A plague of vermin is expected to invade the nation this spring — and an infestation could knock up to a fifth off the value of your home.
According to the British Pest Control Association, call-outs for rat and mice infestations have doubled in the first three months of this year.
Natalie Bungay of the BPCA says: “Rats and mice are nature’s great survivors that have adapted to live off the scraps humans leave behind. They breed quickly so infestations soon spiral out of control.”
There are now 250 million rats — four times the population of Britain — and, after feeding on discarded takeaways, an increased number are growing up to 3ft-long.
On top of this, an estimated 6 million house mice are burrowing in homes, sheds and garages. Estate agents warn that a rodent infestation could knock up to a fifth off the asking price of your home.
Leeds-based firm Property Saviour says: “If a surveyor discovers evidence of an infestation, the buyer can demand up to a 20 pc reduction in asking price. Pests are something a seller must disclose. If they have not been honest about an ongoing rat problem, the buyer could sue the seller.”
A valuer who identifies evidence of rodents can also recommend a lender requires a specialist report as a mortgage condition.
Infestations have been exacerbated after some financially struggling councils slashed bin collections which sees waste sitting on streets for up to a fortnight.
Further cuts to waste services are expected nationwide to plug growing budget gaps. The cost for councils to tackle infestations is an estimated £36 million a year, according to insurer Direct Line. And the damage to property will cost hundreds — sometimes thousands — of pounds to resolve.
According to the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, the onus is on homeowners to ensure their property is protected, as standard policies do not cover rodent damage. Although a single call-out from pest control might cost from £50, you are likely to require at least three repeat visits — so you should budget perhaps £200 for an exterminator.
You could even be tempted to sign up for a “five-year guarantee” that offers long-term support if pests return. However, such contracts can add up to £2,000 for eight visits a year.
Councils can often offer help. In London, pest controllers in Tower Hamlets might come out for free to solve a rat problem — or charge £30 in an area such as Croydon.
But in regions such as Islington, they can charge £174. But if you catch the problem before there is an infestation, you can save money by tackling it yourself.
The first step is to identify what sort of vermin problem you have. Mice leave small droppings, usually 5mm long, smaller than a grain of rice and can smell of ammonia.
While rats leave larger pellets, often 10mm long and the size of Tic Tac mints. Both make their presence known at night, make scratching noises and gnaw at wood, plastic, cables and food.
Bungay advises to ensure that the home is spotless, with no food debris left around (even seeds left for birds in gardens) and that bins are sealed shut. There may be obvious entrance points to the house, perhaps a skirting board with a gap that needs to be sealed.
She says: “Eliminate gaps around pipes, homes and under sheds. A rat only needs a gap of 15mm to get inside while a mouse can squeeze through an even tighter hole.”
Unfortunately, just blocking a gap with a mixed filler or filler foam may not be enough to prevent rodents from eating through it, warns Sarah Ayers, of Precision Pest Management Solutions in Leeds.
She suggests a barrier of tightly packed chicken wire or wire wool. Next, a battle plan must be drawn up to tackle any potential infestation. The choice is often to lay traps or to use poison. T RAPS come in a variety of different forms, including traditional £2 to £15 motion trigger break-back traps that instantly kill, to £25 electric shock tools.
Another option is a £5 “humane” trap that keeps rodents alive — but you must still dispose of it later on.
Ayers says: “Avoid using cheese as bait. They don’t like it as much as chocolate or peanut butter. And remember rats are neophobic — suspicious of new things.
So be patient. “Put traps along the side of skirting boards and sprinkle talcum powder around them to check for paw prints.” If you have an infestation — which can happen quickly as rodents breed up to ten times a year — poison may be preferable. But a major downside is they are toxic to other animals and humans.
If you have children or pets, it is not advised. Ayers adds: “Wildlife can also die if they catch mice or rats that have eaten poison.”
If you do hire a professional, check that they are insured and, ideally, use a member of the BPCA as they have a high standard of training. It is also important to check the small print to ensure if rodents return your pest controllers will deal with it as part of an agreement.