Manchester has recorded the biggest rise in rodent enquiries of any major UK city, prompting Rentokil to unveil a 3D pavement artwork on Market Street showing the hidden world of rats living in sewers beneath cities.
The installation, called Under our Feet, was unveiled on Tuesday morning in the busy shopping street. It is designed to challenge the common misconception that rat activity means a home or business is dirty.
Manchester leads UK rat enquiry rise
Full-year data recorded by Rentokil pest control, from January to December 2025, saw the largest increase in enquiries in Manchester at 26 per cent year-on-year. It tops the list of the UK's rattiest cities, with Oxford in second place (24pc), followed by Leeds & Bradford (23pc), Leicester & Peterborough (22pc) and Aberdeen (20pc).
In sixth place is Liverpool, where there was a 17pc increase between 2024 and 2025. Glasgow also saw a 17pc rise, followed by London (15pc), Hull (14pc) and Edinburgh (8pc).
Changing conditions for rats
The worrying findings come amid changing conditions for rats and new challenges for pest control, including the animals becoming poison resistant, breeding seasons extending because of warmer weather and places becoming increasingly densely populated.
However, experts say there is still a stigma around rats, with more than a third of people believing rats in a home or business means it is dirty and more than half of them embarrassed to tell other people if they had a rat problem at home.
“Rats don't distinguish between a clean building and a dirty one,” said Paul Blackhurst, head of technical academy at Rentokil Pest Control. "They need food, water, warmth and shelter, and can enter properties through compromised sewers, weaknesses in buildings or neighbouring premises.
“Under Our Feet is about challenging those misconceptions. Rat problems can happen anywhere, so there’s no reason to be embarrassed. Speaking up and acting early can stop a small problem from becoming a major infestation.”
Summer heat and rodenticide resistance
When looking at 2026 figures to date, Rentokil has recorded a UK-wide 15pc year-on-year rise specifically in rat enquiries during the summer months (June - August), as the UK experienced its hottest summer on record. The data suggests that rodent populations could continue to increase as the climate changes.
“Rats are incredibly adaptable, and the weather can have a big influence on their behaviour,” added Paul. “A brown rat needs around 60ml of water every day, so during a hot, dry summer they may travel further to find it, bringing them closer to homes, businesses and other reliable water sources.
“Now, as we head into the colder season, that behaviour shifts again. Rats start looking for sheltered places where they can find the resources they need to survive, and this can bring them into our homes and business premises. That’s why autumn and winter are traditionally a busy period for rat activity, and why we anticipate seeing more enquiries and reports of rats in the media over the coming months.”
Alongside changing rat behaviour, rodenticide resistance is creating a new challenge for pest control. Mapping from the Rodenticide Resistance Action Committee shows resistant rat populations across the UK, with several different genetic mutations identified. Resistance can be passed from parent to offspring, meaning it can become established in local rat populations and make some commonly used rodenticides less effective.
“People shouldn’t be embarrassed to speak up or ask for help if they spot the signs of rats,” says Paul. “Rat problems can happen anywhere, and acting early can stop a small problem becoming a much bigger one.
“At the same time, the way we tackle rats has to keep evolving. There isn’t one answer to every infestation, particularly as we learn more about rodenticide resistance. Professional pest control is about understanding the problem, choosing the right approach and acting quickly.”
As part of that evolving approach, Rentokil has launched its new Eliminar rodenticide-free solution that uses air-driven technology to control rats without relying on rodenticide active ingredients. This means its method of control is not affected by genetic resistance to rodenticides, while reducing reliance on chemical treatments and the potential risks they can pose to non-target wildlife.
The Market Street artwork is there for just one day, but the problem is an ongoing one for Manchester and other cities and comes just a few months after the Manchester Evening News highlighted the issue of rats plaguing the Northern Quarter after rubbish was left out in the streets. The Manchester Evening News has contacted Manchester City Council for a comment.
