Multi-storey Infestations

08 April, 2008

Pest infestations can spread quickly in the home, but imagine how the problem multiplies when dealing with multi-storey housing blocks.

In most cases, pest infestations that occur in flats or housing estates are not isolated. The problem quickly becomes widespread and is then much harder to treat than domestic cases, which usually occur in just one property. The issue of pest control cannot be taken lightly by housing associations, as any large scale infestation can affect the health and safety of residents, create mistrust between the local council and its tenants, and can lead to negative publicity in the media. The case of a family in Southampton affected by bedbugs created wide publicity when the council refused to relocate the family or treat the whole housing block. This kind of notoriety can be extremely damaging to the reputation of the housing association.

The main pest issues in multi-storey blocks include pests that spread easily and are difficult to treat in isolation. Rodents, cockroaches and biting insects such as bedbugs are the most common – all have high reproductive potential and due to their small size can easily travel within the building infrastructure. Rodents and cockroaches can enter buildings through large airvents common to older buildings and under doorways, where they live under false floors and in wall cavities. From here they use the network of pipes to travel from floor to floor. If left to escalate, rodent infestations can cause serious health problems such as salmonella, as rats and mice urinate on surfaces to mark their territory. The threat of bedbug infestations also provides housing associations with an unwelcome headache as they can quickly spread from one room to another. These creatures are notoriously difficult to treat as they shelter in the narrowest of gaps such as seams of mattresses, the bed frame or behind furniture, and therefore swift action must be taken to treat every flat within the housing block.

While there is little that can be done to alter the structure of the building, these pests will only thrive if there are available food supplies and this matter can be taken in hand. Educating the residents on simple measures to prevent widespread infestations is a key element of any ongoing pest control programme. Tenants should be made aware of the early warning signs, for example when identifying bedbug infestations they should know to look for blood spotting and skin bites. Sometimes people confuse bedbug bites with fleabites and councils do not treat the whole bedroom and surrounding areas, which means that the bedbug infestation quickly spreads throughout the building.

The “Prevention of Damage by Pest Act” states that the owners of a premise are obliged to deal with any pest control problems on their particular site. For council-owned properties, it will fall to the local council to deal with any pest control problems. Ultimately the council should ensure that its tenants could recognise the typical signs of pest infestations. Councils should consider the wider implications of not dealing with pests immediately and take measures to ensure that pests do not return. Seeking professional advice is vital to contain and eradicate the problem fast. We can help by conducting a full audit on any site; identifying potential trouble spots and taking preventive action before the problems occur.

Pest advice for housing associations:

1. Always listen to what people are telling you: if residents report strange scratching noises or evidence of being bitten, go and investigate immediately. Don’t let the problem escalate by delaying a full investigation of the problem.

2. If in doubt, commission a proper survey. Follow up any unusual sightings.

3. Work closely with the tenants association – each multi-storey housing block should have one. They are in a better position to spot problems if there are any.

4. Offer members of the tenants association basic pest recognition training so that they can identify pests more easily – this means that pest problems will be spotted earlier when they are easy to treat.

5. Call the professionals. In most cases the entire block will need to be treated to completely eradicate the problem.

6. Here is some advice for your tenants on rodent, cockroach and bedbug protection:

a. Do not attract mice, rats or cockroaches with food – where possible, store food in plastic or metal containers.
b. Regularly clean under cookers, fridges and cupboards.
c. Seal up holes inside and outside the home to keep rodents and cockroaches out. A typical house mouse can enter the home through a hole that is the size of a ballpoint pen (6mm wide).
d. Ensure household outdoor refuse is kept in closed bins. Do not put meat into compost heaps and use squirrel-proof bird feeders.
e. Flooding can cause rats to come up from sewers through broken pipes. Ensure all pipe-work is in good working order.
f. Monitor your drains, clean them regularly to avoid infestations and unblock gutters and water gullies.
g. Check outside decking for mice or rat nests. Dry, outdoor areas are a popular nesting place for rodents and need to be checked regularly.
h. For bedbugs, regularly vacuum your bedroom to help to avoid infestation.
i. Try to avoid taking in second hand furniture or clothing.
j. If you have a problem in your house report it to your local housing authority immediately to avoid large scale infestations. Rat, mice, cockroach and bedbug colonies spread quickly.

For information about Rentokil services, visit www.rentokil.co.uk or call the national customer service team on 0800 218 2210 (residential) or 0800 917 1989 (commercial).

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Rentokil
Around the world, Rentokil is the leading provider of pest control and specialist hygiene services. The company protects homes and commercial premises from the damage, health risks and nuisance that pests cause. While flies, insects and rodents might be the first that come to mind, Rentokil technicians also provide specialist hygiene to treat microbiological risks and treat buildings for woodworm and dry rot. Whatever the pest, Rentokil can deal with it.