Cockroaches
Where Cockroaches Turn Up in Mill Hill
Much of NW7, as Pest Control Mill Hill describes, is houses with gardens against open land, and cockroaches have little interest in any of that. They need warmth, moisture and food all year, and they spread through buildings rather than across gardens.
Flats near the Broadway
Flats above or beside shops, cafés and takeaways can share walls, ducts and bin areas with a business below. Cockroaches move through gaps around pipes and wiring, so a flat can be affected even when it is kept spotless. How cockroaches get into properties covers the routes.
Newer blocks
In newer blocks at Millbrook Park, heating and hot water pipes run between flats, keeping shared spaces warm. If one flat has cockroaches, neighbours may too. Whether cockroaches spread between flats explains how.
Houses
It would be unusual to find cockroaches in a Mill Hill house. When they do appear, they have usually come in with deliveries, second-hand appliances or boxes, and settled behind the fridge, cooker or boiler. Now and then an older house with a damp cellar or an old drain run sees the larger Oriental cockroach, but that too is uncommon, and a single beetle-like insect in the garden is far more likely to be a ground beetle.
Bins and shared areas
In blocks and over shops, the bin store and any shared ground-floor areas matter as much as your own kitchen. Split bags, food waste left by the chute and damp corners behind the bins give cockroaches food and cover close to the building's service runs. If you see them in a shared area, report it to whoever manages the building, as treating a single flat will not reach the communal spaces.
German or Oriental?
German cockroaches are small, light brown and live indoors around kitchens and appliances. Oriental cockroaches are larger, dark and slower, and prefer cool damp places such as drains and cellars. Knowing which you have helps. German and Oriental cockroaches explains the differences.
Signs to Look For
- Cockroaches seen at night when the kitchen light goes on
- Small dark droppings like pepper along shelves and cupboard edges
- Egg cases behind the fridge, cooker or dishwasher
- An unpleasant musty smell in cupboards
The signs of a cockroach infestation has more.
What to Do Now
- Keep food sealed and do not leave dishes or pet food out overnight
- Clean behind and under appliances
- Tell your landlord or managing agent if you live in a flat
- Do not use shop sprays, which can scatter them
Booking and What Happens
When you book cockroach control, say whether it is a flat or a house, where you have seen them, and whether neighbours have noticed any. You will be told what was found and what to expect; timing depends on the property and the infestation, as how long cockroach treatment takes explains.
Food businesses on the Broadway
Shops, cafés, restaurants and takeaways are quoted per site, because the size of the kitchen, the equipment and the layout all change what is involved. Call to arrange a visit to look at the premises.
Landlords and managing agents
If you rent, tell your landlord as soon as you see cockroaches, and keep a note of when and where. If you own a leasehold flat, the managing agent is normally responsible for communal areas, while inside your own flat is usually for you to arrange. Where several flats are affected, dealing with them together gives the best chance of clearing them.
Keeping Them Away
Seal gaps around pipes under sinks and behind appliances, fix leaks, and keep bins closed. How to prevent cockroaches returning has more. For the borough as a whole, see Cockroach Control Barnet, and for other kitchen pests, mouse control and ant control in Mill Hill.
