Pest Control question?

[Overlay]

Hi FB
If the pest control previous was through the council, they would contact their own pest control within the council or their nominated contractor anyone of those two normally would schedule in a 3 visit plan , then withdraw the monitors, I would contact the council and explain the rat activity treatment has not been totally successfull and further treatment is required as the activity is more frequent than before
Good luck with that

 

[FrenchieBoy]

Just a quick update. The rats are still there! Two of the flats had to have all of the loft insulation cleared out as it was infested with rat dropping and several of the wires in the loft had been "nibbled"! However a few weeks later an electrician had to go up in to one of the lofts that had been cleared and reported that there were fresh dropping up there and needed clearing. To add to that several of the other residents have reported what sounds like "something scratching inside the walls"! We called for a resident's meeting with the management and met up last Tuesday afternoon. I made it clear that there appeared to be rats throughout the properties (All of the properties are attached to each other) and that the Housing Association had an obligation and responsibility to deal with any "rat infestations" and if they did not act then the matter would be put to Environmental Health. This was backed up by numerous other residents so the Area Manageress agreed that she would request that a full inspection be done and take it from there. All the residents present agreed that was a reasonable step in the right direction. The Area Manageress phoned me on Friday and told me that she had spoken to the pest control company and that they had agreed to do a full inspection so now we are just waiting for a date for the inspection.
Subject to what their inspection finds (I suspect that I know the answer to that already) the appropriate action will then be taken! We will see and take it from there!
It's surprising how a threat of a report to Environmental Health makes landlords move!!!!

 

[User00056]

I presume the Rat feeding boxes had poison ? I thought these had to be checked like live traps ??

They should be monitored regularly to check for bait strikes, and replenished as required. A week or with no strikes and the problem can be considered dealt with for the time being. If the source of the issue isn't dealt with though (generally access to food) they'll just come back

 

[Ratcatcher]

Just a quick update. The rats are still there! Two of the flats had to have all of the loft insulation cleared out as it was infested with rat dropping and several of the wires in the loft had been "nibbled"! However a few weeks later an electrician had to go up in to one of the lofts that had been cleared and reported that there were fresh dropping up there and needed clearing. To add to that several of the other residents have reported what sounds like "something scratching inside the walls"! We called for a resident's meeting with the management and met up last Tuesday afternoon. I made it clear that there appeared to be rats throughout the properties (All of the properties are attached to each other) and that the Housing Association had an obligation and responsibility to deal with any "rat infestations" and if they did not act then the matter would be put to Environmental Health. This was backed up by numerous other residents so the Area Manageress agreed that she would request that a full inspection be done and take it from there. All the residents present agreed that was a reasonable step in the right direction. The Area Manageress phoned me on Friday and told me that she had spoken to the pest control company and that they had agreed to do a full inspection so now we are just waiting for a date for the inspection.
Subject to what their inspection finds (I suspect that I know the answer to that already) the appropriate action will then be taken! We will see and take it from there!
It's surprising how a threat of a report to Environmental Health makes landlords move!!!!

Yes but I will be astounded if , given the information provided, this doesn't turn out to be a drain issue of some kind. I'm not sure what sort of inspection is coming but A CCTV survey of the drainage system would be money better spent? Quite why they decided to clear the old insulation just because it had rat droppings in it is beyond me, if we'd done that at the local authority I worked for wed have had a pile half the size of Everest! Good luck. R

 

[FrenchieBoy]

Yes but I will be astounded if , given the information provided, this doesn't turn out to be a drain issue of some kind. I'm not sure what sort of inspection is coming but A CCTV survey of the drainage system would be money better spent? Quite why they decided to clear the old insulation just because it had rat droppings in it is beyond me, if we'd done that at the local authority I worked for wed have had a pile half the size of Everest! Good luck. R

The two loft spaces were cleared and re-lined with fresh insulation by contractors hired by the Housing Association. As it was they turned out to be a bunch of cowboys who left all of the old insulation, rat droppings etc in large bags outside the front doors of the properties that it came from for well over a week and only came to collect and remove it when they were told it was going to be reported to Environmental Health - Surprise surprise they came and hauled it all away the next day!
It is of course possible that rats are coming from drains or sewers but I suspect that there is an "infestation" in the lofts as several residents have reported hearing scratching noises coming from their lofts (Which they are unable to access due to the fact that they are quite elderly and not in the best of health) The property consists of 22 properties over two levels (Paired in twos, one above the other) all attached to each other so IF there is an infestation then the rats would be able to access all of the loft spaces.
As I have said we are now waiting for a date for the "inspection" (I am not sure what form the inspection will take, knowing what I know about this Housing Association they will get the cheapest available and are not likely to put CCTV cameras down through the drains but I would be very interested in seeing what the report says when the "inspection" is completed, which I somehow doubt that the Housing Association will allow!
I should add that there has been major road works on the main road immediately outside our properties for the last few months but I am not sure if they were for sewers, drains or whatever. With that in mind I guess that it is possible for all of the road works to have disturbed and rats in the sewers or drains which might have caused the rats to look for a safer haven, I.E. our properties - However that is pure guess work on my part, I am not an expert and do not claim to be.
Thank you for your input "Ratcatcher"!

 

[shakey jake]

I would agree with @Ratcatcher
Everything you describe sounds like rat living in the sewers have found a damaged sewer pipe under or near the building and are entering the walls and lofts.
Neat holes with a spoil heap is another sign. Externally unless you or your neighbours are seeing lots of rats, wont be the source.
drain survey should be next job

 

[FrenchieBoy]

Latest Update.

I have just (Half an hour ago) had a visit from the Pest Control company that are responsible for the vermin control throughout our "Housing Complex"! After a long chat and telling him about the problem as well as showing him what I thought was a fresh rat hole coming from beside a Sewer/Drain cover he agreed that it was almost certainly a rat hole and a good and thorough search could well show that there are more waiting to be discovered.
After a long chat about the situation he told me that it was in fact him that did the original inspection and recommended that ALL the lofts should be stripped of the insulation and all traces of rats cleaned out - However our housing Association rejected his recommendation and only did two the lofts - One of which is once again infested with rat droppings and in his words "Rejecting his recommendations previously have now come back and bitten them fairly and squarely on their back sides"!
His recommendations now are going to be that ALL the Drains and Sewers around the complex should have cameras down them to check not only for rats but also for access points to the propertied and also that ALL loft spaces should be cleaned out and new insulation put in once any access points have been located and dealt with!
We now have to wait till he has had time to write out his report and recommendations and see what the Housing Association decide to do about it. If however the housing Association reject any his recommendations this time a letter will then be sent by me (Signed by all of the residents) directly to The Environmental Health Office!

Time will tell but it does seem that we have now got someone who really does know what they are talking about who agrees that we were quite right to complain about the situation and that it really does need dealing with!!!!!

 

[old keeper]

After many years of dealing with rats, I've concluded that it's almost an impossibility to eradicate them. You can clear virtually all, but it seems that others will always move in as territory becomes vacant. The key factor with rats and all vermin is food. Remove all food, and they will move on.

 

[Flash G 74]

Latest Update.

I have just (Half an hour ago) had a visit from the Pest Control company that are responsible for the vermin control throughout our "Housing Complex"! After a long chat and telling him about the problem as well as showing him what I thought was a fresh rat hole coming from beside a Sewer/Drain cover he agreed that it was almost certainly a rat hole and a good and thorough search could well show that there are more waiting to be discovered.
After a long chat about the situation he told me that it was in fact him that did the original inspection and recommended that ALL the lofts should be stripped of the insulation and all traces of rats cleaned out - However our housing Association rejected his recommendation and only did two the lofts - One of which is once again infested with rat droppings and in his words "Rejecting his recommendations previously have now come back and bitten them fairly and squarely on their back sides"!
His recommendations now are going to be that ALL the Drains and Sewers around the complex should have cameras down them to check not only for rats but also for access points to the propertied and also that ALL loft spaces should be cleaned out and new insulation put in once any access points have been located and dealt with!
We now have to wait till he has had time to write out his report and recommendations and see what the Housing Association decide to do about it. If however the housing Association reject any his recommendations this time a letter will then be sent by me (Signed by all of the residents) directly to The Environmental Health Office!

Time will tell but it does seem that we have now got someone who really does know what they are talking about who agrees that we were quite right to complain about the situation and that it really does need dealing with!!!!!

Hello, My Housing Association are just as bad FB

 

[Ratcatcher]

Latest Update.

I have just (Half an hour ago) had a visit from the Pest Control company that are responsible for the vermin control throughout our "Housing Complex"! After a long chat and telling him about the problem as well as showing him what I thought was a fresh rat hole coming from beside a Sewer/Drain cover he agreed that it was almost certainly a rat hole and a good and thorough search could well show that there are more waiting to be discovered.
After a long chat about the situation he told me that it was in fact him that did the original inspection and recommended that ALL the lofts should be stripped of the insulation and all traces of rats cleaned out - However our housing Association rejected his recommendation and only did two the lofts - One of which is once again infested with rat droppings and in his words "Rejecting his recommendations previously have now come back and bitten them fairly and squarely on their back sides"!
His recommendations now are going to be that ALL the Drains and Sewers around the complex should have cameras down them to check not only for rats but also for access points to the propertied and also that ALL loft spaces should be cleaned out and new insulation put in once any access points have been located and dealt with!
We now have to wait till he has had time to write out his report and recommendations and see what the Housing Association decide to do about it. If however the housing Association reject any his recommendations this time a letter will then be sent by me (Signed by all of the residents) directly to The Environmental Health Office!

Time will tell but it does seem that we have now got someone who really does know what they are talking about who agrees that we were quite right to complain about the situation and that it really does need dealing with!!!!!

I'm still at a loss as to why he's suggesting removal of the insulation? Pointless and expensive, the drain survey will reveal the problem for you hopefully. R

 

[FrenchieBoy]

I'm still at a loss as to why he's suggesting removal of the insulation? Pointless and expensive, the drain survey will reveal the problem for you hopefully. R

From what I can gather from him he is recommending the removal of the loft insulation, cleaning all of the lofts and reinsulating them in order to clean the area and get a better idea of the situation regarding the possibilities of the rats inhabiting the loft spaces - Which is why he originally recommended it yet the Housing Association disregarded his recommendations and only cleared two of the loft spaces!
I am not going to question his judgement as he knows a lot more about rat problems and rat control than I do.

 

[Flash G 74]

From what I can gather from him he is recommending the removal of the loft insulation, cleaning all of the lofts and reinsulating them in order to clean the area and get a better idea of the situation regarding the possibilities of the rats inhabiting the loft spaces - Which is why he originally recommended it yet the Housing Association disregarded his recommendations and only cleared two of the loft spaces!
I am not going to question his judgement as he knows a lot more about rat problems and rat control than I do.

Hello, On a previous occasion i had to take my case to the Housing Ombudsman and won, Give them a call ??

 

[shakey jake]

I'm still at a loss as to why he's suggesting removal of the insulation? Pointless and expensive, the drain survey will reveal the problem for you hopefully. R

Id try and solve the problem, then once several months has passed tackle the lofts.
His seems an expensive way, especially as the advice last time was a waste of money