‘DESTROYED EVERYTHING'
My family have to sleep together in tiny living room after swarms of RATS took over our home – they wee & poo everywhere
The infestation forced the family out of their home for months on end
AN INVASION by rats has forced a mum and her sons to sleep in the living room so they are not sprayed with germ-laden urine dripping from the upstairs bedrooms and loft.
Ebonie Evans, 29, says the ravenous gnawing vermin have 'destroyed everything' at her home in Hawkinge, near Folkestone, including her £200 trainers.
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It's feared some are rats up to 2ft long and are immune to shop-bought poisons.
In a horrifying health scare, Ebonie has already caught debilitating Weil's disease, an illness commonly linked to the urine of infected rats.
She told KentOnline: "They've destroyed everything. They've peed, there are faeces everywhere, they've chewed through our belongings."
Her landlord, property management company Places for People, has apologised for how long it is taking to solve the rodent hell.
Ebonie and sons Arthur, 10, and George, four, with pet dog Venus, moved into the house in St Luke's Walk three years ago and she said problems began in 2022 when rats invaded from an empty property next door.
The family were moved to temporary accommodation in Cheriton from March to July while pest controllers were brought in.
But now they have moved back - and the rats are still on the rampage.
Even Venus, a French mastiff, has not deterred them.
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Ebonie said: "The loft is full of faeces. Before we were moved, we could literally hear them at night scratching and fighting in the loft.
"I put traps there. One must have got caught. It chewed its own leg off to get away.
Our council is the UK's 'WORST' - homes are infested with huge rats & streets are full of rubbish but no one will fix it
"I've nearly lost my fingers so many times setting rat traps."
The beasts have gnawed on electricity cables, sparking a need for rewiring, as well as chewed carpets and sofas.
They have also left mites, plus disgusting masses of urine and faeces.
Ebonie added: "I've had to replace carpets and sofas. It's disgusting but I don't know where else to turn."
Her bedroom is so badly contaminated and infested with mites that it has been sealed off.
She has been sleeping on a sofa for 40 days while she recovers from Weil's disease.
Her sons are sleeping on beds set up in the living room too.
She continued: "I hoover and mop every day - sometimes twice for my own sanity.
"But yet still I come home to faeces on the floor."
How To Prevent A Rat Infestation
According to the British Pest Control Association, these are the best techniques to prevent a potential rat infestation.
- Mind the gap: Eliminate any gaps around pipes and under sheds, as rats only need a gap of 15mm to gain entry to a structure. You will need to search for any potential entry points and seal these up with wire wool embedded in quick-setting cement. You should focus on low level gaps first as these are the most likely areas for rats to enter. You can then consider any higher up vents or gaps. Check around pipes and windows, and double check the basement.
- Tackle nesting: Remove potential nesting sites by keeping yards and gardens clean and tidy, cutting back overgrown areas and clearing any piles of wood or debris. Compost heaps can also become nesting sites, so our advice is to protect it with wire mesh to prevent rodents digging a harbourage.
- Think about drains: Ensure that drain inspection covers are in a good state of repair and any disused pipes are sealed off.
- Feed birds carefully: If you feed garden birds, do not do this to excess and use a bird table or feeder basket if possible, to catch any off cast seed. In urban areas, taking in bird feed at dusk is a way to remove an easy food supply during normal feeding time.
- Take cover: Cover any household waste where rats can get access to it and close dustbin lids. Recycling containers should also be washed to remove any food residue.
- Always keep bin lids sealed properly: Think about entry points. Even small gaps create easy access for rats – which can squeeze through a space as thin as two fingers.
- Get broken bins replaced: Make sure any cracked or broken bins are replaced. Ask your local council for a replacement where a bin is damaged.
- Place bins carefully: Bins offer a great platform for rats to reach new areas, so keep them away from windows and doors.
- Don’t dump food straight into your wheelie bin: Rats are really good at sniffing out their next meal. Don’t lure them to your bin by placing loose food waste straight in the container. Instead, keep it under wraps with compostable liners, plastic bags or refuse sacks, which will help control smells and make sure it doesn’t stick to the sides of containers.
- Look after your bins: It’s a good idea to give your indoor and outdoor bins a rinse with disinfectant and hot water. Alternatively, hire a reputable company to do it for you. Not only will this help with the smell that attracts rats, but it’ll also mean if there are any pathogens brought in by pests, you’ll neutralise them. Always wear gloves!
- Don’t leave your rubbish out too early: If you don’t have wheelie bins, you may be required to move your waste to the side of the street in black sacks for collection - do so as late as possible, preferably not the night before.
- Be careful with compost: Keep compost areas well sealed and a good distance from your property. Rats love exposed compost.
Rats are nocturnal and not usually seen in a house, especially in broad daylight.
But she has spotted them outside and has blocked what she believes was their burrow in the garden.
However, it means her children can't play in the garden and are only allowed in the front yard.
The loft insulation and wiring has been chewed through and she believes that has led to them suffering from power surges.
A spokesperson for Places for People said: "We are sorry for the length of time that it has taken to resolve the vermin issue at Miss Evans home. We are working to resolve this as quickly as possible.
"Due to the extensive initial works required to the property, we had to move Miss Evans and her family to a temporary home whilst this work was carried out.
"We have been and are continuing to work closely with Miss Evans to arrange the remaining repair works as well as suitable temporary accommodation for her and her family whilst the work is underway."
A Folkestone and Hythe District Council spokesperson said officers have visited the nearby property reported as derelict but found no waste likely to attract rats.
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They said: "Our environmental protection officers will take further action if an accumulation of waste is attracting vermin and causing a nuisance for the local community.
"If Ms Evans' landlord has been unable to solve the problem of where the rats are coming from then she should contact our private sector housing team through the council website or by telephoning 01303 853660 and we will try to help her."
Your Rights With Rat Infestations
According to the Citizens Advice Bureau, landlords are responsible for dealing with rat infestations if:
- Your tenancy agreement says they are responsible
- The infestation was caused by the landlord not making certain repairs to the home
- The infestation is making tenants or their family ill
Tenants may be responsible for dealing with infestations if they have done something to cause it, such as not disposing of rubbish which has attracted rats. If residents have an issue with rats coming from a different property, they can ask their local authority for help. Councils have specific legal powers, including serving a notice on an owner or an occupier ordering work to get rid of the problem.