Pests in Apartment Buildings

Buildings are connected

An apartment building is one connected structure. Plumbing risers, cable trays, ducts, ceiling spaces, bin chutes and garbage rooms link units vertically and horizontally, and service penetrations are often poorly sealed. German cockroaches, bed bugs, tiny ants and mice use these pathways.

That is why a problem in one unit often appears in neighbouring units, and why a treatment in one unit can push pests next door. See can pests move between apartments.

The most common apartment pests

• German cockroaches breed year-round in warm kitchens and spread through shared plumbing. See why cockroaches are common in apartments.
• Bed bugs arrive with travel, second-hand furniture and visitors, and spread along wall voids. See how bed bugs spread.
• Ants, especially tiny species such as ghost ants, trail along services between units.
• Mice use garages, bin rooms and service shafts.
• Pantry pests such as moths and weevils arrive in food and spread between cupboards.

Who is responsible?

Responsibility depends on your state’s strata and tenancy laws, your building’s by-laws and your lease, and on where the pest problem originates. As a general guide:

• Common property (hallways, garages, bin rooms, roof spaces and shared services) is usually managed by the owners corporation or body corporate.
• Inside a lot, owners are usually responsible, and tenancy law sets out when landlords or tenants must deal with pests. Pests present at the start of a tenancy, or caused by building defects, are often treated differently from pests caused by a tenant’s use of the property.

Check your by-laws and tenancy agreement, and ask your strata manager or state tenancy authority if you are unsure. PestMan does not provide legal advice.

What residents can do

• Keep the kitchen clean overnight and store food in sealed containers.
• Seal penetrations under the sink, behind appliances and around bathroom pipes.
• Fit a seal or sweep to the corridor door.
• Keep rubbish out of corridors, bag it securely and use chutes correctly.
• Inspect second-hand furniture and luggage after travel.
• Report pests to the building manager early and allow access for inspections.

What strata managers and committees can do

• Make it easy for residents to report pests, and record where reports come from.
• Inspect adjoining units (above, below and either side) when a problem is reported.
• Keep bin rooms and chutes clean and well sealed.
• Seal service penetrations in common areas and risers.
• Schedule regular inspections of common property, and consider a building-wide program for recurring problems.

Common areas where problems start

In most buildings, recurring pest problems trace back to a handful of shared spaces:

• Bin rooms and chutes. Food residue on chute walls and spilt rubbish on bin room floors feed cockroaches, flies and rodents. Chute doors that don’t close properly let odours and pests travel between floors.
• Car parks and storage cages. Cardboard boxes, stored furniture and camping gear give mice and cockroaches undisturbed shelter, close to the warmth of the building.
• Plant and service rooms. Warm, rarely visited and full of penetrations, they suit cockroaches and rodents.
• Gardens and podiums. Mulch against walls, irrigation leaks and dense planting suit ants, and blocked podium drains can breed mosquitoes.
• Roof spaces and risers. These connect every floor and are often where pests move between units unseen.

Keeping these areas clean, sealed and regularly inspected does more for the whole building than any single unit can achieve alone.

Balconies and courtyards

Balconies are small, but they often hold the conditions pests need. Pot saucers and blocked balcony drains breed mosquitoes. Stored boxes and outdoor furniture covers shelter cockroaches and spiders. Bird feeders and pet food attract pigeons and rodents.

• Tip out saucers weekly, or fill them with sand.
• Keep balcony drains clear of leaves and soil.
• Store items in sealed tubs rather than cardboard boxes.
• Don’t feed birds from the balcony, and bring pet food in at night.

If pigeons are nesting on balconies or ledges across the building, raise it with the building manager, as bird-proofing usually needs a building-wide approach. See how to reduce mosquitoes around your home.

Moving in and moving out

Move days are when many apartment pest problems begin. Furniture, boxes and appliances can carry German cockroaches and bed bugs from one home to the next, and an empty unit is the easiest time to spot existing problems.

Moving-in checklist:

• Before unpacking, check under the sink, inside cupboards, behind appliance spaces and around the hot water system for droppings, egg cases and dead insects.
• Check mattress bases and bed frames you are bringing in, especially second-hand ones.
• Run water into every drain and floor waste.
• Check the corridor door seals properly and screens are intact.
• If you are renting, record any signs of pests on your entry condition report with photos.

Moving out: clean behind and under appliances, empty and wipe out cupboards, and don’t leave food or rubbish behind. Inspect furniture before it goes on the truck, so you don’t take a problem with you.

Early signs to look for in your unit

Most apartment infestations are easier to solve when they are caught early. Check these places every month or so:

• under the kitchen sink and around the dishwasher, for droppings that look like ground pepper and for small cockroaches;
• behind the fridge and microwave, where warmth from motors attracts cockroaches;
• mattress seams, bed frames and headboards, for tiny dark spots, shed skins or live bed bugs;
• the back of the pantry, for webbing, moths or beetles in packets;
• along skirting boards and around pipes, for ant trails and mouse droppings.

Seeing pests in daylight usually means there are already many more hidden nearby. See why I keep seeing baby cockroaches.

How to report a pest problem

Early, clear reports help building managers find the source quickly. A good report includes:

• what you are seeing, with photos if possible (a sticky trap or a sealed bag with a specimen helps);
• where in the unit you see it and at what time of day;
• when it started and whether it is getting worse;
• anything you have already tried.

Put the report in writing and keep a copy. If a pest controller is booked, allow access, follow any preparation instructions, and tell the building if the problem continues after treatment. Residents who stay silent because they are embarrassed often allow a small problem to spread to the whole floor.

What a good building pest program looks like

For buildings with recurring problems, a planned program is usually more effective and cheaper over time than reacting to each complaint. A good program generally includes:

• a clear way for residents to report pests, and a record of where reports come from;
• regular inspection of common property, especially bin rooms, chutes, car parks and plant rooms;
• inspection of adjoining units whenever a problem is confirmed;
• sealing of service penetrations and repair of defects that let pests move between units;
• targeted treatment, with baits and crack-and-crevice application preferred over broad spraying;
• follow-up visits until the problem is confirmed resolved;
• clear communication to residents about what is happening and what they need to do.

Ask any pest manager quoting for the building to explain how they will find the source, not just how they will treat the symptom.

Buildings with shops, cafés or restaurants

Mixed-use buildings with food businesses on the ground floor face extra pressure. Commercial kitchens produce grease, food waste and warmth, and their waste areas may share space with residential bins. Food businesses have their own obligations under food safety standards to keep premises free of pests, but problems can still move upward through shared services.

If you see pests coming from a commercial area, report it to the building manager, who can raise it with the business and coordinate treatment of shared areas.

When a neighbour won’t cooperate

Sometimes the source of a problem is a unit whose occupant won’t allow access or won’t take action. This is one of the most frustrating situations in strata living. In general:

• Keep your own unit clean and sealed, so your home is less attractive than the source.
• Report the problem in writing to the building or strata manager, describing what you have seen and where.
• Let the building handle contact with the other unit. By-laws and state law usually give owners corporations ways to deal with conditions that affect other residents.

If a tenancy is involved, the property manager for that unit may also need to be told. Your state tenancy authority or strata advisory service can explain the options. PestMan does not provide legal advice.

Why coordinated treatment works

Treating adjoining units and common areas together, with follow-ups, is generally more effective than individual units treating at different times. Pests cannot simply move next door and return later, and the source of the problem is more likely to be found.

For German cockroaches and bed bugs in particular, expect a program with inspection, targeted treatment and follow-up visits rather than a single spray. See why German cockroaches are hard to control and can I get rid of bed bugs myself.

Answers related to this guide

• Why Are Cockroaches Common in Apartments?
• Can Pests Move Between Apartments?
• How Do Bed Bugs Spread?
• Why Are German Cockroaches Hard to Control?
• Can I Get Rid of Bed Bugs Myself?

Local information

• Pests in Brisbane Apartments

Pests in this guide