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!