Scratching and thumping above the ceiling first thing in the morning? Chewed fascia boards or insulation pulled apart? Our squirrel control service removes grey squirrels from lofts and roof spaces across Bexley and South London, then seals the gaps so they can’t get back in. I’ve been dealing with squirrels in lofts for over 12 years, and I’ll show you exactly how they got in before I start. Call me for a price over the phone.
Squirrels, rats and mice can all end up in a loft, and the treatment for each is different. Timing and sound are usually the first clues.
Grey squirrels are active during the day, so the noise usually starts around sunrise and again in the late afternoon. It sounds heavier than mice: running, bounding and rolling, as if something is being moved across the floor. Rats are mostly active at night, and the noise tends to be scratching and gnawing rather than thumping. If the loft goes quiet after dark and gets busy at first light, squirrels are the most likely cause. If it is busy all night, our rat control page is the better place to start.
Look up at the roofline. Chewed or damaged fascia boards and soffits, holes at the eaves, lifted or displaced roof tiles and gaps around the edge of the gutter are all common squirrel entry points. Tree branches within jumping distance of the roof, ivy on the walls and squirrels running along the fence or phone lines to your house are good signs of how they are getting up there.
Squirrels gnaw constantly, and a loft gives them plenty to work on. Electrical cables are a real concern, as chewed wiring is a fire risk. They also shred loft insulation to build nests, chew through plastic pipes and water tank lids, and damage stored belongings and roof timbers. Urine can soak through into ceilings and leave stains below, and a squirrel that dies in a wall or roof space leaves a strong smell that can last for weeks.
The longer squirrels are left, the more damage they do, and a family nesting in spring or summer can quickly become several squirrels living above your bedroom.
South London has a large population of grey squirrels, helped by its parks, commons and tree-lined streets. Homes near green spaces such as Kelsey Park and Beckenham Place Park, the woodland around High Elms near Orpington, Wimbledon Common and Danson Park tend to see more activity, and so does any house with mature trees in the garden or next door.
Older roofs also make it easier for them. Across the Victorian and 1930s housing in areas like Beckenham, Wimbledon and Orpington, worn fascias, gaps under the tiles and unsealed eaves give squirrels an easy way in. Squirrels usually breed twice a year, in late winter to early spring and again in summer, and this is when they are most likely to move into lofts looking for a safe place to nest.
Grey squirrels are classed as an invasive non-native species in the UK. That means it is illegal to release a trapped grey squirrel back into the wild, so catching one and letting it go in a park is not an option. Removal has to be done humanely and within the law, which is one of the main reasons squirrel control is best left to a trained professional.
Red squirrels are a protected native species, but they are not found in South London, so any squirrel in your loft here will be a grey.
Every job starts with a full inspection of the loft and the outside of the house. I’ll find where the squirrels are nesting, how many there are likely to be and every gap they are using, and I’ll walk you through what I find before any work begins.
We then carry out a treatment programme using approved methods, placed where the squirrels are travelling in the loft. We return to check progress and adjust the approach until the activity has stopped. Throughout, we explain what we are doing and why, so you are never left guessing about what is happening above your ceiling.
Blocking the entry holes is essential, but the timing matters. Seal them while squirrels are still inside and they will chew a new way out, often causing more damage, or become trapped and die in the roof space. That is why proofing is done once we are confident the loft is clear.
Proofing usually means sealing gaps at the eaves and under the tiles with materials squirrels can’t chew through, and covering vulnerable openings such as vents. We will also advise on cutting back branches near the roof. Where fascias, soffits or tiles are damaged, some repairs may need a roofer. Our rodent proofing service covers this in more detail, and our rodent control page explains how we deal with mice and rats as well.
It depends on the size of the loft, how many entry points there are and how much proofing is needed. Call us with a few details and we will give you an estimate over the phone.
Not while squirrels are still inside. They will either chew their way back out, damaging more of the roof, or die in the loft. The squirrels need to be removed first, then the gaps sealed.
They are not usually aggressive, but they do cause real damage. Chewed electrical cables are the biggest risk because of the danger of fire, followed by leaks from damaged pipes and water tanks.
No. Grey squirrels are an invasive species, and it is illegal to release them once caught. Any removal has to follow the law.
Activity rises during the breeding seasons in late winter and summer, and in autumn when squirrels look for shelter before the colder months. They can get in at any time of year if there is a gap to use.
It varies between policies, and many exclude damage caused by pests. Check your policy wording or speak to your insurer, and keep photos of the damage before any repairs are carried out.
Rentokil-trained and Level 2 certified, so you know you’re in safe hands.
We don’t just show up, treat, and leave. We walk you through exactly what we found, why it happened, and what we’re doing to fix it.
Pests don’t work 9 to 5, and neither do we. We’re available when you need us most.
We are Level 2 certified technicians, fully insured, and members of BPCA, BASIS Prompt and RSPH. You’re in safe, qualified hands.
Hundreds of satisfied clients across South London have trusted us to get the job done right, and we back every job with a satisfaction guarantee.
We’re not a faceless national company. We’re local, we care about our community, and we treat every property as if it were our own.
Call us or fill out the contact form. We’ll assess your situation and give you a straight, honest estimate over the phone.
Our technician visits your property, carries out a thorough on-site inspection, and begins treatment right away.
We carry out a 3-visit treatment programme to make sure the problem is fully resolved, not just temporarily patched.
Job done. Your property is protected, and you’ll know exactly what was done and why every step of the way.
Same-day response available
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Rodent proofing specialists
