Rats can reduce a fifth of your home’s value: the number of pests is soaring, but there are cheap ways to banish them

A plague of pests is expected to invade the country this spring – and an infestation could knock up to a fifth of your home’s value.

According to the British Pest Control Association, calls for rat and mouse infestations have doubled in the first three months of this year.

Natalie Bungay from the BPCA said: ‘Rats and mice are nature’s great survivors, having adapted to live off the scraps left behind by humans. They reproduce quickly, which means that pests can quickly get out of hand.’

There are now 250 million rats – four times the population of Britain – and, after feeding on discarded takeaways, an increasing number are growing to 3 feet in length. In addition, an estimated six million house mice live in homes, sheds and garages.

Real estate agents warn that a rodent infestation could mean up to a fifth off the asking price of your home.

Leeds-based company Property Savior says: ‘If a surveyor discovers evidence of an infestation, the buyer can claim a reduction of up to 20 per cent in the asking price.

‘Pests are something a seller must report. If they have not been honest about an ongoing rat problem, the buyer can sue the seller.”

An appraiser who identifies evidence of rodents may also recommend that a lender require a specialist report as a condition of mortgage.

Infections have worsened after some financially struggling councils cut waste collections, leaving rubbish on the streets for up to 14 days. Further cuts to waste services are expected to close growing budget deficits nationwide.

According to insurer Direct Line, the cost to councils of tackling pests is an estimated £36 million per year. And fixing the property damage will cost hundreds – sometimes thousands – of dollars.

According to the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, it is up to homeowners to ensure their property is protected as standard policies do not cover rodent damage.

While a single call from pest control can cost $50, you’ll likely need at least three repeat visits – so you may need to set aside $200 for an exterminator.

You might even be tempted to adopt a ‘five-year warranty’, which provides long-term support if pests return. However, such contracts can cost up to £2,000 for eight visits per year.

Municipalities can often offer help. In London, pest controllers in Tower Hamlets can come out to solve a rat problem for free – or charge £30 in an area like Croydon. But in regions such as Islington they can charge £174.

But if you catch the problem before an infestation occurs, you can save money by tackling it yourself.

The first step is to determine what type of pest problem you have. Mice leave small droppings, usually 5 mm long, smaller than a grain of rice and may smell like ammonia. While rats leave larger pellets, often 10mm long and the size of Tic Tac mints.

Better bait: Don’t use cheese in your traps. Mice prefer chocolate or peanut butter

Both make themselves known at night, make scratching noises and gnaw on wood, plastic, cables and food.

Bungay recommends ensuring that the house is spotless, that there are no food scraps left behind (even seeds for birds in the garden) and that containers are properly closed.

There may be obvious entry points into the house, perhaps a skirting board with a gap that needs to be sealed.

She says, “Eliminate holes around pipes, houses and under sheds. A rat only needs a 15mm opening to get in, while a mouse can squeeze through an even narrower hole.’

Unfortunately, sealing a gap with mixed filler or filler foam may not be enough to prevent rodents from eating through it, warns Sarah Ayers of Precision Pest Management Solutions in Leeds. She suggests a barrier of tightly packed chicken wire or wire wool.

A battle plan must then be drawn up to tackle any infections. The choice is often to set traps or use poison.

Traps come in a variety of forms, from traditional $2 to $15 motion trigger break-back traps that kill instantly, to $25 electric shock tools.

Another option is a £5 ‘humane’ trap, which will keep rodents alive, but you’ll still have to throw that away later.

Ayers says, “Don’t use cheese as bait. They don’t like it as much as chocolate or peanut butter. And don’t forget that rats are neophobic: distrustful of new things. So be patient.

‘Set traps along the side of baseboards and sprinkle talcum powder around them to check for paw prints.’

If you have an infestation – which can happen quickly because rodents reproduce up to ten times a year – poison may be preferable. But a major disadvantage is that they are poisonous to other animals and people. If you have children or pets, this is not recommended.

Ayers adds: ‘Wild animals can also die if they catch mice or rats that have eaten poison.’

If you do hire a professional, check that they are insured and ideally use a member of the BPCA as they have a high standard of training.

It is also important to check the fine print to ensure that if rodents return, your pest control professionals will handle this as part of an agreement.