Rats and Mice
The Royal Borough is as susceptible to rodents as anywhere else
in the country. The Council works hard to reduce the number
of rodents and we also take seriously the health and safety of our
workers who may, as part of carrying out their duties, come into
contact with rodents
Under Health and Safety laws, the Sita collection operatives are
not allowed to collect recycling and rubbish from refuse
storage areas if they see rats or mice, or see evidence of rats or
mice, such as droppings, burrowing or gnawing. If rodents or
the evidence of rodents is apparent, the crew will then report this
to Streetline for Environmental Services to deal with*. They will
leave a note in the refuse storage area to explain to the
resident(s) why the recycling and rubbish has not been
collected. The Sita crew will not be allowed to collect
recycling and rubbish from the refuse storage area until proof
can be shown that the area has been treated to remove the rats or
mice. Until such times as proof can be shown that the area
has been treated, residents will have to use on street mixed
recycling banks for recycling and/or take bags of rubbish to
Western Riverside Reuse and Recycling centre at Smugglers Way,
Wandsworth, SW18 1JS
How to discourage rats and mice
The number of rats and mice in an area depends on the
availability of food and places for the them to live and
breed. If we can remove sources of food and shelter this will
help enormously in dealing with the nuisance rats and mice
cause.
- please make sure your rubbish is stored in a metal container
with a tight fitting lid.
- if your recycling and rubbish is stored in a refuse
storage area make sure the door fits securely and there are no
small gaps for a rat or mouse to squeeze through. Mice can squeeze
through a gap as small as 5mm.
- if you place your recycling and rubbish on the street for
collection, please make sure you place your recycling and rubbish
out on the scheduled collection day(s) only. Leaving out bags
of recycling and rubbish on non-collection days can provide a
convenient source of food for rats, thus encouraging them to stay
in the area.
It is an offence to have a rodent infestation in or on your
property and do nothing about it. Please remember that rats
are everybody’s problem and we can all play a part in keeping them
out of the Royal Borough.
*Environmental Services will not provide treatment to eradicate
the rodents in the refuse storage area unless the freeholder
and their family are the sole residents in the property. If
the freeholder is in receipt of housing benefit or council tax
benefit the service will be provided free of charge. If the
property is rented accommodation (including RSL property) the
responsibility for ensuring the rodents are eradicated rests with
the landlord or their representative (managing agents, etc).
The Council is concerned about rats and mice on the borough’s
streets. In order to help residents and landlords deal with
the problems rats and mice cause, Environmental Services can offer
a chargeable service to eradicate rodents in or on private
property. A pest contract to deal with rodents in a refuse
storage area or house can cost as little as £500 per year
(dependent upon the size of the area, number of dwellings in the
building and the complexity of the problem).
Tenants’ Duties
If you are made aware that there are rodents in your property or
in the refuse storage area or you know that waste
collections have been suspended at the premises where you live you
must contact your landlord (or their representative) immediately,
to make them aware of the problem. You should also contact
Environmental Services (020 7361 3002) and report the
infestation.
Landlord’s Responsibilities
If you become aware that your property is
infested with rats, mice or other sorts of pests you are legally
obliged to take immediate action to deal with the problem. You must
immediately call in the services of a qualified pest control
professional to advise you about what needs to be done to eradicate
the pests and to prevent re-infestation occurring.
In addition, if the infestation is in
the refuse storage area, you must ensure the area is
thoroughly cleared of refuse and other items that may be stored
there. You should also ensure your residents have suitable storage
bins (metal and with close-fitting lids) for their rubbish. There
must be enough bins to cope with the waste generated by all
tenants.
Environmental Services will investigate the
circumstances of each case that SITA refers to them. If the
appropriate action to eradicate the pests and to prevent
re-infestation (including eradication, pest-proofing, hygiene and
housekeeping issues) has not been carried out, the Council will
serve an enforcement notice on the landlord and where necessary
carry out the required works in default. The costs of any work,
including administration and legal costs will be payable by the
landlord.