Rats - Bexleyheath

[Housemovers1994]

Hi, We've recently moved to a property in Bexleyheath in Dec 2025, and have had a constant problem with rodents since then. We're running out of patience and have no idea what to do next.

We've had a traditional pest control company in who have put down snap traps, some limited poison (trying to avoid so they don't die in the floorboards).

We then have paid for one drain company to do a survey where we got visual confirmation of a rat in the drains under the house who then installed some measures.

After this didn't solve the issue, we then had another drain company come in who specialise in pest control, who have said actually these measures aren't of good enough quality, there are a lot of redundant drains under our kitchen, and actually we should maybe dig up our kitchen to install a new manhole under our extension.

Honestly, we don't know what to do next. We're first time buyers who spent what savings we had to purchase what we wanted to become our family home, and can't afford these unexpected expensive renovations on something which may or may not solve the issue. Pest control companies don't seem very confident in any solution other than spending £5,000 to have their own builders come and tear apart the house.

We were meant to have a bathroom renovation start on Monday (9th), but are now wondering if we should delay this until the problem is fully resolved, which apparently could be months.

We still hear them in the walls & floorboards, can't access where we think they are, and are worried about more lasting damage to the house.

Any advice from people who have had similar issues or based in the local area would be super appreciated. The house has become exhausting rather than accomplishment we expected.

Thanks.

We used a business called CID Pest Control, guy called Lewis. Found him on Checkatrade for a mouse problem. He came for a number of weeks to close off a number of holes that were potential access points. Finally found the correct access point in the cement floor under the sink cupboard, Lewis took the base plinth off to look for the hole. Quite reasonable too.

Not me but a friend. You need to look and block off any entrance points. Are your neighbours leaving rubbish out? Tidy your garden if messy.

Get a cat

You need to identify where they are getting in and close that off.

A sewer trap is very effective if fitted properly - we are in Chislehurst and used Empire Pest Control. They might be able to advise on other redundant drains too? They were good at identifying other possible access points and covering them up.

Don’t scrimp on poison, put it down everywhere including outside. You want them to take the poison back to their nest with them.

It took 6 weeks for our problem to be resolved, I sympathise with you - hearing them in the walls and floors is horrible.

Thanks!

How did you find it with the poison? We dont want them dying under the floorboards. We think their nesting in the rafters of our extension.

We do have pest control coming out but as they've identified its the drains they kind of gave up and passed us to a drain company.

We've had two drain companies come out who are both very non committal about solutions but seem to keep wanting money.

Neither of our neighbours on either side are having issues so just no idea how to resolve at this point.

Not the end of the world but guess we should delay the new bathrooms we've been waiting for until this is fully over.

This is what I was going to say. It is honestly the best way to keep rats away.

Ah ok, if they are nesting in your house then that changes things as they usually go back to their nest to die. We knew the nest was outside so we were happy to let the poison work. We do have friends who ended up digging up an entire floor because their rats died underneath and the smell was so bad.

Is there any chance of opening up the rafters so that you can get to the nest?

Im so sorry this is happening to you, I really understand how awful it is.

What it comes back to is that you must (1) kill the rats who are there already (2) block off access for any more to come in future.

You might need to get out one or two companies, explain about the drains and rafters and get quotes on both.

Does Pestology cover your area? We had problems that had gone on and on. Poison anmd traps no good. Pouring concrete in holes giving respite for a few years only. No sign on the CCTV of any problems at all…. Eventually I got Pestology in thinking we would need to dig up the kitchen (as advised by the regular pest control people). But they were brilliant and did everything from outside. Solved! Not cheap - I think it was £3k in the end but done in two days. They were the only people who could help

Please don’t put poison outside
for quite obvious reasons

Agree
We are surrounded by barns on farmland and not a rodent anywhere near the house

One cat is plenty 😁

Please don't put poison outside as suggested above. You may painfully kill wildlife .

Unless the cat crawls into the cavity wall and roof voids they probably won’t be the solution in this case. Urban rats get into the building fabric from buried drains or cracked pipes so sneak in via routes tgat the cats can’t patrol sadly…

Thanks for highlighting this again

That's good to know! I did contact them but it was like a 2 week wait just to get them to come look. I contacted pest proof london instead who seem quite similar and I hope are of similar quality. They did talk about potentially needing to rip up the kitchen to install a new manhole though...

I'm considering getting pestology in for a second opinion before we do anything drastic though. Glad to hear it was resolved!

Yep, we have no plans to put any poison outside.

I used same company and also had Lewis come out. I had a redundant drain and the rats were coming from the sewer, up a redundant soil stack and, because it was uncapped, they got into the house. Lewis capped off the drains with non return valves, so material could get out to the sewer but nothing could get in. He was brilliant.

OP, you haven't been there long. I doubt this has suddenly occurred in the past few weeks. Did the previous owner declare a pest problem when selling? I think you're supposed to, amd I bet they were aware. Check whether there's any comeback (financial) on them not declaring a problem.

Hey! I'll keep CID in mind for sure, but unfortunately might need some drastic measures.

In regards to previous owner, we did find some traps under the kitchen counters first time we looked there.

I think it would be very difficult to prove there's been problems in the past to take any real legal action.

Weirdly, neither of our neighbours are having any issues, and we could see on the drain surveys that we share pipework, so no idea how that's possible.

Not all cats catch rats. 4 of mine never did.

That’s because most likely farms have barn cats and they’re in another league, not really pets.

Those with cats - do you not find the cats are responsible for bringing the rodents? Mine are out hunting all over the place and bring me live mice frequently - at least two then went on to die underneath the fridge and took me days to find 😬 (now I’m wise and check these places weekly….)
Will agree that no rodent would willingly come near the house though!

Rats are an issue in rural areas, especially on farms. It’s just a constant battle.
Things that have helped in the past. I did have a floor dug up and relaid and all the old drains filled with concrete, cats do help but it takes a tough cat to take a big rat on, block all access to the roof as whilst the rats are up there they’ll be chewing cables and pipework. Lots of people lay in wait and shoot them with an air rifle.
Many rats are trap and poison shy.

The rats are only nesting in the roof. They will come out of the roof and travel for food.

Yes cats do bring in rodents dead and alive for you to find. They get bored of hunting/playing with them. My friend has had her cat bring in 2 rats to her bedroom, she stepped on one then her partner stepped on the other one recently.

Only nesting in the roof! I’d probably burn the house down if rats nested in my roof.

Our pest control company blocked the access point from the drains and we haven’t had a problem since. I think you need a different pest control company. No solution no payment.