How to get rid of rats
Updated 22 October 2026 · By the MintGuard team
Quick answer
Remove food and shelter, block entry points, have any rats already living there cleared by a professional, and then keep strong scent repellent at every way in to stop new rats moving in.
Rats are bigger, warier and more persistent than mice. Here's the order to tackle them in.
Step by step
- 1Check the signs. Look for droppings 10 to 20 mm long, greasy marks along walls, gnaw marks and burrows outside.
- 2Remove food. Close bins, stop feeding birds on the ground, secure compost bins and store pet food in metal containers.
- 3Remove shelter. Clear rubbish, woodpiles and overgrown areas near the house.
- 4Block the way in. Check air bricks, waste pipes, drains and gaps under doors. Rats can squeeze through a gap about the size of a thumb.
- 5Get professional help if needed. For an active infestation, contact your council or a qualified pest controller.
- 6Keep them out. Place a MintGuard ball at each entry point, in the loft, garage, shed and car, and swap every 30 to 60 days.
Rats in the house
Rats indoors usually come in via drains, waste pipes, gaps around pipes and damaged air bricks. Repellent goes at those points, behind appliances and by the boiler.
Rats in the loft or walls
Scratching in the loft at night often means rats or mice have found a way up through the cavity walls or eaves. See our guides to keeping mice out of the loft and rats in the walls.
Rats in the garden
Bird feeders, compost bins and decking are the usual attractions. See our guide to rats in the garden.
Common questions
What is the fastest way to get rid of rats?
For an established infestation, a professional pest controller. For prevention, removing food, sealing gaps and using repellent at every way in.
Will rats go away on their own?
Not if they've found food and shelter. Remove both and make the area unpleasant with strong scent to encourage them to move on.
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Written by the MintGuard team
Last checked 22 October 2026. Plain, practical advice for UK homes. For a serious or ongoing infestation, contact your local council pest service or a qualified pest controller. Keep all repellents out of reach of children and pets.
