Rats
Rats are persistent, adaptable and known for chewing tough material to get into your home. If they do get in, they can spread disease, cause damage, breed and more.
They can be difficult to control and it's recommended a professional treatment is carried out to deal with them as soon as possible.
If you have a rat problem
We recommend that you have a professional treatment carried out.
The price for residential pest control is £50.90.
Business prices start from £192.50.
Book an appointment
Alternatively, you can call us on 0191 433 7000 to arrange treatment. Our customer service line is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
What happens at your appointment
On our first visit, the pest control officer will do some routine checks of the building to identify where the rats are and how they will be treated.
After this, the officer will lay the chosen poison, often in several places around the building. They will then give you some advice on how to prevent the problem, which may include making repairs.
Finally, they will then arrange a follow-up appointment for the next week so they can check the poisons and whether they have solved the pest problem.
The pest control officer may need to visit five to six times after your initial appointment to make sure the pests are gone. If they still haven't gone, you may need to book and pay for additional treatment.
We don't recommend that you use DIY treatment as it can be dangerous to the environment, yourself, children and pets.Important
How to prevent a rat problem
It's important to take the appropriate steps to prevent getting another rat problem. You may need to cover garden ponds or remove bird feeders, as these create good breeding grounds for rats.
Do
- seal gaps, especially around pipes and sheds
- remove nesting sites like piles of wood and debris
- ensure drain covers are in a good state of repair
Don't
- feed garden birds
- leave bin lids open
- use DIY treatments
Why rats are a problem
Rats carry a host of diseases which can be spread to humans through their urine. These include:
- Weil's disease
- Salmonella
- Listeria
- Toxoplasma gondii
- Hantavirus
Rats can cause a lot damage to buildings and are known for chewing through metal and other tough materials. This can lead to holes in electrical cables, water pipes and gas pipes - all of which can be extremely dangerous.
For businesses, rat problems can harm reputation and can lead to investigation if the proper procedures are not in place to ensure premises are rodent free.