The Northern Suburbs are home turf for us, since our base is in Brackenfell. From Goodwood and Parow out to Durbanville and Kraaifontein, we see the full range of pests, from ceiling rats to summer ant invasions.
Rat Control by suburb
We cover all 16 suburbs on our Northern Suburbs route. Each suburb page covers what we find there and what works for those streets and buildings.
City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard 26 areas
Southern Suburbs 29 areas
South Peninsula 17 areas
Northern Suburbs 16 areas
Blaauwberg & West Coast 10 areas
Cape Flats 24 areas
Rats across the Northern Suburbs
Rats are the top winter call across the Northern Suburbs, from Goodwood and Parow to Durbanville and Kraaifontein. Roof rats move into ceilings as the weather cools, getting in at the eaves of older homes along Voortrekker Road and through the complicated rooflines of newer estate houses. Around the commercial and industrial areas of Bellville, Parow and Kuils River, brown rats live in drains and around food businesses.
We're based in Brackenfell, in the middle of the Northern Suburbs, so we can usually get to you quickly. We trap in roofs, bait outside in lockable stations and seal the gaps they use.
Inland from the coast, the Northern Suburbs get hotter, drier summers and cold, wet winters. The Tygerberg hills, the Durbanville wine farms and stretches of open veld edge many suburbs. Rivers like the Kuils River and various stormwater canals run through the area.
Which rat is in your Northern Suburbs home?
Brown rat
Rattus norvegicus- Norway rat
- Sewer rat
- Family Muridae
- Body
- Heavy and thickset
- Nose
- Blunt and rounded
- Ears
- Small, furry, close to head
- Tail
- Shorter than its body
- Weight
- 250 to 500 g
- Droppings
- Up to 2 cm, blunt ends
- Burrow holes along walls, under paving and sheds
- Greasy rub marks low down along skirting and walls
- Gnawed bins, compost heaps and pet food bags
- Coming up through drains and broken sewer pipes
Black rat
Rattus rattus- Roof rat
- Ship rat
- Family Muridae
- Body
- Slim and agile
- Nose
- Pointed
- Ears
- Large, thin, almost bare
- Tail
- Longer than its body
- Weight
- 150 to 250 g
- Droppings
- About 1.2 cm, pointed
- Scratching and running in the ceiling at night
- Droppings in the roof space, cupboards and on beams
- Chewed cables, insulation and ceiling boards
- Running along fences, power lines and tree branches
ActiveBusierPeak, as rats move indoors in the cold, wet winter
Something most people miss
People often block the hole the rat used and trap it inside the roof. Always deal with the rats before you seal the last gap.
Rats need water daily. Dripping taps, leaking irrigation and pet bowls left outside all help them survive on your property.
What gives them away
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: Rats spread leptospirosis through their urine, and they can carry salmonella and other diseases onto food surfaces. They gnaw on electrical cables in roofs, which can start fires, and chew through water pipes and geyser fittings. Rats also bite, especially when cornered or when a small child or sleeping person is involved. A couple of rats can become dozens within a season because they breed fast.
What happens when we come out
First we identify the rat and track its route, because a roof rat problem is solved at the roof line and a Norway rat problem at ground level and in the drains. In the roof and inside the house we prefer heavy-duty snap traps, so there is no smell from a rat dying in the ceiling. Outdoors we use lockable, tamper-resistant bait stations, positioned along runs and fixed so they cannot be moved, and we do a bait risk assessment where pets, children or owls are around. Then we proof: steel mesh over vents, sealing gaps around pipes and cables, and advice on trimming branches. Burrows are treated and collapsed after the colony is dealt with.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our rat control service works.
Prevention that actually works
- Fit drain covers and check that old drain pipes are not broken underground.
- Do not leave building rubble or wood piles against the house for months.
- Pick up fallen fruit, avocados and pet food every evening.
- Keep compost in a closed bin and do not add meat or cooked food.
- Store feed and bird seed in metal bins with tight lids.
How much will it cost?
Price depends on the size of the property, which rat species you have and how many entry points need proofing. A roof rat problem with lots of overhanging trees takes more proofing work than a single burrow in the garden. Follow-up visits are part of most rat jobs and are included in the free quote.
Rat calls peak in Cape Town's rainy winter months, when burrows flood and rats head for dry roof spaces. Roof rats are busy again in late summer and autumn when fruit trees are loaded.
Rat Control questions from Northern Suburbs
Will poison make the rats smell in the ceiling?
It can, which is why we prefer traps in the roof and keep bait in outside stations.
How are rats getting into my roof?
Roof rats climb trees, walls and cables and squeeze in under roof tiles, fascia boards or through open eaves.
Can you get rid of rats near a river or canal?
Yes, but properties near water usually need ongoing stations and good proofing, because new rats keep arriving.
When is the worst time for rats in the Northern Suburbs?
Autumn and winter, when cold weather pushes roof rats into ceilings. Sealing gaps and baiting in autumn helps a lot.
Are you close enough to respond quickly in the Northern Suburbs?
Yes, we are based in Brackenfell, and our average turnaround is about 48 hours depending on the season. For urgent advice there is a 24-hour emergency line.
Is there a guarantee?
Yes, our treatments carry a minimum 3-month guarantee.
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