Who is responsible for rat infestations?
As a tenant, your landlord is responsible for dealing with rat infestations. If you are a council or housing association tenant, that means the council or housing association you rent from has legal duties under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
- Section 11 requires landlords to keep the structure and exterior of the property in repair (walls, drains, doors, windows, roofs) and maintain installations for water, gas, electricity, and sanitation. If rats are entering because of holes, broken drains, or defective doors/windows, the landlord must fix the issue properly.
- Section 9A, read with Section 10, goes further. Landlords must ensure properties are “fit for human habitation.” When deciding if a property is unfit, the law considers prescribed hazards, including pests (hazard 15). This means that simply having a rat infestation can itself make a property legally unfit, even before the disrepair is fixed.
In short: your landlord must not only repair the faults that let rats in, but also make sure you are not forced to live with an infestation that threatens your health, safety, or wellbeing.
What to do if you discover rats in your home
If your landlord ignores your reports, carries out only temporary fixes, or fails to stop the infestation from recurring, they may be in breach of both Section 11 and Section 9A of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. Luckily, there are steps you can take to get this sorted, even if your landlord is not being responsive.
- Report the issue immediately: contact your council or housing association in writing (keep a copy of emails, letters, or call logs, you might need these later).
- Gather evidence: take photos or videos of sightings, droppings, entry points, and damage caused. The more evidence you can gather, the better.
- Log the impact: keep a diary of dates, any lost or damaged belongings, and health issues (such as bites, contaminations or medical symptoms).
- Allow access: give the landlord or their contractors a fair opportunity to inspect and carry out pest control and repair the home. Ideally, your landlord will act quickly and fix the issue.
What if your landlord fails to act?
Once you have followed the steps above, if your landlord is still refusing to make repairs, you should call Emerald Law. We will assess your situation and let you know in minutes whether you have grounds for a claim. If you do, we will act for you on a No Win, No Fee basis and will send a formal “letter of claim” to your landlord under the Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Conditions.
You may be entitled to:
- Repairs to properly stop the infestation (blocking holes, fixing drains, repairing external damage).
- Professional pest control treatment paid for by the landlord.
- Compensation for inconvenience, health risks, or damaged belongings.
Housing disrepair claims can be a powerful way to ensure action is taken and to seek fair redress.
Take action today
Rats are more than a nuisance. They spread dangerous diseases like Weil’s disease and salmonella, chew through wiring (creating fire risks), and contaminate food and water. The impact isn’t just physical: many tenants living with infestations suffer with poor sleep, stress, and declining mental health.
No one should be forced to live in these conditions. If you’re a council or housing association tenant, report the problem immediately. If your landlord fails to act, you may have the right to bring a housing disrepair claim.
Call 0151 229 1170 or make a quick enquiry for a free claim assessment where a member of our Housing Disrepair team will be able to tell you in minutes whether you have a claim.
