In Prahran's Victorian terraces and Art Deco blocks, common rat entry points are gaps around plumbing penetrations through original brickwork, corroded subfloor vent mesh, gaps beneath laundry and garage doors, open eave joints and cracks where render has separated near ground level. A professional exclusion inspection finds and seals them all.

Living near the Prahran Market, Chapel Street or Commercial Road means your property is already in a high food-pressure zone. Rats forage up to 50 metres from their nest each night. Fallen fruit from garden trees, unsealed compost, food scraps in open recycling bins, bird feeders and BBQ grease trays all extend foraging distance toward your building. Removing these sources makes your property significantly less attractive.

Roof Rats are confident climbers. Fig trees, elms and ornamental plantings along Greville Street and Commercial Road give them direct rooftop access. Dense ivy on rendered walls — very common in Prahran — is a particularly overlooked route. Any branch or climbing plant within 1.5 metres of your roofline is a rat highway. Check Stonnington Council vegetation guidelines before removing significant street trees.

Norway Rats move through drainage systems and burrow in damp soil. Prahran's aging stormwater infrastructure provides ideal travel routes. Properties with blocked subfloor ventilation, standing water near foundations or cracked drainage lines near the perimeter face higher risk. Keeping drains clear and subfloor vents functioning reduces it considerably.