I paid for rat proofing but still hear them. Is that normal?

Noise weeks after proofing usually means rats were sealed in or a gap was missed. Both are for the company to fix. What good proofing looks like, what to ask, and how to protect the baby's room meanwhile.

Mice and rats 3 min read Updated 9 October 2026

It is not what good proofing should end with. If you still hear rats weeks after the work, one of two things is likely: rats were inside when the holes were closed, or a way in was missed. Neither is your fault, and both are worth raising with the company now, in writing, while the job is fresh.

If you have a baby at home, being frightened by this is completely reasonable. There are things you can do tonight to keep the baby’s room closed off while it gets sorted.

What the noise can mean

Rats sealed in. If the loft or ceiling was not empty when the holes were closed, the rats inside look for a way out. They may chew a new hole, or die in the void and smell.
A gap was missed. Rats use the roofline, gaps under the eaves, holes around pipes and cables, air bricks and damaged drains. One open route is enough.
Something else. Birds in the eaves, squirrels or pipes can sound similar. Fresh droppings, gnawing or greasy marks tell you it is still rats.

What good proofing looks like

A survey of the whole building, roofline, walls, pipes, air bricks and drains, not just the hole you pointed at.
A way out before the final seal. One-way exits on the main route, or monitoring that shows activity has stopped, before the last gap is closed.
Materials rats cannot chew, such as metal mesh, steel wool under sealant, or mortar. Foam alone does not hold.
A follow-up check and a written list of what was sealed, ideally with photos.

Our guide to sealing gaps shows the common entry points, so you can see which were covered.

What to ask the company

Which gaps did you seal, and with what? Ask for the list in writing.
How did you make sure the space was empty first?
Did you check the drains and the roofline?
Is a return visit included? Check your quote or invoice before you call, as some jobs include one.
What happens to rats that die in the ceiling?

Send them the dates and times you heard noise, and photos of any fresh droppings. Specific notes get a quicker response than “we can still hear them”.

Keeping the baby’s room safe meanwhile: keep the door shut, check the room for gaps around pipes, radiators and the loft hatch, and keep food and bottles out of bedrooms. Clean droppings with gloves and disinfectant, never by sweeping. If a rat bites or scratches anyone, see a doctor the same day.

If you rent: let it go, or push?

“Seems gone” is not the same as fixed. If the landlord arranged the work, ask them in writing for the proofing report and a follow-up check. Keep a simple log for a few weeks: dates of any noise, droppings found, photos. If it comes back, you have the record. Our answers on documenting pests and a landlord who won’t act cover what to send. In the UK, council environmental health can advise; elsewhere, your local housing authority or a tenants’ union. Landlords can read our page for landlords.

How to tell when it is really over

Clean up all old droppings so new ones stand out. Sprinkle a light dusting of flour on a board in the loft where they ran and check it for tracks every few days. No noise, no fresh droppings and no tracks for several weeks is good evidence the job worked.