Key Points
- The Range homeware store in Suez Road, Enfield, has been fined £250,000 for failing to control a severe rat infestation.
- The fine was imposed by the local council following inspections by environmental health officers.
- Rats were found overrunning the store, leading to health and safety concerns.
- This is part of a broader pattern of fines against The Range for similar infestations in other locations.
- The company’s parent firm, CDS Superstores International Ltd, has accepted responsibility and claimed efforts have been intensified to tackle pest problems.
- Previous fines this year include £66,666 at another branch in Hemel Hempstead and a nearly £1 million fine in Somerset.
- The Range has distanced itself from these incidents, calling some occurrences “rare” and pledging to improve hygiene standards.
What Happened at The Range Store in Enfield?
As reported by the Enfield Council on their official Facebook page on October 22, 2025, The Range branch located on Suez Road, Enfield was fined a substantial amount of £250,000 in court following environmental health inspections that uncovered a significant rat infestation running rampant within the premises.
The sanctions came after environmental health officers found that the store had failed to implement adequate pest control procedures, allowing rats to overrun the store’s interiors and merchandise. The infestation posed a considerable risk to public health, prompting the enforcement action and the steep fine.
This fine follows a pattern of similar enforcement actions against The Range at other sites, reflecting ongoing challenges with pest management within the retailer’s branches.
How Has The Range Responded to the Infestation Allegations?
The Range’s parent company, CDS Superstores International Ltd, has acknowledged responsibility for the pest control failures that led to the fine. The company stated that they take such reports “extremely seriously” and described the rat infestation as a “localized issue.” They emphasised that while such incidents are rare, they are “entirely unacceptable” and do not meet the standards expected by themselves or their customers.
In addition, the company pledged that the health and safety of customers and staff is their “utmost priority” and that necessary actions will be taken swiftly to rectify issues whenever identified.
Is This Problem Limited to the Enfield Store?
No. Similar problems have been documented at other branches of The Range. For example, on September 25, 2025, at Luton Magistrates’ Court, CDS Superstores International Ltd was fined £66,666 following a rat infestation at its Hemel Hempstead branch, as reported by the BBC and Dacorum Borough Council.
In that instance, staff and customers reported rat sightings during the autumn of 2023. Inspections by the local council found significant evidence of rat infestation, leading to a temporary prohibition of food sales under an Emergency Prohibition Order. The Range had to improve hygiene practices to have the food safety rating increased to 4 out of 5 by June 2025.
Similarly, in Somerset, The Range was fined nearly £1 million after rats were found gnawing on human and pet food products, evidencing broader hygiene failures across several stores of the retailer.
What Were the Legal and Council Responses to These Infestations?
Enforcement bodies, including local councils and magistrates’ courts, have taken a firm stance on the pest control failures. In Enfield, the courts imposed the £250,000 fine reflecting the severity of health risks arising from the rat infestations.
In Hemel Hempstead, Dacorum Borough Council conducted multiple inspections revealing ongoing infestation issues which led to the fine and additional costs imposed on the company.
Somerset Council also imposed a large fine reduced from nearly £1 million to £640,000 after an early guilty plea acknowledging breach of food hygiene standards.
These penalties underscore the importance of rigorous pest control and hygiene standards in retail environments, particularly where food or homeware products could pose risks to consumers.
What Does This Mean for Consumers and Future Prevention?
The fines and public exposure of these infestations at The Range stores highlight an urgent need for improved pest control standards in large retail chains. Consumers expect safe, hygienic shopping environments, and pest infestations compromise this trust.
The Range has declared that it has since taken measures to strengthen pest control and hygiene protocols following these incidents. However, repeated fines across multiple locations indicate the need for ongoing vigilance and possibly stricter regulatory oversight.
Retailers facing similar challenges are reminded of their legal responsibilities to maintain clean premises to prevent health hazards posed by pests like rats.
