkki can’t see any gaps in the ceiling but I’m worried about them being in the walls and finding some kind of entry point in the kitchen somewhere, behind cabinets or somewhere I can’t easily see basically. At this point not sure how much of this is a valid concern and just extreme fear and paranoia.