Southwark, Camden and Islington borough councils had the highest number of rat infestations reported in London from 2023 to mid-2025, according to data obtained through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.
Southwark had the highest report, with 44,257 rat infestations during the period, followed by 9,133 in Camden and 6,567 in Islington.
Drainage company Drain Detectives submitted FOI requests to borough councils, revealing 118,593 rat infestations were reported between 2023 to mid-2025 across London.
The top ten boroughs with the highest reported rat infestations can be seen in the graph below.
Drain Detectives submitted FOI requests to councils asking for the number of reported rat infestations on council-owned buildings, encompassing residential, commercial, and public properties within their respective jurisdictions, for the period covering 2023, 2024, and up to mid-2025.
Information was not recorded or provided by 13 borough councils including Waltham Forest, Richmond upon Thames and Westminster City council.
Excluding data which could not be obtained, Kingston upon Thames had the lowest number of rat infestations reported at 272 from 2023 to mid-2025.
London was the region the highest number of rat infestations reported across the whole of the UK, followed by the North West and Scotland.
Mammoth 22-inch rat found nesting by a boiler in North Yorkshire home
Paul Salvin
Paul Salvin, Councillor for Normanby Ward local to the incident said: “Everywhere in the country will have something like this, you’re just not hearing about it.”
The giant rat gained viral traction as residents and local councillors complained Redcar and Cleveland council responsible for the area do not take sufficient action to prevent rodent infestations.
Reporting on the rodent found in North Yorkshire, The Guardian said the issue is part of “the great global rat crisis of 2025.”
Number of rat infestations reported across 20 London boroughs:
- Southwark Borough Council: 44257
- Camden Borough Council: 9133
- Islington Borough Council: 6567
- Brent Borough Council: 6523
- Newham Borough Council: 6421
- Tower Hamlets Borough Council: 5949
- Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea: 5740
- London Borough of Hackney: 5714
- Croydon Borough Council: 5437
- Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council: 5382
- London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council: 4070
- Haringey Borough Council: 3278
- Greenwich Borough Council: 2611
- Lewisham Borough Council: 2507
- Dartford Borough Council: 1251
- Redbridge Borough Council: 1032
- Hounslow Borough Council: 991
- Sutton Borough Council: 817
- Bromley Borough Council: 584
- Kingston upon Thames Borough Council: 272