Getting rid of Rats

Home Call Out Service for Rats

Our home call out service for rats offers professional, convenient solutions to get rid of rats quickly and safely:

  • 24 hour response guaranteed
  • Times convenient to you
  • Friendly and knowledgeable local technicians
  • Highest level of safety for your family and pets
  • Call us NOW on 0800 522 004 to arrange for a Rentokil technician to start getting rid of rats swiftly and efficiently

For more information on how to keep rats out of your home and garden please see below.

Protecting Your Home and Family from Rats

Rats pose a significant health risk to humans and our pets. Common diseases carried by rats include Salmonella, Weil’s disease, E.coli, Cryptosporidiosis and Tuberculosis.

Rats also carry fleas, mites and ticks and can cause acute allergic reactions.

Rats in the Home or Garden

It is extremely serious if rats are getting into your home even if they are not entering a direct living area. Any rat problem inside the home must be treated urgently.

Image of a brown rat (rattus norvegicus) | Rentokil Pest Control NZ

Rats in the garden and other external areas can also be high risk, particularly in areas used by children or pets.

It is important to get rid of rats in the garden to reduce the risk of them trying to enter your home, searching for food and shelter.

Special care is needed for houses with integral garages or with dog or cat flaps as rats can use these to get into your home.

Signs of a Rat Problem

Rats are nocturnal and usually hide from humans, so the typical signs to look for in the home and garden are:

  • Scratching noises in walls, under the floor or under decking as rats scurry around looking for food.
  • Droppings – rats leave dark, tapered (sausage shaped) droppings about 1 - 2cm long.
  • Distinctive smell – rats leave an ammonia-like smell that will be particularly strong in enclosed areas such as under cupboards, in loft spaces, garages, sheds or under decking.
  • Damage – rats have teeth that grow continuously and gnaw on wood, plastic and even mild steel to keep them trim. Rats can even cause fires by chewing through cables and wiring.
  • Ripped food packaging – rats will tear open all types of packaging to find food which may leave teeth marks.
  • Nests – rats build nests in warm, hidden places using shredded material such as newspaper, plastic and fabrics. Nests will often contain young rats.
  • Burrows - In gardens, rats will dig burrows especially in compost heaps or under sheds. They will also build nests under garden decking.

How to Keep Rats Away

The first defence against a rat infestation is to proof your home. Young rats can get through holes of less than 1cm, so it is important to seal any holes and fit bristle strip around doors.

Rentokil image of a Black Rat (Rattus rattus) |Rentokil Pest Control NZ

Ultrasonic repellers emit sound that is uncomfortable for rats but cannot be heard by humans. These may help as a rat deterrent to protect a home in the first place, but we do not recommend them for existing infestations as rats can quickly acclimatise to the ultrasound.

It is important not to attract rats with food – store food in strong air tight plastic or metal containers and regularly clean under cookers and fridges.

In the garden, ensure household refuse is kept in closed bins, do not put meat into compost heaps and use squirrel-proof bird feeders, clearing up any food that is spilt. If you have pets in the garden, ensure food bowls are removed after feeding.

Rats can also come up from sewers through broken pipes - it is important to ensure that all pipe-work is kept in good order.

How to Get Rid of Rats

If not treated, a rat infestation can quickly take hold.

Rentokil image representing a Rentokil Technician preparing a bait station for controlling Rats.

While amateur DIY products are a cost effective way to deter rats in low risk areas, professional rat control is required for high risk areas, more established rat colonies or where there is a repeated infestation.

Rentokil technicians provide highly targeted treatment for getting rid of rats and will advise on how to keep your home free of rats in the future.

Rentokil offers a call-out service to deal with rats and other pest problems in the home. Our service is fast, effective and offers the highest level of safety for your family and pets.

Call us free on 0800 522 004 to arrange for a local Rentokil technician to get rid of rats safely and efficiently from your home or garden.

DIY Pest Control Products for Rats

Rentokil offers a wide range of DIY rat products for amateur use, to get rid of rats quickly and efficiently. The range includes rat traps and rat killer bait (“rat poison”), products which can be used both indoors and outdoors.

The Rat Killer Box product may be used around children and pets and is indicated as child and pet friendly. Always read the label and product information before use.

Rentokil pest control products can be purchased from a wide range of supermarkets, DIY stores, garden centres and hardware stores.

It is essential to follow the instructions carefully for safe and effective use and to ensure humane control of rats.

Rat traps are very powerful and should only be used in areas that children, pets and wildlife cannot reach.