First: check it really is coming from next door
Before you raise anything, look for evidence that points beyond your boundary. Runs and burrows that lead towards a neighbouring garden, droppings along a shared fence or wall, and noise in a party wall or shared roof void are all clues. Photograph what you find and note the dates — a simple log is the most useful thing you can have later.
Step 1 — Talk to your neighbour
Most neighbours have no idea. A calm, friendly conversation solves more of these problems than any letter. Stick to facts (“I’ve found burrows along the fence and droppings near the bins”), offer to share the name of a technician, and avoid blame. Rats travel, so it is in both your interests to deal with them together.
Step 2 — Deal with your side anyway
Whatever happens next door, remove what attracts rats on your side: keep bird food off the ground, use lidded compost bins, clear clutter and fallen fruit, and keep bins closed. Then rat-proof the gaps they use to get into your home. Treating your own property protects you while the neighbour situation is resolved.
Step 3 — Put it in writing
If a chat doesn’t work, write a short, polite letter or message describing what you’ve seen and asking them to arrange treatment. Keep a copy. This record shows you took reasonable steps, and it is what a council officer or landlord will ask for first.
Step 4 — Involve the council
If the problem continues, report it to the Environmental Health team at your local council (for Newark, that is Newark & Sherwood District Council). Councils have legal powers over pest problems that come from neglected property: under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 a council can require an owner or occupier to take action against rats, and rats linked to accumulations of waste or neglected land can be treated as a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Officers can inspect and, if necessary, serve a notice.
Tip: councils vary in what they offer directly and what they charge for pest treatment, so check the current position on your council’s website or by phone before you report.
If you rent
Tenants should report rats to the landlord or letting agent in writing straight away. Landlords have duties around the condition and fitness of a home, and pests can be part of that. If the source is a neighbouring property, the landlord can raise it with the neighbour or the council on your behalf.
What a professional will do differently
A technician doesn’t just bait the visible activity. They look for the route into your property, treat around it, and advise on sealing entry points so the next wave from next door can’t simply walk back in. That inspection is also useful evidence if you have to go to the council.
Common questions
Can I make my neighbour get rid of rats?
You can’t force them yourself, but your council can require action where an infestation is affecting neighbouring properties, and can act on rats linked to accumulations of waste or neglected land. Start by talking to them and keeping a written record, then report to Environmental Health if it continues.
Who pays for treatment if rats are coming from a neighbour’s property?
The occupier or owner of the property where the rats are living is normally responsible for dealing with them. Treating your own property to stop rats getting in is your cost, but keeping records helps you ask the neighbour, landlord or council to deal with the source.
Should I put poison down myself?
Amateur baiting often fails, can harm pets and wildlife, and risks rats dying in inaccessible places. Professional treatment uses secured bait stations and follow-up visits. If you do use anything yourself, follow the label exactly and keep it out of reach of children, pets and wildlife.
This site connects households and businesses in the Newark-on-Trent area with an independent local rat-control technician. We are not the servicing contractor and do not carry out treatment ourselves. See our terms & disclosure.