Rodent removal is one of the last things any landlord or property owner wants to manage. But once these pests nest in your residential community, you must act quickly to eliminate the problem. Not only are rats unclean, but they also make your rental property far less attractive to potential renters.      

Once word gets out that your residential property has a rat infestation, current tenants will vacate as soon as possible, leaving you with a bad reputation. However, you can avoid a tarnished name, health concerns, and empty apartments by addressing the problem promptly.

Why a Rodent Infestation Is Problematic

A rodent’s front teeth continue to grow throughout its lifetime. To keep them sharp, they must continuously chew on soft objects. This causes many issues for you and your tenants, such as: 

• Creating fire hazards from chewing on electrical wiring 
• Leaving a trail of blood, feces, and urine that transmits diseases
• Contaminating food sources 
• Dislodging insulation and tearing fabric off furniture 

Rats are known for breeding quickly and can have up to five litters yearly. Pregnancy lasts approximately 21 days, making rodent removal crucial to protect your real estate investment and tenants’ property.

Finding Rats on Your Property 

Rats like to stay out of your sight, which is why they build their nests in hard-to-reach places. Understanding their behavior and common places they want to settle is part of managing a rodent infestation. This helps you identify the problem early on and address it before it gets out of control. 

You may find rats on your property in the following spaces: 

• Crawl spaces or attics  
• Walls 
• Pipes 
• Dryer vents 
• Laundry facilities 
• Inside furniture 
• Kitchen 
• Around pipes under the sink 
• In the roof 
• Around holes for plumbing, electrical, cable, and gas lines

Rats can squeeze through tiny holes to make their way into your building. Any small hole throughout your property is a potential entry point. 

Signs You Have a Rat Infestation 

Although you probably don’t think about it daily, you and your residents should keep your eyes open for signs of a rodent problem. As a property manager, you should have regular inspections, including searches for evidence. 

Tenants Responsibilities

As the landlord, you are responsible for rodent removal. But educating your tenants about the signs of a rodent problem is necessary, so they will know how to identify potential issues. When they are on the lookout, tenants can alert you to the problem early on. They must also keep their apartments clean to help prevent an infestation.    

Landlord Responsibilities  

You can provide your tenants with resources on rodent infestations. The more detailed information they have will better prepare them. Information that should be included in these resources includes warning signs, such as: 

• Rat droppings, which are cylindrical and about half an inch long
• Squeaking or movement 
• Restless pets 
• Nests in hidden areas 
• Visibly chewed wires or wood 
• New holes in the walls or furniture 

If you or your tenants see a rat, you can assume there is more lurking throughout the property. 

Best Practices for Safe Rodent Removal 

Once a rodent has been discovered in your building, your first step should be calling a pest control professional. Attempting to resolve the issue on your own may be ineffective and leave your residents frustrated with you.

The best thing you and your tenants can do is eliminate their food source. Although knowing what these pests are eating can become challenging, a good place to start is the kitchen. Remind your residents to keep food containers tightly sealed and make sure to clean up any spills or crumbs.

A professional pest control expert has the tools and experience to deal safely with rodent removal. An experienced technician will also advise on other preventive measures and let you know what caused the infestation. They’ll likely recommend sealing every potential entry point to prevent rodents from entering your building.  

Sealing Entry Points 

Sealing is one of the most effective methods to protect your property from another infestation. When all entry points are sealed, it prevents rats and insects from finding warmth and food. It’s best to leave this to the professionals because it’s easy to miss a small hole. An experienced technician will inspect every inch of your building, including the roof.  

Contact a Professional Rodent Removal Service

When dealing with a rodent issue, there is no time to waste. Act quickly and call Attic Project. We provide rodent removal and rodent-proofing services to stop the spread of your infestation. Contact us today and schedule your free inspection.