Rats under decking.

Egan2012

I moved into rented accomadation about 8 months ago. Half the garden out the back is decking and the other half is grass. The back yard runs down into a sort of a wood and there is a drain out there.
About 6 months ago my neighbour called out and said she saw a rat and she wanted to let me know as I have small kids in the house. She said she burnt some toast and threw it out the back window into the garden and a rat came from under our decking and ate it. I put down poison in all the holes and cracks around the decking and thought no more of it.
Up to last week we saw nothing until my partner looked out the back window and there was a rat running across the deck. That night I drove back into the driveway and my neighbour was putting out black bags of rubbish for collection. It turns out she has been storing rubbish in here shed for up to a month and when she builds up 12 to 15 bags she puts them out for collection. Could this be the problem?
Again today we have seen one on the decking and it is coming more often we are seeing them. I am going to put more pison down tonight all over the place and hope for the best.
if that doesnt work I think we are going to have to move again. I dont know where that leaves me on breaking the lease as its a 2 year contract but the health and safety of my kids come first.
Hope someone can give me some advice.

Menas

A stash of 15 or so rubbish bags is indeed a good food source for Rats. And under the decking is a nice safe place to live.

Two things to consider here, the cause and the solution.
The cause could be the old rubbish bags providing a good food source. When your neighbour puts the rubbish out, do you see any holes in the bags that could have been caused by rats?

Regarding the solution, if putting down poison is not enough it may be time to call the professionals. I would contact your landlord and tell him about the problem and state that you will either need to move out or have him get the problem professionally looked at.
Of course he should look after the cost and it is likely that he would prefer to solve the problem for you rather than have you move out and have the trouble of getting new tennants who may then move out when they see the rats living in the garden.
IMO rats in the garden is sufficent reason to break a lease as the home is not safe for you or your family.

Tea drinker

Rats are attracted to decking anyway, they could be there with no rubbish bags next door.

bbam

In fairness your neighbour isn't helping things. Whoarding rubbish like that is crazy and will draw rats. Also throwing toast outside on the ground is a recipe for disaster.

So you can start by keeping the poison down all the time rather than just sometimes. Also if your on decent terms with your neighbour ask them not to keep the rubbish about for a while at least.

chopper666

My neighbour has decking in the back garden and I think it is drawing rats. I am catching them under the floors in my house (it has raised floors through out) and worse still some are dying underneath the floors which is causing a terrible smell. My neighbours are totally unapproachable so what should I do...I am a home owner and they rent ?

Karl Stein

chopper666 wrote: »

My neighbour has decking in the back garden and I think it is drawing rats. I am catching them under the floors in my house (it has raised floors through out) and worse still some are dying underneath the floors which is causing a terrible smell. My neighbours are totally unapproachable so what should I do...I am a home owner and they rent ?

What about getting a cat or two?

Spanish Eyes

I know this won't help op, but if anyone is thinking of decking, they should put loads of hardcore underneath, right up to the top of where the decking will be. Stops the rats from nesting under there.

Rats are everywhere. Sometimes they nest, sometimes they dont.

Make sure there is absolutely NOTHING for them to eat in your garden. They will sometimes use a garden as a run to a juicier place.

I had to get pest control in last year. Seems they were coming from a building site for an extension six houses up. Within two weeks they were gone. Money well spent IMV.