The importance of pest control in property maintenance

Pest control is an important part of property maintenance. When unwanted pests make their way into your properties it’s essential that they are handled in the right way. Our latest blog shares how to identify certain insects, and the importance of proactive pest control to keep your tenants happy and your properties habitable.

Wasps and wasp nests
Wasps are a nuisance at the best of times, but if your property contains a large wasp infestation it can make it not only unpleasant, but uninhabitable. Wasp nests start to become active in the late spring, after the young queen and a worker bee have undergone a winter of semi-hibernation in what is referred to as a ‘satellite nest’. As this nest is built up occupants will usually start to notice the presence of wasps either in the garden, or in the property.

Wasp nests are most commonly found in attics, but can also be hidden in trees, bushes, sheds and garages. Wasps will usually enter a property through an air brick, under the soffit board or via cracks in the mortar. Once tenants (or a property inspector) identify a wasp nest it must be dealt with by qualified pest control technicians as once wasps become agitated they will become aggressive.

Ants
Ant problems in properties and gardens are usually dealt with using off-the-shelf and killer products which can be used as part of a regular garden maintenance schedule. If infestations are small this will often do the trick, however should your properties suffer from large or multiple infestations of Pharaoh’s, Ghost or Fire ants they may need to be professionally dealt with. If ants are present in the kitchen of the property, or in any areas where food is prepared it is in your best interest as a landlord or property manager to handle the infestation immediately.

Ants nests may look like a small pile of soil or dirt. However, certain ant species like to make their home in building walls or other difficult to reach areas. Professional ant treatments will not only be able to tackle areas which are hard to handle with DIY treatments, but are also targeted at specific species in order to solve ant infestations as quickly as possible. Helping to preserving the value of your property and keeping tenants happy.

Bed bugs
Bed bugs are active all year round, and are becoming more common in properties due to increasingly warmer winters. These tiny insects are incredibly resilient, and often live in warm, dark places such as inside mattresses, in carpets, furniture and any cracks or crevices of a property. Signs a property has a bed bug infestation include bites, clusters of bed bug excrement, and sometimes even a scent of almonds.

If you are a landlord or relocation company managing a property, we recommend that treatment is commenced immediately. If left untreated bedbugs will multiply, and can be manually transported from property to property especially if infested furniture is moved. The only effective course of treatment for bedbugs is to have them professionally removed.

Fleas
Flea infestations are commonly associated with pets. However, fleas can cause also be an issue in properties which have merely had exposure to animals (whether this be from previous tenants, visitors with pets or household pests such as rats or mice). The identification of fleas in a pet-free property can prove somewhat of a challenge. Usually the first sign of an infestation are clusters of bites to the occupants, following the spotting of the pests themselves.

Due to the challenge of identifying a flea infestation their presence will often go unnoticed, allowing them time to multiply. In order to treat fleas it is not only essential to get rid of the current fleas, but to identify the original source to avoid a future infestation. Natural flea deterrents include anti-microbial solutions such as tea tree oil, and diatomaceous earth powders. However, if a rental property has a flea problem it is often more beneficial to enlist a professional extermination services to get rid of the flea problem once and for all. Removing the need for continual and time consuming treatments.

Woodworm
If not handled correctly woodworm can cause structural property damage. More information on the identification and treatment of woodworm can be found in our previous blog, how to prevent structural property damage.

One call does it all…
Pest control can seem overwhelming, especially if it’s a seasonal issue that affects a number of your properties at once. Luckily, here at GMC we have specialist pest control contractors to take care of any problems with insects, rodents or birds. With just one call to GMC we’ll make sure the issue is reviewed and an effective pest control treatment plan put in place. If you’ve got a pest control issue with a property in your portfolio, or simply want to find out about our other property maintenance services please don’t hesitate to give a member of the GMC team a call on 01903 721020 or email info@genmaint.co.uk.