Rats and mice at home: who is responsible and who can help

The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 gives local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland duties and powers to keep their districts free from rats and mice. Under section 4, where it appears to the council that steps should be taken to destroy rats or mice on land, or to keep it free from them, it can serve a notice on the owner or occupier requiring reasonable steps within a set period. The notice can require a particular treatment or structural repairs and other works.

In other words, a council does not have to treat your home for you, but it can require an owner or occupier to deal with an infestation, for example one spreading from a neglected property next door.

Source: legislation.gov.uk

Government guidance suggests contacting your local council to find out whether it provides pest control services, noting that you may be charged a fee, or hiring a pest controller; it points to the British Pest Control Association and the National Pest Technicians Association to find one. Some councils treat rats in homes free or at a reduced charge, sometimes only for people receiving certain benefits. Others no longer provide a service. Check your council's website for which pests it treats, what it charges and how quickly it can attend.

Councils also enforce food hygiene in businesses, where pest control is part of the inspection, and deal with complaints about accumulations of rubbish that attract rodents.

Source: gov.uk

In rented homes, responsibility depends on the cause and on the tenancy. Where rodents get in because of disrepair, such as holes in walls, damaged airbricks or broken drains, it usually falls to the landlord to fix the building. Where the problem arises from how the home is used, for example food waste left out, tenants are expected to deal with it. Report problems in writing and early, because rodent damage to wiring and pipes can become a repair issue quickly.

In blocks of flats, the managing agent or freeholder normally deals with common parts, bin stores and shared drains.

Rats often use damaged or disused drains to reach houses. Private drains serving only your property are usually your responsibility, while shared sewers are usually the water company's in England and Wales. A CCTV drain survey can locate breaks and disused connections. Repairing the entry route matters more than any number of traps: a pest controller will often recommend drain work alongside treatment.

If you see rats in the street or around public drains, report it to the council or the water company rather than trying to treat them yourself; problems in the public sewer are theirs to deal with.

• droppings, gnaw marks, grease marks and scratching in walls or lofts
• burrows near sheds, decking or compost heaps
• damaged airbricks, gaps around pipes and broken drain covers
• food sources: bird feeders, open bins, compost with cooked food

A professional survey looks for how rodents are getting in and where they are nesting before choosing a treatment. Glue traps for rodents are illegal in England without a licence, and only professional pest controllers can hold one. Government guidance also reminds householders that poisons may only be used for the pests they are intended for, that traps must be approved for the species, and that other animals must be protected from them. Those rules are one reason why a trained technician is often the safer choice for homes with children, pets and nearby wildlife. A good firm proofs the entry points, explains the treatment and returns to check the result.

Ask for a written report of what was found and done, especially if you rent and the landlord may need to carry out repairs. On Offrano, your pest control request goes to exactly one business in your area that buys it; we email you its name, address and phone number before it sees your details, and the request is free.

Source: gov.uk · gov.uk