The first cold snap sends mice, rats and squirrels looking for somewhere warm, and your loft, cavity or kitchen cupboard is exactly that. Good winter pest control in a UK home is mostly about spotting the signs early and sealing the gaps, because a pair of mice can become a colony within weeks. This guide shows what to look for, what you can do yourself, and when to call a professional.
The short answer: look for droppings, gnaw marks and noises at night, block entry holes bigger than about a pen’s width, remove food and nesting material, and call a professional if you see signs of rats or cannot find the source within a week. Mice are common and manageable; rats are a health risk and need faster action.
Know which pest you have
Mice
Mice leave small, rice-sized droppings, gnaw cables and food packaging, and nest in warm, hidden places such as behind kitchen units. They squeeze through gaps of around 6 to 7mm. You will often notice scratching in walls at night and a stale ammonia smell.
Rats
Rat droppings are larger, about the size of a grain of rice to a date stone, and they gnaw through plastic pipes and timber. They need gaps of about 15 to 20mm. You may see greasy rub marks along skirting boards, burrows in the garden near the house, or hear heavy scampering in the loft. Rats can carry disease, including Weil’s disease, so do not handle droppings or nests with bare hands.
Squirrels
Grey squirrels usually enter lofts through gaps in the roof edge, fascias or damaged soffits. Noise tends to be in the daytime, with thumping and scratching, rather than at night. They strip insulation and chew cables, which is a fire risk. Grey squirrels are an invasive species, and in England it is illegal to release one into the wild once trapped.
Where they get in
Most infestations begin through gaps you could close in an afternoon.
Air bricks and vents with missing or damaged mesh.
Gaps around pipes and cables where they enter the house, especially behind kitchens and under baths.
Damaged fascias, soffits and roof tiles, a common squirrel route.
Gaps under doors and worn brush strips, especially garage and back doors.
Defective drains, which rats use to reach inspection chambers and then the house.
Walk round the outside of the house with a torch, even in daylight. Anything where you can fit a pen should be blocked. For a hole, wire wool pushed in and sealed with exterior filler or sealant is a quick fix for mice; use steel mesh or metal plate for larger gaps.
What attracts them to your home
Food, warmth and cover. Remove the first two and you make your house less attractive.
Keep dry food in lidded plastic or metal containers, not cardboard or thin bags.
Do not leave pet food out overnight, and clear spilt bird seed from the ground.
Keep bins lidded and compost bins closed.
Clear clutter in sheds, garages and lofts, which gives pests nesting material and cover.
Fix dripping taps and leaks, since rats and mice need water.
What you can do yourself
For a small mouse problem, DIY can work. Snap traps placed against the wall along the pest’s route, baited with a little chocolate spread or peanut butter, are effective and humane when checked daily. Place traps where children and pets cannot reach them.
Be cautious with poison. Rodenticides carry a risk to pets, children and wildlife, and secondary poisoning of birds of prey and foxes is a recognised concern. If you use bait, follow the label and use tamper-resistant bait boxes. For rats, most homeowners are better off calling a professional.
My view: do not wait to see how it goes. A single mouse in November is usually a family by January, and rats in the house are a health problem, not an inconvenience. If you have seen droppings in more than one place or heard it for more than three nights, call a BPCA-registered pest controller and then spend your own effort on proofing the building so they do not come back.
Winter-specific risks to watch
Cold weather pushes pests towards your pipework and insulation. Rodents chew cables in lofts and behind walls, which can cause electrical faults and, in the worst case, fires. If you see chewed wiring, switch off the affected circuit and have a registered electrician inspect it before you use it again. Droppings in loft insulation can also contaminate stored items, so lift boxes onto shelves off the floor and use plastic crates rather than cardboard.
When to call a professional
Call a professional if you have rats, if mice persist after a week of trapping, if you hear animals in the roof or cavity you cannot reach, or if there are signs of damage to wiring. A technician will find the entry points, treat the infestation and give proofing advice. Registered firms follow safe use of rodenticides.
Costs vary by region and pest. Mice treatments are typically cheaper than rats or squirrels, and some firms offer a multi-visit price. Ask for what is included, how many visits and whether proofing work carries a guarantee. Your local council may offer a pest control service for some pests, sometimes at a reduced rate. Check what your area offers.
Damage from pests is often not covered by buildings insurance, as it is considered a maintenance issue, so check your policy wording.
Prevent them coming back
Proofing is worth more than any trap. Repair roofline gaps, replace missing air-brick covers, seal pipe entries, and fit brush strips on doors. Add loft pest-proofing to your regular checks as part of draught-proofing your home, since the same gaps that let in cold air let in pests. Our October home maintenance checklist covers the other jobs worth doing before winter, and the full home maintenance schedule puts a pest check in the right month each year.
What to do in the next 30 minutes
Walk round the outside with a torch and note every gap bigger than a pen’s width.
Check the loft hatch area and under the kitchen sink for droppings or gnawing.
Move dry food into lidded containers.
Plug small holes with wire wool and exterior filler.
Photograph any signs and note the date, ready to show a pest controller.
Once you have done your check, add it to your Home+ checklist with a reminder to repeat it each autumn, so proofing becomes a habit rather than a panic.
FAQ
How do I know if I have mice or rats? Size is the clue. Mouse droppings are small and rice-shaped; rat droppings are larger and blunter. Rats make heavier noises, leave grease marks and gnaw bigger holes. If in doubt, photograph the droppings and ask a pest controller.
Do I have to pay for rat removal? It depends on your council. Some treat rats for free or a reduced fee, others charge, and many no longer offer a service. Private firms charge a call-out and treatment fee. Ask for a quote before agreeing.
Will my home insurance cover pest damage? Usually not. Most policies exclude damage from vermin as a maintenance issue, though some cover resulting damage such as a burst pipe. Check your policy wording.
Is it safe to clean up droppings myself? Yes with care. Wear gloves and a mask, dampen the area rather than sweeping dry, then disinfect. Never vacuum dry droppings. If you have a large infestation, leave clean-up to professionals.
Can I get rid of squirrels myself? Trapping is possible but legally restricted, and a squirrel in the loft is often one of several. A professional can remove them and repair the entry points humanely and legally.
