How Cockroaches Travel Through Wandsworth's Buildings
Shared risers on ex-GLC blocks
The postwar blocks near Wandsworth Common and Tooting Bec Common have service risers that run floor to floor behind the kitchen and bathroom walls, giving cockroaches a warm, sheltered route between flats that a single-unit treatment alone won't close off.
Flats above Tooting's high street shops
Above the shops along Tooting's high street, flats often share pipework and voids with the food premises below, and cockroaches follow the warmth and waste from a takeaway kitchen up into the residential floors overnight.
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 for Good in Wandsworth
Where a block or a parade of shops is involved, getting the managing agent or neighbouring units on board usually speeds things up.
