A specialist in pest control has warned that rats may be infiltrating homes unnoticed. During an appearance on ITV’s This Morning, Vicki Hall suggested a simple test using a 50p coin to determine if a house is rat-proof.
Concerns are mounting over a potential surge in rat populations in the UK due to the exceptionally wet start to 2026. The heavy rain has resulted in flooded burrow networks, forcing rats to seek new shelter and increasing the risk of infestations.
Rentokil Pest Control reported a 10% increase in confirmed rodent activity compared to the previous year, with significant spikes in Northern Ireland and northern England. Regions like Yorkshire, north-west England, the West Midlands, and Scotland also experienced double-digit rises in rat activity.
Experts believe that long-term climate patterns, such as the UK’s warmest year on record in 2025, may be contributing to the rise in rat populations. Warmer weather conditions can extend rats’ breeding season and lead to larger numbers of rodents.
According to Ms. Hall, rats can squeeze through a hole the size of a 50p piece by collapsing their skulls, emphasizing the importance of inspecting properties for potential entry points. With the increased rat activity in UK properties attributed to recent weather conditions, Rentokil cautioned that the continued wet weather in 2026 could further escalate the issue.
Paul Blackhurst from Rentokil highlighted that rats are proficient swimmers but cannot withstand prolonged submersion. Flooding of burrow systems pushes rats to seek dry areas, increasing the likelihood of infestations in properties. To mitigate the risk of rodent activity, property owners are advised to take proactive measures such as sealing entry points and promptly addressing any signs of infestation. Professional pest control services are recommended for effective solutions if an infestation becomes unmanageable.