Getting rid of rats yourself

Never use glue traps

Glue traps are the first thing to rule out. In England the Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 came into force on 31 July 2024, and using one is an offence unless you hold a Natural England licence. Licences are for exceptional public-health or safety cases, not homes. Wales has banned them since 17 October 2023. In Scotland, use, supply and possession have been banned since 1 July 2026, with a fine of up to £40,000 or 12 months in prison.

They also cause a slow death for the animal. Use a snap trap instead.

The same applies to sticky boards and tubes of trap glue sold online. If a product works by glue, do not buy it.

Snap traps and bait stations

Set snap traps along the walls where you have seen droppings or smear marks, with the trigger end against the wall. Rats are wary, so check traps daily and wear gloves to handle them.

If you use bait, buy consumer bait and put it only in a tamper-resistant station, out of reach of children, pets and wildlife. Do not scatter loose poison outdoors. Rats die in walls, and predators such as owls and foxes are poisoned second-hand. Products sold to professionals need CRRU competence, and second-generation anticoagulants may not be used away from buildings.

Dispose of rats safely

Wear gloves and put a dead rat in a bag, then a second bag, and place it in your household waste. Wash your hands, and clean the area with hot soapy water. Reset the trap only after cleaning it.

Ultrasonic repellers are unproven, and repellent sprays and sachets will not clear an established colony, so do not rely on them.

Take away food and shelter

Traps only work if the rats have nothing better to eat. Secure bins, take pet food up overnight, clear fallen bird seed and keep compost closed. Fix any gaps you know about, particularly around pipes and air bricks, because a rat can use a hole the size of a 50p coin. Clear clutter from sheds and the loft where nests can hide.

When to call a professional

Call a professional if activity continues after two weeks of trapping, if you hear rats in wall cavities or the roof, or if droppings keep appearing in more than one room. A professional has the training, access to drains and voids, and the means to proof the building, which is what stops a return. Read what rat control involves and what it costs. Check you have rats first with our identification guide.

If you rent, tell your landlord in writing. Your council may also treat rats, so ask before you pay a private firm.