Firstly, lets understand what attracts rats to your garden. 

Rats are opportunist creatures and are attracted to gardens for several reasons: 

Food sources  

• Rats are drawn to gardens with readily available food.  This includes fruits, vegetables, seeds, and even pet food left outside. 
• Compost bins and bird feeders can also be significant attractants if not properly managed. 

Shelter 

• Gardens with dense vegetation, wood piles and clutter provide excellent hiding spots and nesting areas for rodents. 
• Overgrown ivy and thick bushes can offer them the cover they need to feel safe. 

Water 

• Rats need water to survive, so gardens with birdbaths, ponds or even leaky hoses can attract them. 

Plant types 

• Certain plants can attract rats. For example, ivy and rose bushes provide excellent cover, while crops like tomatoes and cucumbers are appealing food sources. 

So lets ask the question: Would a steel deck structure attract rats? 

A steel frame deck itself does not inherently attract rats. However, like any decking, they can provide shelter if there are gaps or spaces underneath where rats can hide but they are mostly used as a staging post, a safe stop off from nest to food source. 

The key is to ensure that the area under the deck is clean and free of food scraps or debris that might attract rats. 



Regular maintenance and sealing any gaps can help prevent rats from making a home under your deck. Having an access point to maintain under your deck is useful just to keep check. 

Rats like to burrow and often live both inside and under sheds, drains, embankments, under rubbish piles, under hedges or shrubs, compost bins / mounds or anywhere that can conceal their activity. 

So, what deters rats from making your garden their home? 

Keep your garden tidy: 

Regularly trim vegetation and remove any clutter or debris. 

Secure food sources: 

Use rat-proof compost bins and bird feeders and avoid leaving pet food outside. 

Eliminate water sources: 

Fix and leaks and ensure birdbaths and ponds are well maintained. 

Use natural repellents: 

Plants like peppermint, lemongrass and snake plants can help deter rats. 

Let’s sum things up!  -  Where there are humans there are rats! 

There will always be a rat living near or visiting your garden – but don’t blame your deck. Every garden in the UK will get visited, sometimes as often as every night by a rat on the hunt for food, but you probably won’t see them. 

If you follow the advice given here, they shouldn’t become a problem.  Remember to make sure that there is no easy food or water for them to get at or any cosy places for them to sleep. But remember if Mr & Mrs Rat get busy don’t ignore them, they breed rapidly and carry some nasty diseases.