‘Out of control’: Block infested with giant rats

Giant rats are outnumbering residents in this inner-city apartment block, with one pest controller warning the rodent population has “exploded” across Sydney.

Rodents are outnumbering residents in this Sydney inner-city apartment block

Monster rats have taken over a Sydney housing commission block, with the rodents burrowing into car seats, scaling balconies and hiding in bin chutes.

And one pest controller says it’s not an isolated problem, with Sydney’s rat population “exploding” as local councils shift away from weekly bin collections.

Resident Matthew O’Neill claims he has been locked in a bitter standoff with authorities over a rat infestation in his Woolloomooloo building for months.

The dilapidated public housing townhouse complex was built in 1980 and features 62 units.

The apartment complex contains 62 units. Picture: Google Maps

“It’s catastrophic,” Mr O’Neill told news.com.au.

“I’ve contacted everyone for help. I’ve constantly emailed my local members, the Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Housing Minister Rose Jackson and Home NSW.”

Vile footage captured by Mr O’Neill shows rats climbing fences, emerging from holes in the walls and digging around in rubbish bins.

Mr O’Neill has been forced to park his car on the street instead of using the communal garage because it’s “riddled with rats and nesting sites’’.

“My neighbour had a major surgery and couldn’t drive for a couple of months. When he finally went to use his car he found it completely infested with rats,” he said.

Rats can be seen emerging from holes in the wall. Picture: News.com.au/Matthew O'Brien

The nasty rodents climb fences, gates and leap from the trees to gain access. Picture: News.com.au/Matthew O'Brien

On another occasion he braved the garage only to find rats had eaten his bonnet insulator. They’ve also been known to eat the wiring and burrow into the seats.

“Neighbours have had rats climb onto their balcony. I heard one woman scream when she found a rat in the apartment’s bin chute too,” he said.

“Everyone I know is feeling this. The Department of Housing has let it get out of control.”

Rats have nibbled their way through the bonnets of the apartment's garage. Picture: News.com.au/Matthew O'Brien

Massive dirty rats scurry around the apartment block. Picture: News.com.au/Matthew O'Brien

Rat removalist Nathaly Haeran – who owns Pesty Girls pest management – says Mr O’Neill’s situation is not unique.

“I’ve never seen it this bad in my 23 years on the job,” she told news.com.au, revealing some rats were growing to the size of cats.

“In the last two months I have had around 15-20 rat jobs a week. The population has exploded.

“They’re getting bigger, smarter and more suspicious.”

The building is littered with rat droppings. Picture: News.com.au/Matthew O'Brien

Rat droppings line the drains of the apartment. Picture: News.com.au/Matthew O'Brien

Last year, residents of a home in the inner-west suburb of Lewisham were shocked to discover that rats had tunnelled under their pool, causing it to collapse.

The pest controller said the Inner West Council – which covers 36 square kilometres of land with almost 200,000 residents – was partly to blame for the influx of rats.

The decision to ditch weekly collection of the red bin has led to garbage bins overflowing and being left on the street.

Pesty Girls pest management owner Nathaly says "it's the worst it's ever been." Picture: Facebook/Pesty Girls

Bins in Surry Hills overflow as they’re atacked by birds and rats. Picture: Daily Telegraph/John Grainger

Ms Haeren said the Covid pandemic in 2020 also played a big part in bolstering the rat population.

“When the pandemic was happening, the streets were empty and rats were roaming wild, the population went insane,” she said.

“We usually see an increase in October and March because of breeding season and around winter, but over the last year it’s been non-stop.”

Rats seen scurrying in an Indian diner earlier this year. Picture: TikTok

A spokesperson for the office of Rose Jackson MLC said they were aware of an issue with rodents at a unit complex in Woolloomooloo.

“Homes NSW is taking steps to manage the issue including weekly baiting and treatment,” they said in a statement to news.com.au.

“A weekly baiting program was promptly implemented and remains in place, with all 34 bait stations currently replenished each week.

“Given the movement of rodents across the city, this is a complex issue to manage, but Homes NSW will continue to work closely with Council to ensure public housing properties remain safe and well-maintained for residents.”

Lord Mayor Clover Moore was also contacted for comment.