How to Rat Proof Your Home: 15 Ways to Protect Your Property
Rats are more than a nuisance—they’re a real threat to your home, health, and peace of mind.
Once they find a way in, they breed fast, chew through almost anything, and leave behind a trail of damage and disease.
Fortunately, rat-proofing your home doesn’t have to be complicated. With a little time and effort, you can turn your property into a place rats simply don’t want to be.
Here are 15 expert-approved ways how to rat proof your home and keep rats out for good.
N.B. If rats are already in your home then you may like this article to help you decide which rat control method is best for you.
Quick Guide
- Start outside: Shut bins, clear spilt bird food, and move clutter/wood away from walls.
- Block access: Seal any gaps 15mm+ (think "coin test") around doors, pipes, air bricks and sheds.
- Fit mesh, don’t block ventilation: Cover air bricks/vents with metal mesh or air brick covers so airflow remains.
If you’re seeing fresh droppings daily or hearing rats inside: proofing helps, but you’ll usually need an active control step (traps/bait stations) at the same time.
#1 Remove Outdoor Food Sources
Rats have an incredible sense of smell and will travel long distances to find food. Fallen fruit, bird seed, unsealed bins, and pet bowls left outdoors are all open invitations. Keep your garden tidy and your bins tightly sealed.
#2 Secure Household Rubbish & Compost
A flimsy bin lid won’t stop a determined rat in your garden. Use sturdy bins with locking lids and clean them regularly to reduce odours. Compost heaps should be kept well away from your home and enclosed with fine mesh or a purpose-built compost bin.
#3 Eliminate Water Access
Rats need water daily. Fix leaky taps, cover drains, and empty containers that collect rainwater to get rid of rats. Don’t overlook areas like under sinks, utility rooms, or basements where moisture builds up.
#4 Keep Storage Spaces Clutter-Free
Sheds, lofts, garages, and under-stairs cupboards are prime nesting spots—especially when filled with cardboard, fabric, or unused items. Keep storage tidy, raised off the floor, and in sealed containers.
#5 Tidy Up Your Garden & Drive
Rats love cover. Trim overgrown shrubs, mow your lawn regularly, and keep the area along fences and walls clear. Avoid storing anything up against your property that rats could use for shelter.
#6 Move Firewood Away from the House
Stack firewood and timber at least a metre from any exterior walls, and ideally on a raised platform. This helps prevent rats from hiding or nesting beneath it—and makes your home less appealing.
#7 Seal Any Gaps or Holes Over 15mm
Rats can squeeze through surprisingly small gaps, so treat 15mm+ holes as “must-fix” using proofing products. Use metal mesh/steel wool and a solid finish (mortar/cement/metal plate) so they can’t pull it out or chew through it. Avoid relying on standard foam alone—use it only as a secondary seal over a chew-resistant barrier. Council guidance commonly recommends wire wool for small holes and highlights that ventilation must still be maintained where relevant.
#8 Install Heavy-Duty Door Sweeps
Exterior doors often have small gaps underneath that rats can wriggle through. Fit sturdy, metal-reinforced door sweeps to block access, especially in older properties or outbuildings.
#9 Cover Air Bricks, Vents & Chimneys
All vents and air bricks should be protected with fine, non-corrosive metal mesh or an air brick cover. Chimneys can also be an entry point for climbing rats, so fit a proper cap if yours is unused.
Tip: Fix mesh or an air brick cover over air bricks/vents without blocking airflow—the goal is to stop entry while keeping ventilation working.
#10 Reinforce Drains & Toilets
Rats are excellent swimmers and can enter your home through broken drainpipes or even toilets. Consider installing a one-way rat blocker or backflow valve in your sewage system, especially if you’ve had previous infestations.
#11 Block Utility Entry Points
Check where pipes, cables, and wires enter your home—these are prime rat highways. Seal around them with a combination of steel wool and caulk or mesh and mortar, depending on the size of the gap.
#12 Store Food in Rat-Proof Containers
Rats can chew through plastic bags and cardboard with ease. Use thick plastic, glass, or metal containers for food storage, particularly in pantries, garages, or sheds. Don’t forget pet food and bird seed.
#13 Destroy Burrows & Tunnels
If you find a burrow near your foundation or garden structures, collapse it immediately and fill the hole with gravel or concrete. Rats may abandon the site if their nest becomes unstable or exposed.
#14 Carry Out Regular Inspections
Stay ahead of the problem by checking for signs of rats every few weeks. Look for droppings, chewed packaging, smear marks along skirting boards, or scratching sounds at night.
#15 Know When to Call the Experts
Sometimes a DIY approach isn’t enough. If you’re seeing rats regularly or hearing them in the walls, a professional pest controller can provide advanced solutions and long-term protection.
Final Thought
Rat-proofing isn’t something you do once and forget. It’s a mindset—an ongoing effort to protect your space, reduce temptation, and block access routes. A rat-free home is cleaner, safer, and far more comfortable. Don’t let rats take over. Take back control—today.
FAQs: Rat-Proofing Your Home
What size gap can a rat get through?
Rats can squeeze through very small gaps-treat 15mm+ as urgent, and proof thoroughly around doors, pipes, vents and sheds.
Yes-cover with metal mesh or an air brick cover to stop entry, but don't block ventilation.
Can rats come up through toilets/drains?
They can enter via damaged drains. If you've had repeat issues, consider a drain inspection and a one-way blocker/backflow device.
Is expanding foam enough to stop rats?
Not on its own. Use a chew-resistant barrier (mesh/metal) and finish solidly (mortar/plate), then foam can help seal small edges.
Are glue traps legal in the UK?
GOV.UK guidance says you cannot use glue traps designed to catch rodents for wildlife control, and in England glue traps for rodents are illegal unless used under a licence.
