Rats - any advice appreciated

[elscouser]

Hi all, I'm close to signing on a property. The downstairs part I inspected the other day ( no access to upstairs but still a useable space) it is where the water tank is situated. In the bathroom there is visible signs of excrement, large pellets too big for mice and in the water tank cupboard. I fear it is rats which I hear are quite common in empty properties. It's not a full campo property, it's on a small urbanizacion in the hills about 2km from the coast (chilches) I have a really bad phobia of rats and it's really putting me off. How easily is this problem solved and has anyone else had anything similar. My fear is that I'll turn up one day for my holiday and there will be one in there. I fear I may never be able to relax in there but the house is a good deal and I may kick myself if not for something that may be able to be solved really easily. Any advice would be really appreciated. Also any info r.e costs. Thanks in advance.

[Enrique]

Hi elscouser,

They may be Geckos droppings..............they are the good guys............

Post some photos of the droppings we have Wild life experts on hand.........

For Rats I use the Tunnel traps..........bigger versions on the mouse ones.

[elscouser]

Yeah someone said that. Thanks Enrique. Unfortunately the agents are on shutdown now so I won't be able to access the interior until I buy it. Any ideas if I can just pay someone to come in and get rid of them and source/block whatever access they are using to get in?

[Enrique]

Hi,
Normally rats will be around if there is food about, or passing through and you have some plastic fittings, had one that took out the gas boiler and gnawed the plastic dials on a boiler, once set some traps he move on.

If the neighbours are well away then you probably only have Geckos.......

[Julie]

I would think that it may be a good idea to find out for certain before you buy. if it is so important to you, people will not be lining up to buy it, so delay or find something that you will be 100% happy with, lots of bargains available, so don't rush you hold the money so therefore your the gaffer It Is a big decision, please don,t take it likely.

[costakid]

Agree with Julie. Don't let the agent rush you into anything. Its still a buyers market. Your holding the folding so your in the driving seat.
If it is rats you could get a vermin guy out to set traps and monitor the situation for a few months to make sure there gone. My wife always puts the bog seat down and puts a bottle of bleach on it when we leave in case a rat comes up the sewer. Not sure this would stop one but it gives her peace of mind.

[elscouser]

Thanks guys,appreciate what you are saying but this is a genuine repossession 30k sterling bargain. I know I'll probably kick myself if I don't get it but I just need to sort these damn pests before I can feel positive/ comfortable about it all again!

[Enrique]

Google rat droppings image

Google geckos droppings image

You will see the difference, rats normally go along runs, Geckos are random.

[knowal]

Even if it has rats, they can be easily got rid of, either with traps or by poisoned bait.
I'd be far more bothered about whether the property has a licence of first occupation.

[ashtondav]

No Old property has an LFO

[knowal]

Depends what you mean by old, ashtondav, and incidentally, I can see little indication, from the posts so far, whether this property is old or new.

[elscouser]

1975 house, nota simple etc all in place - thanks for the replies everyone, any further input appreciated. Cheers

[peteroldracer]

A couple of feral cats living in the grounds will soon move on any unwanted visitors! The downside is that geckos, birds, chameleons and snakes will also be at risk. If you go down this route, please get them neutered, or you will have 24 cats within 2 years, plus many persistent suitors if female!

[mhic]

I'd be wary of using poison if the rats are nesting in or close to the property. We used poison in an external workshop not knowing the rats were nesting under the floor, the stench was so bad the place couldn't be used for ages.

Mhic.

[Wicksey]

I'd be wary of using poison if the rats are nesting in or close to the property. We used poison in an external workshop not knowing the rats were nesting under the floor, the stench was so bad the place couldn't be used for ages.

Mhic.

Totally agree - we had rats in the roof so used poison but couldn't find all the bodies and the smell was unbelievable.
I'd lend you our rat catcher cat elscouser .... trouble is, she tends to bring them back into the house alive and we have spent many a happy hour in the middle of the night chasing a rat around the house

[peteroldracer]

Mhic.[/quote] we have spent many a happy hour in the middle of the night chasing a rat around the house [/quote]
Another downside I had forgotten about!

[chrissiehope]

We had a rat living in our 'secret shed' (a space under some stairs & decking) - we bought a very snazzy trap from the local ferreteria, which came with its own bait pre-loaded.
On the second morning there was Ratty, firmly dead in the jaws of the trap
On the assumption that there is rarely only one rat, we put it down again that night - in the morning, no rat , and no bait either - those little reddish ants had scoffed the lot !!

We tried re-loading it with peanut butter - still no rat but the ants were very pleased - we think it must have been just the one rat...

[Lyric]

spent many a happy hour in the middle of the night chasing a rat around the house

Does Mr W know you refer to him as such ?

[Wicksey]

ohhh very funny Mr L

[Nimrod]

On the second morning there was Ratty, firmly dead in the jaws of the trap :thumbup


We tried re-loading it with peanut butter - still no rat but the ants were very pleased - we think it must have been just the one rat...

Roland has been absent from tv for some time,I wonder?