Protect your home from unexpected guests this Spring

Key takeaways

• As spring warms up, rats, bats and moths become more active and are more likely to enter UK homes, increasing the risk of damage that is often not covered by standard home insurance.

• Each presents different warning signs, from droppings and gnaw marks (rats), to noises and roosting signs (bats), and holes in clothes or carpets (moths).

• Early, preventative action and lawful deterrence are key, as infestations are usually classed as maintenance issues and can be costly to fix once established.

Spring has officially arrived, bringing warmer days and longer evenings. But as temperatures rise, breeding season also begins for rats, bats, and moths, increasing the risk of them entering UK homes.¹

In response, homeowners should take action early, before these unexpected guests lead to costly property damage.

To help you prepare, here are some key warning signs that could suggest you have unexpected guests and practical steps you can take to reduce the risk of damage to your home. 

Rats

Rats may be small, but the damage that they can cause can be huge. These pests can chew through almost anything – from floorboards and plasterboard to pipes and electrical wiring – leaving you facing structural issues, burst pipes, or even a fire risk.²

What many homeowners may not realise is that standard home insurance typically won’t cover pest infestations because insurers view it as a maintenance issue rather than a sudden, unforeseen event, like a fire or storm.

But with optional home emergency cover, your policy might at least cover the cost of removal, although repairing the damage they leave behind will still be up to you to cover.

Common signs you may have rats:

• Rodent droppings

• Foul or unusual smells

• Gnaw marks

• New holes in floors, walls, and cupboards

• Rubbish and wrappers being disturbed or moved

• Rat footprints and smudge marks on surfaces

How to prevent rats from causing damage to your home:

• Seal gaps and entry points: Rats can fit into gaps as small as a 2p coin so it is vital to cover gaps with foam, mesh, or steel wool.

• Secure rubbish: Loose waste attracts rats as they feast on left-over food.

• Remove nests promptly: As we enter peak breeding season, rats reproduce at alarming rates, worsening the problem.

• Treat infestations effectively/knowing when to call in the experts: Rats carry various diseases and should be treated as wild animals, so always seek professional help when dealing with rats. 

• Maintain drains and plumbing: Broken or disturbed pipes enable rats to enter your home via sewers.

Bats

As UK temperatures rise, bats come out of hibernation, often seeking warm, dry and quiet places, like attics or wall cavities, to raise their young.³

Although bats aren’t considered pests and rarely cause structural damage to your home, they can still cause significant issues.

Droppings and urine from bats can damage wood and insulation and create foul smells in your home. Often roosting in large colonies, bats can be very noisy guests and, in rare cases, can cause increased health risks for conditions such as histoplasmosis.⁴

Similar to rats, if bats cause damage to your home, it’s generally not covered by standard home insurance policies.

Signs you have bats:

Due to the nocturnal nature of most bats in the UK, it can often be difficult to spot when you have them living in your home. However, some hints to help spot them include:

• Droppings

• Look for bats entering or re-emerging (common entry points include: attics, broken roof tiles, space between downpipes, fascias and gutters, and cellars ⁵)

• Check local records. If your area records high levels of bat activity, you are more likely to come into contact with bats⁶

How to prevent bats from making a home in your home this spring:

Bats can squeeze through very small spaces, so sealing up entry points around your roof, tiles, vents and chimney is an effective way to prevent them from becoming an unexpected guest.

Additionally, it is important to note that bats are protected by law in the UK. This means that intentionally or recklessly disturbing, capturing, injuring, or killing them can lead to legal consequences.

Removal of bats is also generally not covered by standard home insurance policies as  insurers typically consider pest control to be part of routine home maintenance.

If you suspect bats in your home, it’s important to contact a licensed bat specialist or a pest control service, instead of taking matters into your own hands.

Moths

Moths may seem like small unsuspecting guests, but they can cause significant damage inside your home. In Spring, moths are more likely to enter homes, searching for food and suitable places to lay their eggs.⁷

Considered pests, their larvae (caterpillars) feed on fibres like wool, silk, fur, and leather, making your clothes, carpets, rugs, upholstery, and furniture a tasty treat.⁸

Despite the significant damage moths can cause, most standard home insurance policies won’t cover it. This is because insurers generally classify moth damage as preventable wear and tear or neglect of maintenance, rather than an unexpected event.

Signs you have moths:

Although small in size, moths can cause significant damage. Some tell-tale signs you may be suffering from a moth problem can include:

• Small, irregular holes in clothing.

• Fine webbing in corners of wardrobes. 

• Irregular bare patches on carpets and rugs. 

What to do:

Dealing with moths can be an arduous task as they often hide between fabrics and items of clothing. You can reduce the risk of moths by employing natural deterrents (lavender and rosemary sheets) in common infection areas, such as wardrobes and drawers and regularly airing and brushing out clothes.

If moths are already present in your home, the first step should be to identify the source of moths (e.g. clothes or fabrics) and shake and wipe these items to remove any surface moths. Secondly, hoovering, spraying, and disinfecting the area are effective ways of cleaning the area.

_Sources

<sup>1. RSPCA
2. Pest Control Direct
3. Varment Guard 
4. Mayo Clinic
5. Bat Conservation Trust
6. Bat Conservation Trust
7. York Pests
8. Ageas</sup>