When the summer months roll around, rats are at their happiest. There's an abundance of food and plenty of shelter available, both inside and out. But while you may think you've done enough to keep rats away from your home, experts warn that they have an abundance of tricks up their sleeve to gain access to your home, and all its creature comforts.

"It only takes a gap the width of a biro (just over 12mm) for a rat to squeeze through." says John Stewart, technical training manager at Pest-Stop, "and once inside, they can cause extensive damage by chewing through wiring, pipes and insulation, leading to fire risks, flooding and long-term structural issues."

Here's how he recommends homeowners protect themselves from rodents this summer.

Know your common access points

A rat's journey ins

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