7 signs you have a rodent problem (and what to do about it)

Rodents prefer to live inside during autumn and winter as they need warmth and food to survive. Some homes are more inviting than others thanks to unobstructed entry points and a lax attitude to food hygiene. 

Small but mighty, mice and rats pose three serious risks to rental properties: their gnawing damages fixtures and fittings; they present a fire and electrical hazard by chewing through cables and nesting in appliances, and their freely-expelled bodily fluids can pass on deadly diseases to tenants, including hantavirus, Leptospirosis and salmonellosis.

Here are 7 signs you have a rodent problem:

1. Droppings: small pellets are the classic hallmark of a rodent infestation. The droppings are usually between 3mm to 6mm long, seen in kitchens, pantries, larders, food cupboards and utility rooms that have pet food in. When freshly deposited, droppings are dark brown or almost black but they dry to grey.

2. Gnaw marks: rats and mice have small sharp teeth that, despite their size, leave a trail of destruction. You may see gnaw marks, scrapings and nibbles in plasterboard, on furniture, walls and cardboard boxes, and along pipes and cables.

3. Nests: rodents love residential settings because they provide the three things they need to survive winter: warmth, food and nest material. A rat or mouse nest will be recognisable as it usually comprises insulation, paper, cardboard, fabric and packing materials that has been shredded and arranged into a small, ball-like structure.

4. Rub marks: vermin can be dirty, oily creatures and they often leave a brown-black smudge-like mark as they squeeze through small areas. Look for these marks along the lower parts of walls, especially behind cupboards and appliances. If you’re in any doubt, sprinkle some flour where you suspect the rodents are travelling and check for tiny paw prints.

5. Scuttling sounds: rodents are super secretive so you may hear them instead of actually seeing them. Scuttling sounds in walls, lofts and attics can be a sign you have small house guests.

6. Odours: if a few rodents have turned into an infestation, you may start to smell their urine. The ammonia can be quite overpowering – it’s reportedly like a baby’s full nappy! If your furry residents cease to exist, the decomposing whiff is compared to rotting cabbages mixed with sulphur.

7. A tail: rare but obvious, if you see a slender tail sticking out from behind a box or a pile of loft insulation, it’s highly likely you have rumbled a rodent. Mice and rats are not lone operators – where’s there one, there will probably be others as they are prolific reproducers. 

Landlords: prevention is better than cure

Together, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, the Housing Act 2004 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 legislate that landlords need to provide a rodent-proof property.

In terms of a buy-to-let, the structure and fabric of the property should be sound – no gaps, cracks or rodent-friendly holes. If you’re wondering whether a gap needs your attention, bear in mind a mouse can slip through a hole of just 6mm to take up bed and breakfast board.

Gaps should be filled using steel wool or fine metal mesh, back filled with expanding foam, caulk or cement. Any ill-fitting doors or floorboards should be replaced, and also check the roof, soffits and fascias for gaps as rodents will happily climb in search of somewhere warm and dry.

If a rodent infestation is the result of poor property maintenance, a landlord is responsible for booking and paying for a pest control company to solve the problem. 

Tenants: be food smart

Rodents will try and sneak inside a home for food as well as warmth. Their sense of smell is brilliant and once they have found a crumb or a cupboard full of goodies, they won’t want to vacate. Never leave uncovered food out and always store edibles in an air tight container. Sweep or vacuum anything that’s dropped on the floor, wipe away spills promptly and take rubbish out to a bin with tightly-fitting lid on a regular basis.

Please contact us if you have any questions about a buy-to-let you own or your landlord responsibilities.