RATS - CEILING AND CAVITY WALL.HELP!!

[SENschoolsearch]

Ive not posted on this board for years but is @pigletjohn still around or anyone as knowledgeable!

We have rats in our extension ceilings and cavity wall. We think they come.from.a drain thats cracked and then tunnelsmto the cavity wall and in

In 2021 we had an old vitorian clay drain (unused) sealed as it was cracked and that "solved" the rat problem but now they are back. We bought the house in 2013 and were told therr had been a rat problem although didn't know what we do now ... and didn't check was cut off at source

The company that sealed the drain in 2021 no longer works in London. We need a company that will survey round corners and into old drains - how do we find one?
What should we do about cavity wall? What kind of company will survey it for a rat entry point and can we fill.it?

This is just a nightmare and pest control cant help as they dont know how they are getting in. So suggest drain survey ...

I don't know the answer to your question, but just to say you're doing the right thing to look for a plumber IMO.

We had rats in the ceiling and got pest control round. They were useless, they just killed them, which stank, and they were simply replaced with new rats as they hadn't addressed how they were getting in. This went on for months.

My plumber solved it in 10 minutes by finding then capping the disused pipe which was their route in.

I would suggest focussing on the pipe. Once you have that solved they won't be getting into the wall.

If you don't get a personal recommendation, you could simply try calling some plumbers and seeing if they can do this.

I’d have a good check all over for entry points (they only need a small hole). It might be a camera survey you need for your drains (they push a flexible tube through the drain with a camera (and light) on the end). Plenty of drains firms do this. Once you find the breach, I’d get pest control to put poison down, then fix the breach so that they don’t return. Good luck.

Does your house insurance cover pests? It's often an added extra but I added it when my neighbour had rats which got through to mine under the floorboards. Also, if they're coming from the drains, speak with your water board.