Frankly, the best long-term solution against rats is to keep a cat.
hmm...dunno about that. afaik, some house cats don't bother hunting mice anymore, nadomesticate na ng todo. ung pusang kalye naman, more of scavenger na sila.
^^i'd say its really time for racumin.. and hope na lang na hindi sya ma stuck in between the walls or ceilings... keeping a cat is another responsibility, IMO.