Monster rats are scrabbling out of the sewer where I live – I felt sick & scared when one crawled up into my loo
IT sounds like the stuff of nightmares – a rat crawling straight out of the sewers into your home via the pipes and setting up camp in the toilet.
Fabulous writer Miranda Knox and her neighbours were horrified when rodents gnawed through their toilet waste pipes and caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage. Rat invasion isn’t just costly, but also terrifying.
Rats can carry a host of health threats to humans – including diseases such as hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), Tularemia and Salmonella.
And the vermin lurk in urban areas across the UK.
Recently, a ‘perfect storm’ of bin collection delays after the Christmas break as well as floods from heavy downpours has created the opportunity for rats to swarm into homes while people have left their homes empty.
Alarmingly, statistics show there are now more than 150 million of the pests all across Britain – with some reportedly as big as cats.
They can also hold their breath for three minutes, and have the ability to tread water for three days – meaning if they want to get into your home, they will.
Damage and disease
Sarah Beck, Operations Director for Midlands pest control company The Pest Master says: “Rats very commonly live inside the sewers and are very good swimmers.
“If you are unlucky enough for a rat to come up your sewer pipe, it is not uncommon for them to end up in your toilet.
“We have come across this on quite a few occasions.
“Once they are in the toilet it isn’t hard for them to get out and then they are free to roam your house, where they can damage your property and food, whilst also spreading disease.
“We recently had a 98-year-old lady whom was sat upon the toilet and felt something on her bottom.
“She got off the toilet and looked inside and there was a rat staring back at her inside the toilet bowl.”
‘I feel sick & constantly on edge’
For Miranda, 35, from Lewisham, South London, alarm bells rang when water flooded her bathroom every time she flushed the toilet.
She says: “I mentioned it to my neighbour, and she said it sounded like the problem she’d had recently, where a rat had climbed up the toilet waste pipe from the sewer and gnawed through it.
“I was shocked, especially as my bathroom is on the third floor, and before this I literally had no idea a rat could enter a property through the outside drain.
“I got an emergency plumber to fix the pipe immediately which cost £200, but to stop it happening again a rat blocker needs to be fitted on the outside drain under the manhole on the street.
“I’m a leaseholder and as this is an external problem to do with the outside drains it’s the council’s responsibility to ensure pest problems are dealt with.
“I’ve begged them to take action – but to no avail so far and until they do this the rat can still come back and cause more damage.
“It’s frustrating because I know they’ve been aware about the issue for months and haven’t done anything.
“It’s so gross and distressing. We look after our home and keep it clean, and I feel so sick knowing a dirty sewer rat could potentially pop out of the toilet and into my flat at any moment, and there’s nothing I can do to about it.
“I feel constantly on edge, and have put a heavy plant pot on the closed loo lid at all times, just in case.”
A national nuisance
It’s a national problem, not just restricted to the capital – and while most of us would think something like this wouldn’t happen, the reality is anyone’s toilet could be a target.
Just this week, Angela Hardman, 48, revealed how she constantly hears super rats in her garden in Bolton and they even make ‘screaming’ noises.
She can also smell ‘rat urine’ outside – her garden has become a no-go area for her grandchildren due to droppings – and is fearful that that they could get inside her house.
She says she is unable to afford pest control to tackle the issue.
Officials figures show Swansea in Wales is actually the worst area for rats, with Southwark in South London having the second-biggest rodent problem.
Just recently council block residents in Peterborough, Cambs, reported a plague of wall-climbing rats terrorising their homes for two years.
Senior Surveyor Phil Greenstock, from London-based Shield Pest Control, confirmed the damage caused to Miranda’s property appeared to be the work of a rodent, and says it’s an increasing problem.
He says: “Properties nowadays are often quite compact and bathroom installations can be tight so contractors use a flexible pipe which fits to the waste of the toilet to allow easier installation.
“This allows rats to easily gnaw the pipe to get into properties.
“They need to gnaw as their teeth are open-rooted, which means they continuously grow so gnawing helps maintain dental health and sharpness.
“Rats entering properties via the waste poses many problems.
“The initial problem is the waste from the toilet will enter the property, and this is obviously not clean water.
“The damage the water can cause to a property can run into thousands of pounds to repair.
“The secondary problem is dealing with the rats which may have entered the property.”
”I felt disgusting”
For Miranda’s neighbour Hannah, 34, a fashion fabric manager from Lewisham, she experienced the problem in November.
She initially woke up one night to a scrabbling sound coming from her third-floor bathroom.
Days later she found her toilet had began leaking all over the floor when she flushed it – and was later horrified to discover it was a result of a rat gnawing through the waste pipe.
She says: “When the problem first began I had no idea what had caused it – I thought maybe I had used too much bleach and dissolved the pipe.
“My plumber was astonished when he replaced the pipe and discovered it had been chewed through.
“I felt so disgusting. I felt quite alone as no one I knew had heard of this or knew what to do.”
‘I was so scared’
Understandably, both Miranda and Hannah have been left distressed by the idea a rodent has had direct access to their homes straight from the sewer.
Hannah says: “I felt really uncomfortable in my flat as I lived alone, and rats can be dangerous.
“I kept a suitcase on the loo the whole time as I was so scared of it coming out the toilet whether I was at home, out, or asleep.
“I reported it to the council and it took weeks for them to respond or send someone round.
“When the pest control did come round, they sarcastically wished me luck in having the council doing anything to stop this issue again.
“With that in mind, I felt I had no choice but to pay a private company £250 to install a blocker in the drain outside, which was frustrating because the drains are the council’s responsibility and I pay a service charge.”
So let down
Despite forking out, the rats returned – which Hannah once again reported to the council.
Hannah adds: “The company who installed the rat blocker did warn me that the blocker could fail, and ultimately, the council should be installing industrial devices as a proper prevention method – which they haven’t done.
“The council’s response has been so disappointing and I feel so let down.
“They asked residents if anyone else had an issue and a good handful of my neighbours confirmed they did but they said I was the only one with the issue and failed to do anything – their lack of simple acknowledgement of the issue feels like being gas lighted.
“I really hate how the rats came back and it worries me again because the costs involved in dealing with this keep mounting up, and I’m worried rats could start getting into my flat too.
“I also feel concerned for my neighbours, who may not be able to afford to fix the problem, or may be vulnerable.
“Now I lift the manhole cover myself to check the rat blocker is still in working order, as I can’t go through this happening again for my own sanity.”
‘Always make sure your toilet lid is down’
Generally, research from Direct Line Home insurance says there has been a 12 per cent rise in residential rodent call outs since 2020.
So what do you do if a rat does gain access to your property via the toilet, and what can you look for if concerned?
Phil says: “The first signs will be noises near the toilet, water entering the property, foul odour which may be rat urine or faeces, and of course, live rats.
“The installation of a one-way rat valve within the main waste drain outlet will prevent rats from gaining ingress to the internal areas of the property.
“Main drains can be found externally by lifting the manhole cover.
“A specialist drainage company or Shield Pest Control can assist with this.
“You’ll also need to contact a reputable builder to repair the damage and replace the waste pipe.”
Sarah adds: “Always make sure that the toilet lid is down.
“It is important to check the pan connector at the back of the toilet as some are flimsy plastic pipes, making it very easy for the rodent to gnaw its way through and gain entry into your home.
“We would always recommend a solid plastic pipe to make it more difficult for the rat to chew through.”
A Lewisham Council spokesperson said: “We are sorry for the delay in responding to these concerns.
“We have instructed a specialist contractor to carry out a drain CCTV survey to identify entry points and fit non-return valves where the drains for the block meet the sewer system.
“Our pest control team is also placing rat traps around the block’s manholes, and will monitor the situation.”
CHRIS Bonnett, gardening expert and founder of GardeningExpress shares his tips on how to keep rodents out of your home and garden this winter...
Clear up any rubbish
The cold snap expected this January will mean that these rodents are fleeing their usual habitats and are in search of a warm home.Debris, rubbish and garden waste sitting on the floor makes an attractive, warm nest for rats. Clear up any that may have accumulated during the winter to ensure there are no spaces that may entice the rodents.
Plug gaps and holes
Rats can enter even the smallest of holes on garden sheds and empty plant pots and set up a new home. Cover any gaps no matter how small to prevent them from getting in.
Use garlic powder
Rats are not fond of strong scents such as garlic powder or peppermint oil so it’s worth sprinkling some of this around vulnerable areas in the garden.
Tend to drains
Cover drains and grates and ensure they are all intact. If necessary replace damaged ones and check around the perimeter of your home for any other points of entry.
Fix that leaky tap
Rats need a water source if they’re going to set up their new home. A dripping garden tap, water butt or blocked drain are all great sources of water for the rodent and can make your garden the perfect home for them.
Keep compost heaps moist
Dry compost heaps are a warm and attractive home for rats. Keep your compost heap moist throughout to deter them from making themselves comfortable.
Keep an eye on bird tables
Bird tables are notorious for attracting rats so it’s worth keeping an eye on them and removing any spilt seeds in the late afternoon once birds are done feeding.