Rats and mice in Enfield and Barnet

How do I know whether it is rats or mice?

Both leave droppings, and their size and position give the first clue. Mouse droppings are small, about the size of a grain of rice, and are scattered wherever the mouse has been: along the backs of worktops, inside cupboards and under the sink. Rat droppings are larger and are left in groups along the routes rats use.

Other signs are common to both: gnaw marks on wood, plastic and cables, greasy smears along skirting boards and pipes, a musty smell in a confined space, shredded paper or insulation gathered into a nest, and noise after dark in the loft, under the floor or inside a wall. A mouse can get through a gap the width of a pencil, so the point of entry is often hard to spot.

Why does it matter which one I have?

Because the approach differs. Mice live close to food and will set up home inside a kitchen, so treatment concentrates indoors and on sealing gaps around pipes, under units and behind appliances. Rats more often live outside and come in to feed, so the controller looks at drains, gardens, sheds, compost heaps, bird feeders and the places a rat can get under a house. Rats also need water, which is why they follow brooks, drains and the backs of terraces.

Can I deal with it myself first?

For a single mouse, traps from a hardware shop and a thorough tidy of food sources can be enough. Put dry food in sealed containers, clear up crumbs, empty the bin daily and do not leave pet food down overnight. If signs continue after a couple of weeks, there is more than one mouse and it is time to ask for help.

Rats are a different matter. Shop-bought poison is often put in the wrong place, in the wrong amount, or where pets, foxes and birds can reach it. Professional rodenticides are governed by the UK rodenticide stewardship regime, and a pest controller must use them in line with the label, which includes checking the site regularly and clearing up afterwards. Trapping and proofing are usually part of the plan as well, and often the larger part.

What does a pest controller do on a visit?

Expect them to start by looking rather than treating. They will ask what you have seen and where, then check the loft, under the stairs, behind kitchen kick-boards, around the boiler, along the outside walls and in the garden. From that they work out how the rodents are getting in and what is attracting them.

Treatment then usually combines some of the following:

• traps placed along the runs the rodents are using
• bait in tamper-resistant boxes, where it is safe and justified
• blocking entry points with mesh, wire wool and materials made to resist gnawing
• advice on bins, bird food, compost and plants touching the house
• follow-up visits to check the traps and take the bait away once the problem has gone

Ask the controller to explain what they plan to use and where, especially if you have children, cats or dogs.

Do I have to tell the council?

Under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949, the occupier of a property must notify the local council if a substantial number of rats or mice are living on or around it. What the council then does varies: some boroughs run a treatment service, some charge for it and some leave treatment to private contractors. Check your council's website for what applies in Enfield or Barnet. An enquiry to us does not replace that notification.

Could the rats be coming from the drains?

Quite possibly. Rats travel through the sewer network and get into homes through broken or disused drains, uncapped pipes and gaps where a pipe passes through a wall. If the controller suspects the drains, they may suggest a camera survey and, if a defect is found, a non-return valve or a repair. Who pays depends on where the fault is: since October 2011 the water company has been responsible for most shared sewers and for the lateral drains outside your boundary, while the drain that serves only your home within your boundary is yours.

What about rats in the garden rather than the house?

Gardens near brooks, railway embankments, allotments and the backs of shops are natural rat territory. Bird feeders, chicken runs, compost heaps and decking with a void beneath are the usual attractions. A controller can treat the garden and advise on removing the attraction, but if the rats live on next door's land or on a railway bank, the lasting answer involves the neighbour or the landowner as well.

I rent. Whose problem is it?

It depends on the cause. If rodents are getting in because of the condition of the building, such as a broken drain, a hole in the wall or a rotten door, the landlord's repairing duties apply, and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 covers homes that are unfit because of an infestation. If the problem was caused by how the home is kept, it is usually the tenant's responsibility. Tell your landlord or agent in writing as soon as you notice signs, whatever the cause. This is general information, not legal advice.

What should I include in my enquiry?

• what you have seen or heard, and where in the home
• how long it has been going on
• whether you have found droppings, gnawed items or a nest
• the kind of home: a flat, a terrace, a semi, a house with a loft or cellar
• whether there are children, pets or anyone with allergies in the household
• your postcode and a phone number you answer

What happens next?

With your consent, the enquiry goes to one local pest controller who takes on work in your postcode, if there is one, and nobody else sees it. The pest controller contacts you to ask more and to arrange an inspection if you want one. Enfield and Barnet Pest Control is an enquiry service and does not carry out treatments, so we cannot say how quickly anyone can visit. If nobody covers your postcode, we tell you and your details go no further.