A DAD has torn apart his family home after a rat infestation turned it into a bio-health hazard – forcing his young kids out of the house.
David Hallard, 42, who lives in the aptly named “Wits End” in Pucklechurch, near Bristol, says his life has been thrown into chaos after a horde of rats invaded his home.
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Wreaking havoc on his property, the infestation has forced the father-of-three to move his family out of the house.
The process engineer says the vermin have left his home in tatters, with droppings scattered everywhere, a kitchen roof in ruins, and power supplies chewed through an astonishing six times.
David and his wife Sacha, 34, now face the gut-wrenching reality of a home that’s barely habitable.
David said: “Our house has become borderline uninhabitable.
“Our young children have already had to move out to live with their grandparents – it’s just an absolute nightmare.”
The couple’s three children, Lily, 13, Bobby, eight, and little Darcy, four, have been uprooted from their daily lives, sent off to live with their grandparents as the grim situation at home escalated.
David described how the rats tunnelled into their kitchen, destroyed the roof, and gnawed through essential wiring.
He said: “They’ve caused six separate power outages – we’ve already had to spend over £1,000 on pest control and electrician visits.”
But it doesn’t end there. The intermittent power failures and fears of contaminated water have left the Hallard family feeling like they’re living in a third-world country rather than modern-day Britain.
The ratty nightmare began in June 2022, but David believes the root cause stems from a neighbouring property.
He first noticed the rodents around three months ago and immediately raised concerns with the landlord of the adjacent home.
But it wasn’t until June 2024, after hearing the tell-tale scratching noises and spotting the rats outside, that he called in pest control.
What was uncovered left the family reeling.
He said: “During the hot spell of weather last month, things escalated within a matter of days.
“The smell hit us so we called in pest control, who uncovered the huge extent of the problem.”
According to David, a worker from Pale Horse Pest Control described the situation as one of the worst domestic invasions he’d seen in decades.
The rats had made their way into the Hallards’ home through the kitchen ceiling from next door, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation.
David added: “I wish I could describe the smell to you, but it’s just indescribable
“They’ve tunnelled through the dry board into the sewage supplies, and there’s just the stench of rat faeces and urine everywhere.”
The extent of the damage is staggering.
David and Sacha have had to collect bin bags full of rat droppings, rip up the bathroom floor, and even remove a window in a desperate attempt to locate and eradicate the source of the infestation.
But the battle is far from over. Now, the Hallards have had to move into a rental property, allowing a pest control team to embark on a 12-week removal programme, costing £500.
The couple, who have already spent more than £1,000 on pest control and electrician visits, now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives.
David, said: “It’s very upsetting – us all having to move out. “It’s just so disruptive to our lives and routine.
“A lot of property is going to have to be scrapped – we’re just in the process of uncovering more and more issues.”
David says it could take months and thousands of pounds to recover from this nightmare, and the family is even considering selling up and moving elsewhere.
For now, they’re just hoping to get their lives back to normal – and their home back from the rats that turned it into a living hell.
Meanwhile, a man whose flat has been plagued with rats has revealed he can hear them while he’s watching TV as the pests continue to run riot.
Gareth Cotterell, 51, claims he’s spent years battling rats in his Cardiff flat as they repeatedly bite through walls and his possessions.
Another terrifying 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.
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.
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