Motorists in a major UK city are facing major repair bills as an influx of rats are damaging important components in their cars. As the Birmingham bin strike continues into its second month, many streets are piled high with black bin bags packed full of rubbish and recycling. Whilst the rubbish is unsightly, Adam Yasin, 33, from Balsall Heath noted that it is attracting rats, who have also eaten through the wiring of his Mercedes-Benz.
He said: “Because of that certain wiring, the car wouldn’t start. They said they need to rewire the whole car, but the insurance company said it was too expensive. It has been really bad, especially where I live, there are a lot of restaurants there. I swear there was a pile [of rubbish] as tall as me, I kid you not.”
Since the bin strike was initially called, some Birmingham residents have found that their vehicles have been damaged by the increasing number of rats on the city’s streets.
In particular, many of the affected motorists highlighted that the rats chewed through wiring needed to run electrical components of the engine and creating nests under the bonnet.
The damage caused by the rats has resulted in many drivers facing repair bills of over £100 or having to write off their car completely, with many insurance companies noting that it would be cheaper to replace the whole vehicle.
Speaking to the BBC, Louise Baker, a car mechanic from Tyseley, highlighted that rats finding their way into cars has become an increasing issue for her customers.
She added: “A few weeks ago, I had a lady with a two-year-old Audi who had her engine management light on. I picked it up and saw that a rat had eaten through all the wiring.
“Last week my parent’s neighbour was having a car collected. It had been sitting on their drive for three months. When I opened the bonnet I saw the rats had taken over. [They] had chewed everything under the bonnet.”
With the Birmingham bin strike due to continue as union members “overwhelmingly reject” the current offer from the council, drivers in the city have been urged to follow two tips to keep rats out of their cars.
In particular, motorists should make sure that their car’s interior has been thoroughly cleaned, removing any food or debris that may tempt the rodents to get inside.
Rats are also deterred by a number of natural smells, particularly peppermint oil. As a result, drivers could also prevent rats from entering by soaking cotton balls in the liquid and placing them throughout the cabin and safe spaces within the engine bay.