Rat infestations across the UK are expected to reach record levels this autumn, following a series of summer heatwaves, according to pest control experts. The Yorkshire Rat Pack, a group of pest controllers, warned that the combination of hot weather, a thriving takeaway culture, and deteriorating infrastructure has created ideal conditions for rodent populations to surge.
Kieran Sampler, leader of the group, reported that rats are growing unusually large, with some reaching 20 to 22 inches in length. 'It is going to be a bad winter for rats, and people don't realise – it is going to be horrendous,' he said, adding that infestations are particularly severe on farms, in warehouses, and in houses built in the late 20th century.
Veteran pest controller David Parnell noted that he now receives eight to ten callouts a week for household rats, compared with just a couple a month years ago. He attributed the problem largely to neglected drainage systems, explaining that rats are emerging from sewers and climbing up drainpipes, sometimes entering homes through toilets.
The warning comes after a 22-inch rat, believed to be the UK's largest, was captured in Redcar and Cleveland in August. Councillors described the rodent as 'almost the size of a small cat' and raised concerns that pest control issues are 'out of control' since the local authority ended free services for residents.
Mr Sampler said the problem is worsening each year, with rats getting bigger due to abundant food waste from takeaways and high-rise flats with communal bins. He predicted that within a few years, rats could reach 25 inches. A cross-party pest control taskforce has been established to address the issue, with members urging councils and water companies to take action before the rollout of food waste bins in April 2026 potentially exacerbates the problem.
