How to get rid of rats in your NYC apartment or outdoor space

By Mimi OConnor | June 3, 2019 - 5:00PM

Perhaps you've heard: rats are apparently taking over New York City and other urban areas undergoing rapid gentrification. No one likes to talk about it, but if you suspect you've got a rat issue, it's likely all you can think about.

Brick Underground has covered the best ways to rid your living space of vermin, and ideally, prevent the pests from gaining entry in the first place. And New York City has an FAQ and resources for dealing with the pests.

We hope you don't need it, but if you do, here's our advice on how to deal with rats and/or mice in New York City, and some tales of people who have survived an encounter.

Sadly, the city "doubled down" on a burgeoning rat population in 2015

Mayor de Blasio supposedly allocated $2 million for the fight; we offered these tips.

Here's a sad tale of mice, rats' smaller cousin, winning

Don't let this be you. And here's another mouse tale, in Bushwick.

If you find a rat in your toilet

Here's why and what to do.

Spotted some rats, or evidence of them on your patio?

Here are some ways to get the situation under control. Still more are offered here.

Considering those ultrasonic mouse repellents?

There is a possibility they work in the short term, but you might want to save your money.

Good news: Someone did, in fact, build a better mouse trap

And it comes in rat size! Read about this new, electric and effective trap here, which we've used successfully.

Mimi OConnor

Contributing Writer

Mimi O’Connor has written about New York City real estate for publications that include Brick Underground, Refinery29, and Thrillist. She is the recipient of two awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors for interior design and service journalism. Her writing on New York City, parenting, events, and culture has also appeared in Parents, Red Tricycle, BizBash, and Time Out New York.

SEE MORE BY Mimi OConnor »

Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.