That will be £25

“oh Southmeadboy... pray do tell. I think you'll find it a highly contentions issue defining the two, Although most agree that rats are vermin because of the diseases they carry/spread, arguably vermin can be defined by an individuals preference or point of view. However your post still seems out on a limb and nonsensical.”

“Rat's go where there's food (like most animals, Pets, wildlife and vermin alike). I think A_Mushroom's advice is spot on. Interrupt their environment by moving thing around where they are spotted mostly as they really don't like there runs disturbed. Remove food source (if located). We had a problem and it turned out that they were using the compost bin as a restaurant and got very brazen about it even coming out during the day. One was huge. After the council had laid poison traps and the bins relocated they disappeared along with a few of the neighbours cats :-( We were not made aware of the dangers of the poison. If a pet or any other wildlife for that matter eats a recently poisoned rat they are also eating the poison. I agree Rob we are being robed as this is a service that has always been paid for via council Tax. Another shining example of austerity measures. @bomberman The rain that falls on your roof then down their drains belongs to (according to the water board) them, hens water rates even if you don't have running water into your property. Therefore why can't the rats belong to the council? We should then charge THEM for the inconvenience of (their) rats disrupting our life. being forced to pay for things you never asked for is wrong especially if you have already paid through a Tax. As always such matters are heavily weighted in the favour of councils/governments.”

“Bomberman
If people in Bristol pay £25 for something they've already paid for in the council tax, that makes the charge £50.”

“Rob Jones - Whos property is this rat anyway - is it the local councils ?
No not likely to be the councils is it - does it have a South Glos logo on its back ?

Private pest control companies would charge you upwards of a £60 minimum call out charge.

So stop complaining you have received excellent value for money from your local council @ £25

Rats do not come alone they will have young breeding somewhere close by probably under your floorboards or in your cavity walls or roofspace - Maybe its time you moved !”

“Hi Mushroom
The purpose of having it printed was more A public information notice. If this awfull council are clawing back money through the back door, what other services are we now likley to have to pay for, previously included in are extortionate council tax, that we only become aware of when needed.
Also the neighbours mentioned! are a council run old peoples home. They are very aware of the rat problem.Unfortunatly they don't seem to be doing much about it.”

“Fair point, Robbie. If you spent £25 on exterminating the rats then they are likely to re-appear if the food source is not removed. Maybe it would be better to speak with the neighbours than tell ThisisBristol.co.uk.”

“Sorry Mushroom, but you've been spending too much time in the "Dark"! Maybe if you were in the real world you would know the difference between vermin and wildlife!”

“Hi Mushroom
No food sorce in my garden. However there's plenty in the neighbours. Made even worse by having "tweeny waste disposal units" fitted to their kitchen sinks,giving rats a constant supply of ministrony.”

“One man's vermin is another man's wild animal in its natural habitat.

Where do you draw the line - hedgehogs, badgers, squirrels, birds even?

Anyway, if you don't want attention from rats all you need to do is take away their food source. You must have something in the garden on which they are feeding.

There, advice that's free, whether you are on benefits ot not.”