I think that, if you rang the 'pro rat man' and asked him how much he would charge, he would tell you. That way you would know. Much better than guessing.
Quite possibly different prices in different areas. You could also discuss which method you might prefer.

Well 4 out of the 5 sachets have gone and last night there was considerably less noise up there so I think I'm on a winner.

Had a good look for any dead ones but can't see any, going to give it until the end of the week then clear up all the droppings and disinfect it up there. Then try and work out how they got up there in the first place and block it.

Nothing on the traps though.

Thanks for all the replies, there has been some good tips.

Cheers.

Dr C...no noise at at all last night, but opened the front door today when I got home from work and there is the smell of death, it's rancid.

I found one outside, but the smell is coming from my kitchen that is an extension (where there is no roof void)

http://youtu.be/4u9a6l54idU

see uncle dellman knew....

if ur house is detached an u got rats in the loft ,the house may well be infested ,rats dont generally head up to peoples lofts

Sit up in the loft, away from the bait, with a .22 air rifle and a torch strapped to the barrel.

Be patient.

Get them all.

SF,
They tell us that it’s not advisable to shoot a rifle in an enclosed space like a loft, because of the danger from ricochets.

SF,
Yes you're probably right. but it's not that easy to shoot a rat with an air rifle.
The buggers won't keep still while you're taking aim.

h

Well the poison did the trick, after 3 nights that was it. I only ever did find one dead one and the smell I was on about only lasted for a couple of days.

Apparently loft rats are a different breed to normal sewer rats and are smaller and darker. I think maybe there wasn't that many up there, just in the dead of night it sounded like there was loads up there (I'm a really light sleeper anyway)

I never worked out how they got in, I cut down a couple of trees at the back of the house so I could take a good look but couldn't find anywhere they could enter.

My only conclusion is they must've got into the wall cavity and climbed up. Hopefully they won't return but if they do I've since met a pest controller through a friend at work who said he'll come and sort it out for good if they do.

Maybe this is a brand new breed of rat, ie, laying eggs, chances are they cross bred with birds and simply flew into the loft.Chances are they will fly  back up there again, keep the traps handy.