Clean them, date it, wait three days. And then — if you are in a block — do the thing most tenants never do, which is put it in writing.
Mice are travelling through that space. They nest somewhere dark and undisturbed — under the units, in a wall cavity, or in a ceiling or service void that may not be inside your flat at all.
Clean them safely, note the date, and check again in three days. Fresh droppings returning means current activity.
| Mouse | Rat | Cockroach | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 3–6mm | ~15mm | 1–2mm specks |
| Shape | Small, pointed ends | Tapered, larger | Tiny, blunt |
| Quantity | Many, scattered | Fewer, grouped | Many, often smeared |
| Where | Along edges, in cupboards | Along walls, in voids | Near appliances, warm areas |
Mice produce a great many droppings — they defecate almost continuously as they move — so scattered small dark specks along a cupboard edge or skirting is the classic pattern.
Unsure? Photograph them next to a coin for scale and send it with your enquiry.
Worth doing before booking anything, particularly in a rented flat where you may be reporting to a landlord.
See our complete service, published prices and treatment information.
View Mouse Control Wealdstone →This is the part that distinguishes a flat from a house, and it changes what you should do.
A mouse in your kitchen may live two floors up. Which is why treating your flat repeatedly, without anyone addressing the building, is an expensive way to manage somebody else's problem.
This is not about being difficult. A building-wide mouse problem addressed one flat at a time keeps returning, and the written record is what eventually gets it dealt with properly.
| Where you find them | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Along one cupboard edge | A regular route past that point |
| Inside a cupboard, on shelves | They are getting into the cupboard itself |
| Behind the cooker or fridge | Very close to where they are living |
| Near the front door | Possibly coming from a communal hallway |
| In a ceiling light fitting | A ceiling void population — likely shared |
| Scattered widely | Established activity |
There is no threshold. Fresh droppings returning after cleaning is the signal.
Yes, with sensible hygiene — store food sealed and wipe surfaces before preparing food.
It depends on the tenancy agreement and the circumstances. We are pest controllers rather than legal advisers — but a written report with photographs is the useful first step whatever the answer.
An entirely different problem with the same clear pricing — wasp nest treatment in Wealdstone is £90 fixed cost, guaranteed.
Small dark specks, 3 to 6mm with pointed ends, usually scattered in quantity along edges and in cupboards.
Fresh ones are dark, moist and slightly shiny; old ones grey, dry and crumbly. Clean an area and check again in three days.
Often not your flat — ceiling voids, riser cupboards, boxed pipework and the void beneath the kitchen units, which may run through to the next property.
Dampen with disinfectant first, wipe with disposable cloths, wear gloves and wash your hands. Never dry-brush or vacuum.
Report it in writing with photographs, ask whether other flats are affected, and ask whether communal areas and the bin store have been treated.
Treat your property, proof your boundary, and raise it with the freeholder or managing agent.
Throw away anything in breached packaging or with droppings on or near it.
It depends on the tenancy agreement and circumstances. A written report with photographs is the useful first step either way.
Clean, wait three days, and see if they return. And if you are in a block, put it in writing to the building as well.
Prefer to talk? Call 0203 151 6640 or WhatsApp us.
