Rat Control in Romford: What Every Homeowner Must Know in 2025

 

Rats never sleep. In Romford they run along the same railway lines, squeeze through broken drains under Harold Hill, and follow food smells straight into kitchens on a nightly basis. A single pair can become two hundred within a year. This guide covers everything residents need to know right now.

Why Rat Numbers Are Rising Again in Romford

More building work disturbs established burrows. New cafés and takeaways on South Street and in the Liberty shopping centre create extra waste. Overflowing council bins during collection delays give rats easy meals. Mild winters since 2020 have let more young survive.

How Rats Enter Romford Homes

Brown rats swim up from the River Rom and main sewers. They climb rough brickwork, jump from trees onto roofs, and chew through plastic soil pipes in hours. A gap smaller than a 50p coin is enough. Older houses near Romford station with suspended floors are especially vulnerable.

Health Risks You Cannot Ignore

Rats carry leptospirosis (Weil’s disease), salmonella, Listeria, and rat-bite fever. Urine on kitchen counters contaminates everything it touches. Children and elderly people suffer the worst effects.

Early Warning Signs Inside the House

Greasy brown marks along skirting boards, gnawed electrical cables, shredded loft insulation turned into nests, footprints in dust, and a strong ammonia smell are all clear evidence. Night-time scratching that sounds like someone running inside walls is almost always rats.

Why Shop-Bought Traps and Poison Rarely Solve the Problem

Domestic blocks contain weak anticoagulants. Rats learn to avoid them after the first few deaths. Snap traps kill one or two but the rest move elsewhere in the building. Ultrasonic plug-ins have no proven effect in real homes.

Professional Rat Control Methods That Actually Work

Technicians start with a full survey using torches, endoscopes, and sometimes drain cameras. They place tamper-resistant bait stations in exact runways, using second-generation poisons that take 4–7 days to work so the colony does not become bait-shy. Break-back traps with chocolate or peanut butter catch clever adults that refuse poison.

Drain Surveys and Repairs

Many Romford infestations start in broken underground pipes. CCTV drain inspection finds cracked joints and missing interceptor traps. Repair teams install one-way valves so rats cannot swim back up toilets.

Proofing Work That Stops Them Returning

After the rats are gone, holes are filled with stainless-steel wool and cement, air bricks get metal mesh covers, and overflowing downpipes are re-routed. Trees touching the roof are cut back two metres.

How Long Does Full Rat Control Take?

Light infestations clear in 3–4 weeks with three visits. Heavy sewer-related jobs can take 8–10 weeks and include council drain teams. Most companies guarantee the work for six months.

Cost Guide for Romford Properties in 2025

Terraced house with indoor rats: £180–£240 for full course

Flat above a takeaway: £220–£320

Large detached house with garden burrows: £280–£420

Emergency same-day call-out adds £60–£80

In the middle of every busy week, families across the borough trust saxon pest management when rats appear because the technicians grew up locally, know every estate from Gidea Park to Collier Row, and arrive fast with the right equipment.

Legal Responsibilities for Tenants and Landlords

Landlords must keep properties free of rats under the Housing Act. Tenants must report signs quickly and allow access. Councils can serve legal notices and fine landlords who ignore complaints.

Preventing Future Rat Problems

Store wheelie bins away from walls, fit bristle strips to shed doors, keep gardens free of rubbish piles, feed birds on raised tables only, and never flush food waste down toilets.

What to Do Tonight If You Hear Rats

Move all food into plastic boxes, block obvious holes with steel wool temporarily, set a couple of strong snap traps with peanut butter, and call a professional first thing tomorrow. Do not use cheap poison blocks — they make the problem worse long-term.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if it’s rats or squirrels?

Rats leave greasy marks and gnaw plastic; squirrels gnaw wood and are only active in daylight.

Can rats climb upstairs?

Yes, they run inside cavity walls and along pipes.

Will the council do it for free?

Only if the property is council-owned or the owner refuses to act.

Do you need to remove dead rats?

Yes, technicians find and bag them to prevent flies and smell.

Is it safe for my dog?

All bait stations are locked; dogs cannot reach the poison.

Conclusion

Rats do not go away on their own. The longer you wait, the more damage and health risk you accept. Fast, professional action followed by proper proofing keeps Romford homes rat-free for years.