Rat & Rodent Activity Is on the Increase Across the UK. Here’s What Homeowners & Businesses Should Know
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Across the UK, more homeowners and businesses are reporting increased and unwanted rat and rodent activity in gardens, sheds, garages, and (worryingly) inside the home and commercial premises and buildings, carparks. It’s rarely “just one rat”, and when conditions are right, a small issue can escalate quickly.
A few factors are driving this rise. Persistent wet weather can flood burrows and disrupt drainage networks, forcing rats to move to higher, drier ground and closer to buildings. At the same time, overflowing bins, food waste, and easy shelter around properties create exactly the kind of environment rodents need to thrive.
Why rats are so hard to keep out
Rats are cautious and intelligent, typically moving under cover and becoming most active at night. They’re also opportunists: if they find a reliable food source (bin bags, bird feed, compost, pet food, spillages), they’ll keep returning.
Once they’re established, rats can cause problems on multiple fronts:
Property damage: Rats constantly gnaw to keep their teeth worn down, which can mean damage to timber, insulation, pipework, and even electrical wiring (a genuine fire risk).
Contamination: Droppings and urine can contaminate food areas, cupboards, loft insulation, and stored items.
Health risks: Rats can carry pathogens that may be transmitted via urine, faeces, and contaminated water or surfaces; leptospirosis (Weil’s disease) is one risk that’s often associated with water contaminated by animal urine and can be linked with flooding and heavy rain.
Rats are excellent swimmers (and that matters)
Many people assume rats only move along fences and through gardens, but their relationship with drains and waterways is one of the biggest reasons infestations can appear “out of nowhere”.
Brown rats are strong swimmers. Guidance for biosecurity and conservation notes that brown rats can, in some circumstances, swim significant distances (including hundreds of metres) to reach new areas. In practical terms for homeowners, this helps explain how rats can navigate drainage systems and sewers, exploit broken pipework, and reappear repeatedly unless the root cause is addressed.
Common signs of rodent or rat activity
If you spot any of the following, it’s worth taking action early:
Droppings (often along walls, behind appliances, in cupboards or the loft)
Scratching or movement in wall voids, floors, or roof spaces (especially at night)
Smears/grease marks along skirting boards or entry points
Chewed packaging, insulation, cables, or timber
Burrows in the garden, especially near sheds, decking, composters, or drain runs
What you can do right now
A few practical steps make your home far less attractive to rodents:
Keep bins sealed; don’t allow food waste to spill or sit in open bags
Avoid overfeeding birds; clear fallen seed daily
Store pet food and dry goods in sealed containers
Tidy vegetation and remove clutter where rats can harbour
Check for gaps around air bricks, pipe entries, doors, and garage thresholds
When to call Stratton Pest Control
DIY efforts can help with prevention, but if rats are already active, you’ll usually need a professional approach to stop the cycle, especially when entry routes involve drains, hidden voids, or multiple harbourage points.
Stratton Pest Control provides comprehensive rodent control for homes and businesses, starting with a thorough inspection to identify entry points, nesting areas, and the factors driving the problem. Treatments are then tailored to your property, using a combination of safe, responsible control methods and rodent-proofing/exclusion to help prevent a repeat infestation.
If you’re seeing rats (or signs of them) around your home, it’s best to act quickly. Early intervention is simpler, safer, and typically far less disruptive than dealing with a well-established infestation.
Call us on 01582 800302 or email us and we'll get right back to you.
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