Where Hackney's Cockroaches Come From
Food premises along Kingsland Road and Broadway Market
The cafes, takeaways and food shops along Kingsland Road and Broadway Market give cockroaches exactly the warmth, food and water they need, and from a single kitchen they can spread into a flat above or a neighbouring unit through gaps around shared pipework. Sightings in commercial premises like these tend to cluster near ovens, dishwashers and the pipework behind them.
Shared risers in Hackney's blocks of flats
In blocks of flats across the borough, cockroaches move along the warm, damp risers that carry pipework between floors, which is how a problem in one flat's kitchen can turn up in another several floors away. Treatment in a block like this usually works best when it covers more than just the flat where they were first seen.
Signs to Look For
- Cockroaches seen at night in kitchens or bathrooms, especially around pipework
- A musty, oily smell in cupboards or behind appliances
- Small dark droppings resembling coffee grounds or pepper
- Shed skins or small egg cases in cracks and crevices
- Smear marks along regularly used routes near warmth and water
Clearing Cockroaches From a Hackney Property
Because cockroaches move between neighbouring properties so easily, it's worth mentioning if you know a neighbour has the same problem when you call.
