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Rats are among the most destructive and common pests in South Africa. Whether it’s a roof rat scratching in your ceiling or brown rats invading your garden, they pose an immediate threat to your health, property, and business reputation.
When you are facing an infestation, acting quickly is vital. At Rentokil, we combine global expertise with local knowledge to provide fast, effective rodent control. As South Africa’s leading SAPCA-certified rat exterminators, our technicians use innovative, safe technology to protect homes and businesses from rats and offer comprehensive rat control solutions.
DIY methods rarely eliminate a colony. To truly protect your property, professional pest and rat control intervention is required. We offer tailored solutions based on the severity of your infestation:
We utilise Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to deliver safe and highly effective rat pest control. Our experts use tamper-resistant bait stations (rat bait boxes) strategically placed to intercept rats between their nests and food sources. This ensures maximum efficiency while keeping pet-safe protocols strict to protect non-target animals and children.
Understanding which species you have is critical for effective control. South Africa is home to two main house rat species.
A rat infestation can quickly escalate from minor noise to major structural damage and health hazards overnight. Hiring a professional rat exterminator mitigates these immediate risks:
While many people look for how to kill rats using DIY methods, professional intervention is the only way to ensure the colony is completely removed.
Rats can squeeze through gaps as small as 2cm (about the size of a R5 coin). If you are looking for how to get rid of rats, you must first stop them getting in.
Common access points include:
South African brick-and-mortar structures are susceptible to settling cracks. Even a small fissure in the plaster or facebrick mortar can be gnawed wider by a determined rat. They will chew through weak spots to create a direct route into the ceiling or wall cavity.
Rodents can squeeze through tiny spaces, particularly under garage doors (roll-up or sectional) and around warehouse roller shutters or dock levellers where the rubber seals or brush strips have worn away.
Look for uncapped or cracked drainage pipes, especially open gulley traps or old sewage connections left exposed after renovations. Also, check for gaps where plumbing exits walls, common behind washing machines, scullery sinks, or around outside garden taps.
Check gaps around gas lines (for gas hobs or heaters), broken air bricks, and entry holes drilled for Fibre cables, satellite dishes, or municipal power supplies. These service penetrations are often not sealed correctly, offering easy access.
Rats are strong enough to gnaw through plastic, wood, and soft metal, and will dig around concrete footings if soil or insulation provides an easier path. They may also climb inside vertical pipes or soil stacks to gain entry through broken joints or roof vents. Rentokil has developed a range of effective rodent proofing solutions in our Flexi Armour Range. These have been designed to be used both internally and externally and eliminate areas of entry for rats and mice.
Don't underestimate the dangers of a rat infestation. Protect your health, property, and loved ones by taking proactive measures for effective rat control. Contact a professional pest control service today to assess your situation and implement a comprehensive solution tailored to your needs.
While both are common rodents, rats are significantly larger than mice, featuring blunt snouts, small ears, and thick, scaly tails. Mice have pointed snouts, large ears, and long, slender tails. Additionally, rat droppings are capsule-shaped and about half an inch long, whereas mouse droppings are much smaller with pointed ends.
Yes, rodenticides are safe when applied by our trained technicians. Because improper placement carries risks to children, pets, and non-target wildlife, our team strictly secures all bait inside tamper-resistant stations. Professional application eliminates accidental exposure and secondary poisoning while ensuring effective eradication.
Yes, trapping rats is highly effective when using our professional-grade rat traps. However, success depends heavily on strategic trap placement along active rodent pathways and using enticing bait. Because rats are naturally cautious, severe infestations require our comprehensive trapping and exclusion strategy to guarantee total elimination.
Common signs of rats in ceiling areas or a roof rat presence include scratching or scurrying noises at night, grease marks along rafters, chewed wiring, and foul odors. You may also notice small droppings or damaged insulation in your roof. Since birds or squirrels can cause similar noises, contact a professional to inspect and accurately identify the pest.
If you find dead rats, wear thick rubber gloves and spray the carcass with disinfectant before handling. Place the rat inside a sealed plastic bag, seal it in a second bag, and dispose of it in an outdoor trash bin. Always wash your hands thoroughly afterward to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Unsecured food sources, standing water, and easy shelter are what attract rats to residential properties. Open trash cans, pet food left outside, unharvested fruit, leaky pipes, and cluttered storage areas provide ideal conditions for nesting. Sealing entry points and maintaining clean surroundings are vital steps in deterring these pests.
A standard rat control service typically takes between one to three weeks to completely clear an infestation. The exact timeframe depends on the severity of the rodent population, entry point accessibility, and property size. Complete eradication requires combining targeted treatment with professional proofing to prevent future re-entry.
