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Rodent Control Melbourne | Rat Removal, Mouse Exterminator
Rats in the roof or mice in the kitchen? Our rodent control Melbourne team removes them and seals the gaps they used. Call 0401 573 777 for a free quote.
How do you get rid of rats and mice in Melbourne for good?
Reviewed by the Metro Pest Services team, updated September 2026
You get rid of rats and mice by removing the ones inside and then closing the gaps they used to get in. Baiting on its own clears the current rodents, but the next ones arrive through the same holes, which is why so many homes end up with a bait station that never goes away.
Australia's pest management industry code for rodents says it plainly: keeping rodents out of the building is the long term solution, and relying on rodenticides alone does not make sure an infestation is gone. That is the approach behind our rodent control services Melbourne wide, and behind every Melbourne rodent control job we quote.
Mice are the tricky part. The Victorian Government notes they can squeeze through gaps as small as 8 mm, about the width of a pencil, so proofing has to be thorough to work.
Sources: AEPMA Industry Code of Best Practice for Rodent Management (2023); Victorian Department of Health advice on mice.
| Rodent inspection | from $129 |
|---|---|
| Rodent treatment Melbourne | from $179 |
| Treatment plus rodent proofing | from $449 |
| Warranty | 12 months, written, on sealed entry points |
| Smallest gap a mouse can use | About 8 mm |
| Species in Melbourne homes | Norway rat, roof rat, house mouse |
| Busiest season | Autumn and winter as nights get colder |
| Home insurance | Vermin damage is commonly excluded |
The three rodents that get into Melbourne homes
Rats and mice need different traps, different bait placement and different proofing. Identifying which one you have is the first thing we do, usually from the droppings.
Norway rat
Rattus norvegicus- Where
- Ground level: drains, subfloors, sheds, compost bays and under decks. A strong burrower.
- Signs
- Blunt ended droppings up to about 2 cm long, burrows along fences and greasy rub marks low on walls.
- How we treat it
- Stations along ground runways, then sealing drains, vents and gaps under doors and cladding.
Roof rat
Rattus rattus- Where
- Roof voids, wall cavities, trees and vines. An agile climber that uses fences and power lines as roads.
- Signs
- Scurrying in the ceiling after dark, pointed droppings about 1 cm long and chewed insulation or wiring.
- How we treat it
- Stations in the roof void and on the climbing routes, then sealing eaves, roof lines and gaps where trees touch the house.
House mouse
Mus musculus- Where
- Inside the living space: kitchen kickboards, pantries, behind appliances and in wall cavities.
- Signs
- Tiny rice grain droppings, nibbled food packets and a musty smell in cupboards.
- How we treat it
- Traps or stations close to activity, because mice travel only a few metres, then sealing gaps as small as 8 mm.
Rats or a possum in the roof?
Light scurrying and gnawing that moves around the ceiling is usually rats. Heavy thumps and footsteps soon after dark are more often a possum, which is a protected animal and a different job.
Rat removal Melbourne vs mice control Melbourne
People often book one and have the other. This is why we identify the rodent before we quote.
Rats in roof Melbourne homes
Rat control Melbourne jobs are different because rats are cautious and avoid new objects, so stations go in first and are checked over a couple of weeks. A rat infestation Melbourne homes get usually starts in the roof void, shed or subfloor, rat catcher Melbourne jobs happen there too, and the fix is sealing the way in once activity stops.
Mice removal Melbourne
Mouse control Melbourne kitchens need is a different job. Mice are curious and breed quickly, so a mice pest control Melbourne visit places many small stations or traps close to where they feed. One sighting is rarely one mouse: a mice infestation Melbourne pantries get can be dozens. Pest control for mice has to reach the cupboards and wall cavities they live in, and mouse removal Melbourne apartments need should always finish with sealing. That sealing step is what to ask for when you book mouse pest control Melbourne wide.
Rat and mice control Melbourne together
Some homes have both, especially near parks, creeks or construction. We treat each on its own terms and seal gaps sized for the smaller animal, which covers the bigger one too.
Signs of a rat problem Melbourne homes report first
Rodents avoid being seen, so most people searching pest control Melbourne rats or mice find the evidence long before the animal. These are the clues that tell us which one it is, and how established they are.
Droppings in cupboards or the roof
Size and shape tell rats from mice. Fresh droppings are dark and soft, old ones are grey and crumble.
Scratching after dark
Noise in the ceiling or walls in the first hours after dark, often worst in autumn and winter.
Gnawed packets, wiring or pipes
Rodent teeth never stop growing, so they chew plastic, timber, cables and even soft metal.
Rub marks and runways
Dark greasy smears along skirting boards, beams and fences where the same route is used every night.
Nests of shredded material
Paper, insulation and fabric pulled into a ball in a quiet corner, roof void or behind an appliance.
A stale ammonia smell
A strong, musty smell in a pantry or cupboard usually means an active mouse infestation Melbourne kitchens know too well.
Baiting, trapping or proofing: what your home actually needs
Most homes need a combination. Here is what each part does, so you can see what you are paying for.
Rodent treatment
from$179
Best whenYou have active rats or mice and want them gone quickly.
How it worksTamper resistant bait stations or traps placed on active runways, in roof voids and subfloors, checked and topped up until activity stops.
Keep in mindIt clears the rodents that are there now. Without sealing, new ones can move in through the same gaps.
Treatment plus proofing
from$449
Best whenRodents keep coming back, or you want the problem finished rather than managed.
How it worksThe full treatment, then every accessible entry point sealed with steel mesh, wire wool and sealant, with a written list of what was sealed.
Keep in mindIt takes longer on the day, but it is the only option that comes with our 12 month warranty on sealed gaps.
Traps only
Quoted on inspection
Best whenThere are children, pets or food areas where baits are not suitable.
How it worksSnap traps or enclosed traps placed along runways and checked regularly, so rodents are removed without rodenticide.
Keep in mindIt needs more visits than baiting, and you know straight away when a rodent has been caught.
The option we recommend for most Melbourne homes is treatment plus proofing. It costs more once, and far less than paying for baiting every few months.
Rodent proofing near me: closing the way in
Proofing is the part that stops the problem coming back. It is also the part most rodent exclusion companies skip or leave as advice.
Our rodent proofing services near me start with finding every entry point: gaps around pipes and cables, damaged vent covers, weep holes, roof lines, gaps under doors and where trees and vines touch the house. Exclusion rodent control uses steel mesh, wire wool packed with sealant, metal vent covers and door seals. We do not use expanding foam on its own, because rats and mice chew straight through it.
Whether you searched rodent exclusion near me, rodent exclusion services near me, mouse proofing services near me or a rat exclusion service near me, the job is the same: seal what they use, and put the gaps we sealed in writing.
- Every accessible entry point checked, inside and out
- Steel mesh, wire wool and sealant, never foam alone
- A 12 month written warranty on the gaps we seal
Four rodent mistakes that make the problem worse
Supermarket bait and a few traps feel like the sensible first step. Sometimes they work. More often they cause one of these.
- 1Baiting a roof void and walking away. A poisoned rat often dies inside a wall or ceiling, and the smell can last for weeks. If that happens, our dead rat removal Melbourne service finds it.
- 2Putting bait where pets can reach it, or where pets and owls can eat a poisoned rodent. Secondary poisoning of dogs, cats and native birds is a real risk with strong baits.
- 3Blocking holes while rodents are still inside. Trapped rats chew new exits, sometimes through ceilings and cables.
- 4Relying on ultrasonic plug in devices. Rodents get used to them quickly, and they do nothing about the gaps.
How our rodent control works
The same four steps for a studio apartment or a warehouse.
Inspect and identify
We confirm rats or mice, how many, where they nest and every way they are getting in.
Fixed price in writing
You get the options and a fixed price before we start. No surprise charges on the day.
Treat the activity
Stations or traps go on active runways, in the roof void and subfloor, with pets and children in mind.
Seal and warrant
Once activity stops we seal the entry points and give you a 12 month written warranty on that work.
Rodent control cost in Melbourne
These are our starting prices for a standard Melbourne home. Larger properties, multi level homes and heavy infestations are quoted after inspection, and the price is fixed in writing before any work starts.
Rodent inspection
from$129
- Rats or mice identified
- Entry points mapped
- Written findings and options
Rodent treatment
from$179
- Tamper resistant stations or traps
- Roof void and subfloor covered
- Follow up check included
Treatment plus proofing
from$449
- Full rodent treatment
- Accessible entry points sealed
- 12 month written warranty on sealing
Also quoted on request
- Dead rodent removal Melbourne from $149, found, removed and deodorised
- Commercial rodent programs priced by site after an assessment
- Mornington Peninsula same pricing, no call-out fee
For comparison, published Melbourne rodent prices for a standard treatment mostly run from about $150 to $350, and very few companies publish a price for proofing at all.
- Covers
- Every entry point we seal
- Length
- 12 months from the job
- If rodents return that way
- Free re-treatment and resealing
- Not covered
- New gaps from later building work
Metro Pest Services · Melbourne
A warranty on the work that actually stops rodents
Anyone can warrant bait. We put our warranty on the proofing, because sealing the way in is what decides whether the rodents come back.
The list of sealed entry points is written on your report. If rats or mice get back in through any of them within 12 months, we come back, find out why and fix it at no charge.
- Sealed entry points listed on your report
- Free return visit if rodents come back through them
- Clear exclusions, written down, not hidden
Commercial rodent control services
Food businesses, warehouses and strata buildings need rodent control that holds up at an audit, not just a bait station in the corner.
Cafes and restaurants
Tamper resistant stations, a site map and dated service reports your food safety auditor can read. Commercial mice control is often after hours so the kitchen keeps running.
Warehouses and retail
Perimeter and internal monitoring, loading dock proofing and records of every visit, so problems are caught before stock is damaged.
Strata and body corporate
One program across the building, because rodents move between units through shared roof spaces and service ducts.
Three things most rodent exterminator companies will not tell you
Bait without proofing is a subscription
If nobody seals the gaps, the next rats walk in through the same holes. That keeps a rodent exterminator Melbourne business busy every few months, and it keeps you paying.
Strong baits are becoming restricted
In March 2026 the APVMA moved to make second generation anticoagulant rat baits restricted products, available only to people with the right training. Supermarket bait is not the long term answer it used to be.
Your insurance probably will not pay
Most home insurance policies exclude damage caused by vermin. Chewed wiring, insulation and ducting usually come out of your own pocket, which makes proofing the cheaper option.
How to stop rats and mice coming back
Rodents want food, water and shelter. Take away easy access to all three and you make your home far less attractive.
Store pet food, bird seed and pantry goods in sealed containers.
Keep bins closed and compost bays rodent proof.
Cut back vines and branches touching the roof or walls.
Clear stored clutter from sheds, garages and under decks.
Fix leaking taps and pipes, especially in the subfloor.
Get gaps over 8 mm around pipes and vents sealed properly.
Rodent control near me: every Melbourne suburb
Rats and mice are active in every part of Melbourne, from inner city terraces to new estates. Book rodent control services near me anywhere in the metropolitan area, with no call-out fee.
Inner Melbourne
- Melbourne CBD
- Carlton
- Fitzroy
- Richmond
- South Yarra
- St Kilda
- Collingwood
- Docklands
Northern suburbs
- Brunswick
- Coburg
- Preston
- Reservoir
- Epping
- Craigieburn
- Bundoora
- Heidelberg
Eastern suburbs
- Box Hill
- Doncaster
- Ringwood
- Glen Waverley
- Blackburn
- Croydon
- Boronia
- Lilydale
South east
- Dandenong
- Clayton
- Cranbourne
- Narre Warren
- Berwick
- Pakenham
- Springvale
- Keysborough
Bayside and south
- Brighton
- Sandringham
- Cheltenham
- Mentone
- Mordialloc
- Frankston
- Seaford
- Carrum Downs
Western suburbs
- Footscray
- Sunshine
- Altona
- Point Cook
- Werribee
- Hoppers Crossing
- Tarneit
- Melton
Rodent control Mornington Peninsula. Holiday homes, sheds and bushland edges mean roof rats and mice, especially when houses sit empty over winter. Same pricing, no call-out fee.
Rats in roof Melbourne inner suburbs. Older terraces and weatherboards share roof lines and walls, so roof rats move between houses and proofing has to cover the whole roof line.
Mice problem Melbourne growth areas. New estates next to open land see mice move into finished homes during construction and as paddocks are cleared.
Rat problem Melbourne near creeks and parks. Homes near creeks, drains and parklands see more Norway rats at ground level, in sheds, compost bays and subfloors.
Rodent Control Melbourne FAQs
Not sure whether it is rats, mice or a possum? Describe the noise or the droppings on the phone and we will tell you.
Call 0401 573 777How much does rodent control cost in Melbourne?
With us a rodent inspection starts from $129, a rodent treatment from $179 and treatment plus proofing from $449. The price depends on the size of the home, how many rodents there are and how many entry points need sealing, and it is fixed in writing before we start.
How long does it take to get rid of rats or mice?
Mice often slow down within a few days of treatment. Rats are more cautious, so it can take one to three weeks for activity to stop completely. We check back, and once it stops we seal the entry points.
How do I know if I have rats or mice?
Droppings are the easiest clue. Mouse droppings are the size of a grain of rice. Rat droppings are much larger, around 1 to 2 cm. Noise in the roof is usually rats, while signs in the pantry and kitchen are more often mice.
Is it rats or a possum in my roof?
Rats make lighter scurrying and gnawing sounds that move around. A possum is heavy, with thumps and footsteps, usually soon after dark. Possums are protected wildlife in Victoria, so they are handled differently.
Can children and pets be around rodent treatment?
We use tamper resistant bait stations fixed in place, or traps, and put them where children and pets cannot reach. Where there is any risk, we use traps only and tell you exactly where everything is.
Do you seal the entry points or just bait?
Both, if you choose treatment plus proofing. We seal accessible entry points with steel mesh, wire wool and sealant, and give you a 12 month written warranty on the gaps we seal.
Will rats and mice come back after treatment?
They can if the gaps are left open, because new rodents follow the same routes. That is why proofing is part of our recommended treatment, and why the warranty is on the sealing.
Do you do dead rat removal Melbourne wide, from walls and ceilings?
Yes. Our dead rodent removal Melbourne service finds the carcass, removes it, cleans and deodorises the area. We also take dead rat removal near me and dead rodent removal near me calls anywhere in Melbourne.
Do you provide a dead rat removal service near me on the same day?
Where a technician is available, yes. As a dead rat removal service near me and dead rodent removal services near me across Melbourne, we prioritise jobs where the smell is inside living areas.
Are you a rat exterminator near me for urgent jobs?
Yes. If you need a rat exterminator near me, a mice exterminator near me, rat control near me or rat and mice control near me today, call us. We work as a rat exterminator Melbourne wide, and as the mice exterminator Melbourne or mouse exterminator Melbourne households call for kitchens and pantries. We answer 7 days and book the first available technician.
Do you do pest control and rodent control in one visit?
Yes. Many customers combine pest control and rodent control, so we treat cockroaches, spiders and ants while we are there for the rats or mice, and quote both together.
Does ultrasonic rodent control work?
Not reliably. Rodents get used to the sound quickly, and the devices do nothing about the gaps they use. Removing the rodents and sealing the entry points is what works.
Who pays for rodent control in a Melbourne rental?
It depends on the cause. Where rodents get in because of the building itself, it is usually a repair for the rental provider. Where they are attracted by how the home is kept, the tenant may be asked to pay. Check your lease and talk to your agent first.
Rats or mice keeping you up at night?
Rodent treatment from $179, proofing that closes the way in, and a 12 month written warranty on the gaps we seal.