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Original poster

There's a huge rat in the bathroom. WTF do I do?!

70 replies

ChanandlerBongsNeighbour · 04/05/2017 21:41

Second night in rented first floor flat. Went to the loo, as I was sitting down something caught my eye at the side, as I turned to look a HUUGE rat ran along the side of the bath towards me/the toilet. I screamed and ran out and it went behind the toilet. DH and I cautiously went back in (once he had recovered from the sight of me running out of the bathroom straight into the living room with my trousers and knickers round my knees!!). As we were discussing it, the rat peeked out from the cavity behind the toilet. Short term, we have barricaded the cavity behind the toilet with thick cardboard and shut the door and stuffed the gap under the door with cardboard. Can't get hold of letting agent. What happens now?

OP posts:
SouthernComforts · 04/05/2017 21:42

Burn it to the ground.

Justmadeperfectflapjacks · 04/05/2017 21:44

The poor thing obviously wanted a quiet bath and you totally invaded it's privacy. . .
Maybe knock on the bathroom door next time you need a wee?
(sorry just wouldn't be afraid of a rat)
Ring landlord tomorrow. .

Original poster
ChanandlerBongsNeighbour · 04/05/2017 21:44

That's my feeling so far. Feel quite shaken up and totally not comfortable here now! Youngest is asleep, oldest (age 6) is asking a lot of questions so trying to play it cool so as not to worry her!

OP posts:
TheLionQueen1 · 04/05/2017 21:46

Nothing until you can get hold of letting agent, they have a responsibility to send someone out to sort this as it's so soon into your tenancy so they can't dispute they're there because of you. Barricade and pee in a bucket 😂

elephantoverthehill · 04/05/2017 21:47

Um, you will need to use the bathroom again tonight and rats will easily munch through cardboard. Rolling pin, frying pan, big boots and tie up your trouser legs with binder twine. Or peanut butter laced with some poison?

NoCapes · 04/05/2017 21:48

Eurgh I couldn't sleep there, you barricaded one rat in the bathroom - there may be others
I'd be on my mums doorstep in a heartbeat

SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower · 04/05/2017 21:48

It's just a rat. If it was a spider if suggest some sort of makeshift flamethrower, but it's only a rat, so you're OK.

;)

Make sure the gap is sealed, as they can get through very small spaces, though a large male rat won't get through anything smaller than about 2cm.

Call the council in the morning, they'll probably be able to advise.

Can you buy a trap in the morning?

YogaAndRum · 04/05/2017 21:50

SheRaaargh Grin

Fruitboxjury · 04/05/2017 21:51

I'd be terrified. I hope you get some sleep!

Letting agent should be open first thing as will pest control companies. If I were you I would focus on getting the cavity sealed up tomorrow using whatever you need... a fine wire mesh or else plank of wood etc depending on how you can fix it to the wall. Ideally ask the agent to get someone sent out to do it so you're not liable for any damage caused.

The rodent problem is clearly going to be rife throughout the building so needs to be addressed as such. It could therefore take a long time. Until then you need to make sure no way in... make sure everything is properly sealed... drains, plugs, fixtures, fittings, cupboards, everything unless you have the option of moving straight out

gladisgood · 04/05/2017 21:51

Teleport to another rat-free universe or nuke the house.

Failing that. The sensible option might be to call out a Pest Controller to a) deal with said rat and b) tell you if there are loads more

If it is a solitary rat, it's not a LL problem. If there is a nest you need to contact LL with report from Pest Controller. Good luck!

Original poster
ChanandlerBongsNeighbour · 04/05/2017 21:51

Got another bathroom so that one is off limits now FOREVER!!! I keep thinking I'm seeing them/it out of the corner of my eye EVERYWHERE now! Really jittery and jumpy. I don't have anything against rats as such, I just don't want them in my home! Don't know how I'm going to sleep tonight!

OP posts:
RedBugMug · 04/05/2017 21:52

rats are not the worse thing you can have in your house.

check your rental contract, usually tennants are responsible for pest control, but if there is a big, obvious entry point that's for the ll to sort.
look at your council website for recommended companies in your area to deal with them. in the meantime you need to keep all foodstuff away in glass or metal containers, keep kitchen surfaces clear and clean etc...

Original poster
ChanandlerBongsNeighbour · 04/05/2017 21:54

Spoke to tenant immediately underneath to see if they had an out of hours contact for letting agent (they don't!) and ask if they had had any issues with rodents (DH found out from them earlier that they have lived there for five years) they haven't. I'm tempted to see if we can move out to be honest (although I doubt it as we have just signed a 6 month contract!).

OP posts:
Original poster
ChanandlerBongsNeighbour · 04/05/2017 21:55

House is spotless (spent all day cleaning and scrubbing) and we haven't actually eaten in here yet so all food we do have is unopened! But yes, all will remain sealed and safe!

OP posts:
PhyllisNights · 04/05/2017 21:57

Get the landlord to get pest control out in the morning as a matter of urgency.

daisydalrymple · 04/05/2017 21:59

I saw one in our garden and that got me freaking out enough!! I called the local council and they sent someone out the next day, they have a free service to control it as it's a public health issue. He put a couple of tunnel things down, dh also ordered a few heavy duty sets off Amazon.

Not seen a peep since and that was a year ago. Try council and landlord in morning. You have my sympathies. I struggled to sleep when it was in the garden. I blocked up all the plugs etc, thinking it might crawl up the drain pipe Grin Hmm [overactive imagination alert!!] I have a huge phobia of them since seeing mum freak out at one in the shed when I was about 6!!! Best of luck hope it gets sorted sharpish.

CountessYgritte · 04/05/2017 22:00

FFS it is only one rat.

The rest of his family are behind the skirting boards in your bedroom. The really big ones find it hard to squeeze out of the hole (it's under your bed which is why you can't see it) so you may hear them and have a warning.

They love a warm duvet....

Or to scuttle over your feet in the night.

reallybadidea · 04/05/2017 22:00

That's horrific. I'm not sure I'm going to sleep properly tonight after reading that so god only knows how you're going to be able to! Can you borrow a terrier to catch it?

CountessYgritte · 04/05/2017 22:01

Is there one in the kitchen?

What are you gonna do?

TheFaerieQueene · 04/05/2017 22:01

If you have Brillo pads. Stuff the holes with them. Rats won't eat through them.

loveslipstick · 04/05/2017 22:02

You have my sympathies. They'll be in the building.... we had them, it woke me in the night one time and I thought someone was breaking in. When pest control came out, they said they are not getting food or nesting in our flat so must be doing it in another flat, spoke to all the others in our small block of 6 and nobody had seen or heard any although pest control said they must be wrong.

Anyway I hardly slept for weeks, filled every hope with wire wool, expanding foam and steel plates over every hole.... had to move because I just couldn't cope with it anymore knowing they could be in the baby's bedroom

TheLionQueen1 · 04/05/2017 22:04

*Is there one in the kitchen?

What are you gonna do?*

Was totally singing this when I read the thread Countess 😂

Original poster
ChanandlerBongsNeighbour · 04/05/2017 22:07

Ha I've been singing it since it happened!!!

OP posts:
Etaina · 04/05/2017 22:09

That would be my worst nightmare. I'd be out of there like a shot!

What sort of building is it? Large block? Age? Does it look in a good state of repair?

I think the council should be able to send someone round which would be cheaper than calling in a pest control company.

TheLionQueen1 · 04/05/2017 22:10

At least you're seeing the funny side OP, if it was a spider I'd be crying hidden in a corner!

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