Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Saw a Rat in garage when viewing home

72 replies

Flowerpowerr1 · 04/04/2024 12:33

Hi all! Currently home viewing to buy my first home, we found a house we really liked so went to view it, we’ve put an offer on the house but when the agent showed us the garage it was very full and cluttered I just looked briefly but after we left my husband said he saw a dead rat lying on the floor! I said it’s fine it’s normal it’s a garage it probably made it’s way through somewhere🤣 but now looking at the video I recorded around the house the downstairs WC has its air vent blocked off like they’ve covered it with something? I’ve just noticed this now and it’s making me feel uneasy why would someone do that?

OP posts:
CormorantStrikesBack · 04/04/2024 14:58

I’d be less worried about a mouse than a rat

ClaudiaWinklepanda · 04/04/2024 16:23

You can get metal vent covers very cheaply that let air through but are chomp resistant.

Alchemistress · 04/04/2024 16:55

Ultimately if it's your dream house, getting a rat guy in as soon as you move in would be easy enough. Cut back any vegetation near the house, block any entrance points and leave the poison traps down for a good six months. It'll be fine.

Corksoles · 04/04/2024 17:03

Rats can be an absolute nightmare to get rid of. We had them in a shared garden when upstairs neighbour got a composter. That was easy to resolve.

We got them in a different flat when a pipe wasn't capped off properly - and you mentioned recent renovations. That was a complete and utterly nightmare that went on for months and meant we talked to people about rodents, discovering people who had unending rat issues despite throwing money at it. So, can be easy to resolve but there's some non-trivial risk it's a fucking nightmare. Up to you. I would never risk it.

Sophie3003 · 04/04/2024 17:09

If it a mouse I wouldn't worry. We heard scuttling in our garage and it didn't take us long to get rid of all 4 of them and we haven't caught or seen any since.

oakleaffy · 04/04/2024 17:14

@Flowerpowerr1 Cardboard won’t put off rats.

They are everywhere outdoors- Town and country.
Block all entry points.

I have a Whippet who sees Vermin as natural prey, so they tend to stay away-

But we did have a face off with a Fox 🦊 indoors!
I didn’t want either hurt so shooed Fox out hotly pursued by Whippet.

Rats are a different matter.

oakleaffy · 04/04/2024 17:25

Rats are actually very intelligent and clever.
A workshop hired by a family member on a farm had rats (no baits were used as they had terriers)but the rats knew home time of the humans very well.

They’d come out and their eyes would be visible in headlights as relative locked up-

Dogs can be a swifter death to a rat than poisons. 🐀

TraitorsGate · 04/04/2024 17:30

A small mouse in the garage wouldn't bother me, it's got on there to be dry and warm but there are probably others, they breed like mad. Once the garage has been cleared and swept the mice won't be there.

Fishwiife · 05/04/2024 06:13

If you proceed ask your solicitor to add relevant questions to the questionnaire- then you have legal cover if they don’t tell you and you later find holes blocked etc. they are a nightmare if they are in the house - chew through wires (one new boiler), die in cavities (once you put poison down) and then you have to live with the smell. It can be expensive and unpleasant so ask questions now and through your solicitor

Doone22 · 05/04/2024 06:45

Flowerpowerr1 · 04/04/2024 12:33

Hi all! Currently home viewing to buy my first home, we found a house we really liked so went to view it, we’ve put an offer on the house but when the agent showed us the garage it was very full and cluttered I just looked briefly but after we left my husband said he saw a dead rat lying on the floor! I said it’s fine it’s normal it’s a garage it probably made it’s way through somewhere🤣 but now looking at the video I recorded around the house the downstairs WC has its air vent blocked off like they’ve covered it with something? I’ve just noticed this now and it’s making me feel uneasy why would someone do that?

Air vent probably no longer needed (back boiler removed etc) and drafty. Dead rat probably meant they're using poison at least. Yes you carry on asking questions after putting offer in. Solicitors do too so they can ask for you.

LightSpeeds · 05/04/2024 07:28

I know someone who's had major and ONGOING problems with rats for a few years now. It's cost hundreds of pounds to sort out - but isn't sorted as the rats are back (again).

It's been the cause of a lot of stress and upset.

I'd think twice about buying this property. You need to find out if there's an infestation (did you look in the loft?).

LittleWeed2 · 05/04/2024 07:35

I would insist all rubbish to be removed from garage and garden - not sure what you can threatean to ensure this happens.
Have you lookedin neighbours gardens? Any full of crap providing hiding places for rats?
Or rampant bird feeder next door?

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 05/04/2024 08:16

We have a cat who regularly catches mice outdoors and gifts them to us in the form of a dead offering at the back door. They play with them for fun evil things and we sometimes catch them trotting up the garden with them still alive to play with.
One dead mouse in a garage is not a reason to cancel a house sale.
Do another viewing, bring parents or similar. They will unashamedly poke into everything or keep the agent/owners chatting while you do.
If you have concerns about junk being left behind, extreme dirt and unknown issues buried under junk currently then you need to book a thorough house survey and make sure your solicitor makes it clear the house must be fully cleared out or a large bill will be coming their way.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 05/04/2024 08:25

Corksoles · 04/04/2024 17:03

Rats can be an absolute nightmare to get rid of. We had them in a shared garden when upstairs neighbour got a composter. That was easy to resolve.

We got them in a different flat when a pipe wasn't capped off properly - and you mentioned recent renovations. That was a complete and utterly nightmare that went on for months and meant we talked to people about rodents, discovering people who had unending rat issues despite throwing money at it. So, can be easy to resolve but there's some non-trivial risk it's a fucking nightmare. Up to you. I would never risk it.

Yeah, it's tricky because there are rats everywhere - they are a fact of life - but a proper infestation is a different matter.

I would definitely ask, OP. And you could ask to bring a pest controller round to assess if there is a bigger problem.

nonevernotever · 05/04/2024 09:28

Mice and rats don't tend to coexist, so I really wouldn't be fussed about one dead mouse in a garage. I'd be more interested in asking why the air vent is blocked off, making sure they would take all the junk from the garage when they moved and checking what the home report/survey said about ventilation and damp.

Rhoticity · 05/04/2024 09:28

CormorantStrikesBack · 04/04/2024 12:37

I’d email the estate agent and tell them, say that you specifically want the current owners to be asked if they have had a problem with rats.

This - ask the direct question

Any problems with rats or other vermin

Jellybeanz456 · 05/04/2024 09:30

Flowerpowerr1 · 04/04/2024 12:38

The air vent is high up on the wall, they’ve covered it with cardboard, the downstairs toilet is under the stairs with no window obviously so why would they block the air vents because it should be needed when there’s no window right?

Covered with cardboard is not going to prevent rats!!

Newsenmum · 05/04/2024 09:30

Flowerpowerr1 · 04/04/2024 12:40

@CormorantStrikesBack Do you think I can ask this after already putting offer in?

Of course you can ask!! You can pull out whenever. This is a massive purchase.

BobnLen · 05/04/2024 09:36

We have mice in our garage, they come in in the cold I think, the only thing I worry about is if they should chew the freezer plug lead.

BobnLen · 05/04/2024 09:37

It's a mouse not a rat in case anyone missed it

betterangels · 05/04/2024 09:41

You can ask. An offer can be withdrawn. I wouldn't want to deal with rats.

YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 05/04/2024 09:44

Your solicitor needs to ask the question, then they're bound by the answer.

Gettingonmygoat · 05/04/2024 10:10

There are rats everywhere. If you are willing to loose your dream home over a rat then you won't be moving anytime soon.

OneFrenchEgg · 05/04/2024 10:16

Having moved into what turned out to be a bodge job house I'd be worried about dead rodents just being left and cardboard 'fixes' - what's not visible?

thecanadianloon · 05/04/2024 10:41

I've seen as many rats in the city as I have in the country. Anywhere you have humans you can pretty much guarantee rats! 🐀 but a dead rat means the sellers are aware and have dealt with the problem. You'll just have to be Uber strict at making sure anything edible is put away and can't be nibbled, any food source will attract them, including unwashed food packaging put in the recycling bin.