Services

In the UK, rats are among the most common and troublesome pests because they provide serious health, safety, and structural hazards.

Common types: Brown rat, Black rat.
Preferred conditions: Rats thrive in areas with abundant food sources, poorly managed waste and litter, and ageing infrastructure. Drains and sewers, attics and porches are ideal nesting places leading to more frequent infestations.
Regions: Maidstone, Ashford, Kent, Gillingham, Faversham, Thanet, Folkestone, Deal, Canterbury, Tunbridge Wells, Dover, Chatham, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Sittingbourne.
Health risks: Rats are vectors for serious diseases including Weil’s disease, plague, and allergens. They cause food poisoning by contaminating food supplies.
Property damage: Rats are highly adaptable and can infest homes, restaurants, and businesses in many ways. They gnaw on wood, insulation, and electrical wiring (increase the risk of fire because of exposed wiring). Rats damage water systems by burrowing through pipes and drainage systems causing leaks and blockages.
Other challenges: Rats can lead to financial and food loss as they damage crops and stored grains. They prey on bird eggs, small mammals, and insects, threatening native wildlife. Rats compete with native species for food and resources, potentially displacing them. Their burrowing and feeding behaviours can alter soil composition and damage plant life. Certain populations of rats in the UK have developed resistance to common poisons, complicating pest management.

Controlling rat and mice in UK property is the responsibility of property owners under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949.

Innovation Pest Control is a family owned and operated business based in Ashford, Kent and servicing all of Kent.