Rats in the roof space
Running and scratching overhead from dusk. Roof voids give rats warmth, cover and a clear run along the beams.
Domestic
Rat control for Sydney homes
Ratman is a rat and rodent specialist. For homes that means one job: find how they're getting in, remove what's already inside, and physically seal the way back.
What are you noticing?
Most people call us about one small thing they can't explain. Any of these is worth a look:
- Scratching or running across the ceiling after dark
- Small dark droppings in the pantry, under the sink or along a skirting board
- Chewed packaging, cabling, insulation or stored items in the garage
- Scuffling and squeaking inside a wall cavity
- A stale, musty smell in a cupboard or roof void
One sign on its own is usually enough to act on. Waiting rarely makes it smaller.
Domestic services
Rat control
Roof rats and Norway rats in and around the house — trapped, removed and shut out.
Mouse control
Mice behave differently to rats. Smaller gaps, more nests, a different trapping plan.
Rats in the roof
Scratching and running overhead at night is the most common domestic call we take.
Rodent proofing
Physical sealing work — we close the gaps ourselves rather than hand you a list.
Rodent inspection
A structured walk of roof void, subfloor, kitchen, yard and the roofline.
Signs of rats and mice
What droppings, noises, smears and damage actually tell you about the problem.
How a domestic job runs
- 01
Inspect
Roof void, subfloor, kitchen and laundry, external walls, roofline, drainage and yard. We work out the species, the runs and the entry points before anything is set.
- 02
Trap
Mechanical traps placed on evidence — runs, rub marks and droppings — not scattered on guesswork. No rodenticide baiting inside living areas of a home.
- 03
Proof
We carry out the sealing work: gaps around pipes and cabling, weep holes, damaged vents, eave and tile gaps, gappy doors and subfloor access.
- 04
Check back
A return visit to clear traps, confirm activity has stopped and close anything the first pass exposed.
Why choose Ratman
One specialist, start to finish
You deal with the same person who inspected your home — not a call centre and a different technician each visit.
Inspection first, always
Nothing gets set until we know the species, the runs and the way in. Guesswork just moves rodents around a house.
Mechanical trapping, not baiting inside
Traps remove the animal where we can find it and keep rodenticide out of your living areas, pets and kids included.
We do the sealing ourselves
Physical proofing is part of the job, not a list of holes handed over at the end.
Common rat and mouse problems
Three of the situations we're called out to most often in Sydney homes.
Chewed wiring and cables
Rodents gnaw constantly to keep their teeth down. Stripped cable insulation in a roof or garage is a genuine fire risk.
Droppings near kitchens and pantries
Droppings on a shelf or behind the toe-kick mean they're feeding indoors, usually along a run you can trace back to the entry point.
Proofing and prevention
Trapping clears what's already inside. Proofing is what stops the next one. A young rat fits through a gap the width of your thumb, so the work is detailed: weep holes, pipe and cable penetrations, damaged vents and eave gaps, roof tile lines, subfloor access and door gaps.
We carry out that sealing work ourselves with durable materials, and tell you plainly about anything that needs a licensed trade or major roof work instead.
How rodent proofing worksWhere we work
Domestic work is deliberately kept to a tight run of Sydney so we can get back for the follow-up visit that actually finishes the job.
Primary: Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, Lower North Shore, Sydney CBD. Selective: Manly, Balgowlah, Seaforth, Fairlight, Freshwater, Brookvale / Dee Why.
See domestic service areasCommon questions
- Do you use bait or traps in homes?
- We lead with mechanical traps in homes. Trapping removes the animal where we can find it instead of leaving it to die inside a wall or ceiling cavity, and it keeps rodenticide out of living areas. Where an external situation genuinely calls for secured bait stations, we discuss it with you first.
- There's scratching in my ceiling — is that rats or possums?
- Rats start around dusk and sound like fast running, scratching and occasional dragging. Possums are heavier, slower and thump. If it's rats, the roof void will show droppings and greasy rub marks along the runs. We confirm it on inspection rather than guess.
- Do you actually seal the entry points?
- Yes. Ratman carries out physical proofing and sealing — weep holes, pipe and cable penetrations, vents, eave and tile gaps, door gaps and subfloor access. We don't just hand over a list of holes to fix. Where something needs a licensed trade or major roof work, we say so.
Talk to Ratman
Operating hours 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Same-day attendance available subject to availability.
Looking for a restaurant, café or commercial premises?
Commercial work — food premises, audits and documented monitoring — is handled on the commercial side of Ratman.
Book a domestic rat inspection
Tell us what you're hearing or seeing at home. We inspect, trap and seal the entry points behind the problem.
Request an inspectionSame-day response available during operating hours, 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM