How an empty flat fills with fleas
Eggs laid in a carpet by a previous pet develop into larvae and then sit as pupae in a tough little cocoon that can stay dormant for weeks if nothing disturbs the property. Movement and body heat trigger the next generation to emerge, which is why a flat left empty between tenants can start producing bites within days of someone actually living in it again.
Wood Green and Harringay's rented flats
The borough's high turnover of rented flats around Wood Green and Harringay means this pattern shows up regularly: a tenancy ends, the flat stands empty for a few weeks, and the next occupant starts getting bitten around the ankles within days of moving their own furniture in.
Is it really fleas?
A flea bite tends to appear low down around the ankle, and unlike other insects a flea jumps instead of crawling; its droppings turn reddish when dabbed on damp paper, true near Crouch End too, where victorian terraces and larger houses around the clock tower and Broadway. Bites in a row higher up point somewhere else - the Haringey bed bug guide covers that instead.
If you have just moved in
Jot down when the bites began and which rooms they're occurring in, and photograph any flea dirt spotted in the carpet, true near Wood Green too, where dense flats and terraces around the shopping centre and High Road. Put a landlord, agent or seller on notice in writing as soon as you can, so there is a record of when the problem began.
Clearing the carpets
- Pull furniture away from the walls so every edge of each room can be reached
- Vacuum thoroughly and empty it straight into an outside bin, not an indoor one
- Wash any pet bedding on a hot cycle
- Keep using and vacuuming the rooms after treatment rather than shutting them up
Booking flea treatment in Haringey
A flea job in Haringey costs £180 for the first room and £60 for each additional room, and since around Hornsey, where victorian terraces near the station, telling us how many rooms are carpeted and whether pets are part of the household when you book flea treatment helps, with the full detail on the Haringey flea treatment page.
