Key takeaways
- A rat infestation in a rental property is the landlord's responsibility to fix in every U.S. state under the implied warranty of habitability, and lease clauses that try to waive that duty are unenforceable in nearly all states.
- Renters should document all evidence of rats (droppings, gnaw marks, sounds) and notify the landlord in writing before escalating to a health department complaint, repair-and-deduct, or rent withholding, each of which carries strict legal requirements that vary by state.
- Standard renters insurance policies typically exclude pest damage, so renters who delay reporting a rat problem risk paying out of pocket for destroyed belongings while also weakening their legal position against the landlord.
A rat infestation in a rental property is a health hazard and, in most states, a violation of the landlord's legal duty to keep the unit livable. Renters dealing with this problem have specific rights and practical steps available to them. This article covers how to identify signs of rats, who is responsible for treatment, what to do when a landlord won't act and how to screen for rodent risks before you sign a lease.
How do you know if your apartment has rats?
Knowing what to do if your apartment has rats starts with confirming the problem. Rats leave consistent physical evidence, and recognizing it early strengthens your case when you report it to your landlord.
Droppings, gnaw marks and unusual sounds are the most common early signs
Rat droppings are dark, pellet-shaped and roughly 1/2 to 3/4 inch long. Look for them along baseboards, inside cabinets and behind appliances. Fresh droppings are soft and shiny. Older ones turn hard and gray. That difference helps you estimate how recent the activity is. Gnaw marks on food packaging, wood trim or plastic containers are another reliable indicator.
Grease marks along walls and a persistent ammonia-like odor indicate an established population
Rats travel the same routes repeatedly, leaving dark oily streaks called rub marks along walls and door frames. Their urine produces a strong musky smell that gets worse in enclosed spaces like closets and under-sink cabinets. If you notice both rub marks and odor, you are likely dealing with a colony, not a single rodent.
Scratching or scurrying noises in walls or ceilings, especially at night, often confirm activity
Rats are nocturnal. They are most active between dusk and dawn.
"Generally speaking, people start hearing rats before they see them or their droppings," said Kortney Paul, founder and CEO of Ideal Partners, a Fort Worth, Texas-based residential and commercial services company that includes a pest control firm. "Rats are quite loud."
Consistent scratching, gnawing or running sounds inside wall cavities, above ceiling tiles or beneath floors point to an active presence. Document every instance with dates, times and locations. Audio or video recordings from your phone add useful evidence for your landlord and, if needed, for a formal complaint later.
Kyle Turner, president and CEO of Pro Active Pest Control in El Dorado Hills, California, said early action matters.
"One of the biggest mistakes tenants make is ignoring the first signs, assuming one rat is an isolated incident," Turner said. "It rarely is."
Why are rats in a rental a serious problem?
A rat infestation poses direct risks to your health and to the physical condition of the building. Both factors give tenants legal standing to demand action.
Rats carry diseases including hantavirus, leptospirosis and salmonellosis that can spread through droppings, urine and contaminated surfaces
According to the CDC, rats and mice spread over 35 diseases worldwide. You do not have to touch a rat to get sick. Transmission happens through contact with droppings or urine, through food or water contaminated by rodent waste and by breathing in dust from dried droppings in enclosed spaces like cabinets and closets. Allergic reactions and asthma flare-ups are also linked to rodent dander and waste particles.
Rats chew through electrical wiring, insulation and plumbing, creating fire hazards and water damage that can affect an entire building
Rodent-gnawed wiring is a documented cause of residential fires. Rats also shred insulation inside walls and attics, which reduces energy efficiency and opens pathways for moisture. They can chew through PVC pipes and may damage soft copper lines, leading to slow leaks that produce mold and structural damage over time. In a multi-unit building, damage in one area often spreads to neighboring units before anyone notices.
What should you do first?
The steps you take before and immediately after contacting your landlord determine how much leverage you have if the problem drags on. Building a paper trail from day one strengthens your position.
Paul said the timeline matters: "If you see a rat, it's safe to assume there are more. And don't delay. Call for pest control right away."
Document everything before you contact your landlord
Photograph droppings, gnaw marks, grease trails and any property damage using a timestamped camera or your phone's default photo settings. Record audio or video of scratching or scurrying sounds. Create a simple log with the date, time, location and description of every sign or sighting. Store copies outside the apartment in email or cloud storage so the record is preserved even if you need to leave the unit.
Notify your landlord in writing with photos, dates and a clear request for professional extermination
Use email, a certified letter or the property's online maintenance portal. Include the date of your notice, a description of what you found, your photo and video attachments and a direct request for licensed pest control treatment within a stated timeframe. A written notice creates a legal record that the landlord was informed. Verbal reports alone are difficult to prove later.
Do not attempt building-wide extermination yourself
Traps and bait placed in a single unit will not resolve a structural or multi-unit infestation.
"Things like snap traps can help get individual rats that find their way in, but if their access point isn't identified and closed off, they will continue to get in," Paul said.
Rats access areas that individual tenants cannot reach, and scattering poison without professional guidance can push rodents into neighboring units or create secondary hazards. Leave building-wide treatment to licensed pest control. The section below covers specific steps you can take inside your unit while you wait for professional treatment.
Take immediate steps to get rid of rats in your apartment while you wait for professional treatment
Store all food, including pet food, in sealed metal containers and take trash out daily rather than letting bags accumulate.
Paul recommended metal over plastic: "While plastic containers will keep a mouse out, it won't keep a determined rat out."
Wash dishes right after meals, wipe down counters and fix any dripping faucets, since rats seek water as aggressively as food. To limit entry points, install door sweeps on your unit's entry door and any door leading to a hallway, garage or basement. Stuff steel wool into gaps around pipes, drains and utility lines, then seal over it with caulk. Cover floor drains with heavy-gauge metal grates, because rats can enter through sewer lines and push past lightweight plastic covers.
Who is responsible for rat control in a rental?
Understanding rats in apartment tenant rights starts with one question: Who has the legal obligation to fix the problem? In most cases, it is the landlord.
In most states, the landlord is responsible under the implied warranty of habitability
Nearly every state requires landlords to keep rental units in a condition fit for human habitation, meaning the unit must be safe, sanitary and structurally sound. A rat infestation that creates health or safety risks is almost universally treated as a violation of that standard. This applies whether the rats were present before you moved in or entered through structural deficiencies like gaps in exterior walls, unsealed utility lines or faulty plumbing. The landlord's obligation typically covers hiring and paying for licensed pest control.
Related content:
Responsibility can shift to the tenant if the infestation results from the tenant's actions
If rats are attracted by consistently unsanitary conditions inside a specific unit, such as food waste left in the open, excessive clutter that blocks access for treatment or a failure to report signs promptly, the landlord may argue the tenant caused or worsened the problem. In practice, this is hard to prove in multi-unit buildings where rats move freely through shared infrastructure, including pipe runs, ventilation gaps and spaces between walls.
Your lease may include a pest clause, but it cannot override state habitability law
Some leases assign all pest control responsibility to the tenant. However, blanket clauses that attempt to waive the implied warranty of habitability are unenforceable in nearly all states. Before signing a lease, review the pest language carefully and compare it to your state's landlord-tenant statutes. Keep in mind that responsibility rules also differ depending on property type. In many cities, buildings with three or more units place all pest obligations on the owner, while single-family rental agreements may split duties differently.
Related content:
What if your landlord won't act?
If your initial written notice does not produce results, the next steps create formal pressure and open legal options.
Start by sending a second written notice referencing the original request and the number of days without action
A follow-up notice establishes a pattern of inaction. Reference the exact date of your first request, note how many days have passed and attach updated photos showing that the infestation has continued or worsened. State clearly that you intend to pursue additional remedies if the landlord does not arrange professional treatment within a specific number of days. Keep a copy of this notice in the same cloud or email archive as your original documentation.
File a complaint with your local housing or health department to trigger an official inspection
Most cities and counties have a code enforcement or environmental health office that investigates habitability complaints from tenants. An inspector can issue a formal violation notice against the property. That notice goes on the public record, puts legal pressure on the landlord and serves as independent evidence if you later need to take the matter to court or a tenant rights board.
Repair-and-deduct, rent withholding and lease termination are available in some states but carry increasing legal risk
Some states allow tenants to hire an exterminator and deduct the cost from rent, withhold rent until the problem is fixed or terminate the lease entirely. Each option has specific legal steps that vary by state, and using any of them incorrectly can expose you to eviction proceedings or financial liability. Consult a local tenant rights organization or attorney before choosing one of these paths. The pest control article linked in the previous section covers each option in more detail. If you are still searching for a rental, the next section covers how to screen for rodent risks before you sign.
Related content:
How can you spot rat risks before you sign a lease?
The best way to avoid a rat infestation in a rental property is to look for warning signs before you move in. A few minutes of extra inspection during a tour can help you identify problems before you sign.
Inspect the unit and common areas for droppings, gnaw marks and musty odors during every tour
Open cabinet doors and shine your phone's flashlight behind appliances and along baseboards. Look for dark pellets, brown grease spots or gnaw marks on wood trim. Smell for ammonia. Then check the building's common areas: hallways, stairwells and any shared spaces where pests could travel between units.
Check trash rooms and dumpster areas for signs of poor waste management
Trash infrastructure is one of the strongest indicators of rat risk in a multi-unit building. During your tour, walk to the dumpster enclosure and look for overflowing bins, loose bags piled on the ground, grease stains and food waste near the base. Check for droppings along walls and corners of the enclosure. Inside the building, look at the trash room itself. Propped-open doors, bags left in hallways and visible grime on floors or chute openings suggest irregular cleaning and slow maintenance response. A property that cannot manage its waste is unlikely to act quickly on a pest complaint.
Ask the landlord about the building's pest control history and search public records for code violations
A landlord who cannot name their pest control provider or describe a regular treatment schedule is a warning sign worth noting. Ask directly whether the building has had rodent complaints in the past year and what action was taken. Many cities publish inspection and complaint records searchable by address through online databases. Use those records alongside a standard rental screening checklist to evaluate the property before signing.