Where Southwark's Cockroaches Come From
Bin chutes and risers near London Bridge
The newer residential towers close to London Bridge and the Elephant & Castle regeneration area rely on shared bin chutes and service risers that run the full height of the building, both of which offer warmth, moisture and a food source cockroaches use to move between floors unseen. A sighting on one floor rarely tells you where the activity actually starts.
Commercial kitchens along Walworth Road
Southwark has a dense stretch of food premises along Walworth Road and around Peckham, and cockroaches move readily between a commercial kitchen and the flats above or beside it through shared pipework and party walls. Where that's the case, treating the residential side alone tends to be a short-lived fix.
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
Getting On Top of Cockroaches in Southwark
We'll ask whether the building shares risers or a bin chute with other units, as that usually shapes how treatment needs to be planned.
