You're lying in bed and it starts: a patter of feet above the ceiling, some scratching, sometimes a thump. It's one of the most common complaints in Indian flats with false ceilings, and it almost always has the same explanation.
Why rats love false ceilings
A false ceiling creates a hidden layer of space running across the whole flat — warm, dark, quiet and completely undisturbed. For a rat, it's a private highway connecting rooms, with plenty of places to nest out of sight.
How they get up there
- Gaps around pipes and AC ducts.
- Openings around electrical conduits.
- Gaps near balconies, windows and utility areas.
- Any opening of about 2 cm or more.
The real risk: wiring
False ceilings hide electrical wiring and light fittings. Rats gnaw constantly, and chewed insulation above a ceiling is a genuine fire risk that you can't see. Add droppings and urine above your living space, and it's worth acting quickly.
Getting rid of them
- Find the entry points — follow where the noise starts, and check around pipes, ducts and conduits.
- Seal them — steel wool and sealant for small gaps, proper repairs for larger ones.
- Cut off food — rats in the ceiling come down to eat in the kitchen.
- Make access areas uncomfortable — a deterrent near the ceiling access point or the route they use.
- Call professionals for an established infestation.
The EchoRepel Ultrasonic Rat Repellent works best facing an open route, so place it near where they come down or the access point, not hidden inside a cupboard. See also why you hear scratching in the walls at night.