Harfield Village is a pocket of narrow streets and old cottages squeezed between Claremont and Kenilworth, with plenty of cafes and restaurants on the main drag. Old buildings, lots of trees and food businesses close together mean rodents and cockroaches are always in the picture.
Rodents in Harfield Village: what we see
Roof rats run the tree branches onto roofs and into ceilings, and mice live under the floors. Grey squirrels also chew their way into roof spaces, so we check eaves and fascias as well as the floor.
Most homes are semi-detached Victorian and Edwardian cottages with timber floors, suspended underfloor voids and pitched roofs. Many have been renovated, but the old air bricks, gaps around pipes and loose roof sheeting are still there. Those voids are perfect runways for rats and mice, and old timber floors and roof beams can carry wood borer.
Roof rats and mice in ceilings and underfloor voids are the most common call. Cockroaches spread from restaurants and takeaway kitchens, and fishmoths like the old cupboards and bookshelves. Grey squirrels are a regular nuisance in the trees and roofs.
Something most people miss
Landlords often get the call from tenants about noises in the ceiling. Proofing the roof is a one-time investment that saves repeated call-outs.
When a technician inspects for squirrels, the first thing he looks at is the trees around the house, because the branches show where the squirrels are jumping onto the roof.
How to tell you have a problem
- Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.
- Squirrels seen jumping from a tree onto the roof and disappearing under the tiles.
- Scratching and running in the ceiling in the early morning and late afternoon, rather than at night.
- Dug-up pot plants and bulbs, and nuts buried in garden beds.
How we handle squirrel control in Harfield Village
We do not use poison for squirrels. Our approach is exclusion: we find every entry point and fit one-way exclusion devices so the squirrels can get out but not back in. Where it makes sense, live cage traps are used to remove squirrels from the roof. Once the roof is empty, we close the gaps with steel mesh and repair chewed areas so they cannot get back in. We also advise on trimming branches that give squirrels easy access to the roof.
- Roof inspection
We check the roof space and outside roof line to find nests and every entry point.
- Exclusion or trapping
One-way exclusion devices or live traps are fitted so the squirrels leave the roof.
- Confirm it is empty
We check that no squirrels or babies are left inside before anything is sealed.
- Proofing
Entry points are sealed with steel mesh and repairs, so they cannot chew back in.
- Report
You get a report with details of the work done and any trees to trim.
Prevention that actually works
- Use metal mesh, not plastic, over roof vents and gaps.
- Pick up acorns and fallen fruit regularly if you have big trees close to the house.
- Trim tree branches so they are at least two metres away from the roof.
- Fit squirrel guards on bird feeders, or move them away from the house.
- Do not feed squirrels in the garden, however cute they are.
What affects the price
The cost depends on how many entry points there are, how high the roof is and how much repair and proofing is needed. A single gap is quick to deal with, but an older roof with many chewed areas takes longer. Trapping and follow-up visits are included in the free quote.
Squirrels in Cape Town breed mainly in late winter and spring, and again in summer, and that is when they look for sheltered nesting places such as roofs. Autumn is also busy, as they gather acorns and nuts from the oak trees.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I hear scratching under my floorboards at night?
In Harfield's raised-floor cottages it is almost always mice or rats nesting in the underfloor void. We find where they are getting in through air bricks or pipe gaps, bait, and seal up the entry points.
What if there are babies in the roof?
We check for young before sealing, because sealing them in causes suffering, smells and more damage.
Will you hurt the squirrels?
No. We use one-way exclusion devices and live traps, not poison.
Do Harfield's old cottages need a beetle certificate when they are sold?
Usually yes, the buyer's bank or the sale agreement will ask for one. We inspect the accessible roof timbers and underfloor areas and report on any active infestation.
How do I know it is squirrels and not rats?
Squirrels are active during the day, especially early morning, while rats are mostly active at night.
Do you come out to Harfield Village for squirrel control?
Yes. Harfield Village is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Claremont, Kenilworth, Newlands, Rondebosch. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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