Infestations of rats and other pests are problematic in void properties, but REACT’s vermin control service deals with any such issues.
Have you ever heard the claim that, in a big city, you’re never more than six feet away from a rat? In fact, in most UK cities, it’s estimated that you’re more likely to be 50 metres away from a rat on average. What’s more, most of those rats are limited to sewers or open spaces. However, there are some instances where the presence of rats and other vermin is more of a potential problem. Void properties are particularly prone to pests, especially where there have been issues of cleanliness or where the property has been vacant for a while. Our latest blog opens up the drains to look at our vermin control service for void properties.
Potential pest problems in void properties
We’ve talked before about how many void properties there are in the UK, and the reasons behind it. Landlords will occasionally have occupants of their property move out before they find new tenants. Similarly, it can take time to deal with the affairs of deceased homeowners or those who have moved into long-term social care. But the number of long-term vacant residential properties has been trending upwards in recent years, according to the latest government figures. There were reportedly over 215,000 residential properties across the UK that had been vacant for more than six months in the year to October 2018. And commercial property voids are likely to increase in the coming months in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Vermin can take advantage of such empty properties to find shelter. Especially during the winter months, an unheated empty building can still provide protection from the elements. If there are even small amounts of food left in the property, they can be attracted to it; unemptied compost or rubbish bins can be particularly problematic. Rodents and insects can easily search undisturbed for vulnerable entry points into vacant buildings. These can include damaged pipework, drains, or gaps in the brickwork or under the eaves. Birds can also take advantage of broken windows or gaps in brickwork to take up residence.
Vermin control to clean up the mess and prevent new infestations
Our void property clearance service can deal with the results of any infestation. We commit to returning the property to a safe, hygienic and usable state as quickly as possible. We eliminate health hazards, removing waste (including hazardous and bio-hazardous products) and cleaning the property to the required standard. Our specialist cleaning team is highly trained, medically fit, well-equipped, security cleared and inoculated to protect themselves from hazard. We operate to industry-leading standards, and we’re also a licensed waste carrier with a fully traceable waste disposal system.
We aim to solve practical problems in vermin control. Take guano and bird control. Left unchecked, guano from urban pigeons presents a risk to health, with potentially fatal consequences through the inhalation of associated fungus. Bird droppings are also highly corrosive and can cause structural damage to buildings. Our team will thoroughly clean affected areas and apply specialist treatment to ensure bacteria and fungus is eradicated. We also provide solutions to prevent birds from congregating on buildings, to avoid the build-up of droppings.
With REACT on your side, you’ll feel more comfortable dealing with void properties. Through vermin control, we can help to ensure that pests aren’t a risk to health or hygiene. Even so, we can’t promise to increase your average distance from the nearest rat.
To find out more about REACT Specialist Cleaning and our vermin control services, contact one of the team today.
Telephone: 01283 550 503
Email: info@reactplc.co.uk
Website: www.reactsc.co.uk
Post by Shaun D. Doak
Shaun is the CEO of REACT Group plc., a business dedicated to specialist cleaning, hygiene and decontamination. He is deeply committed to making sure that every one of our company’s clients receives the highest possible level of service. An expert in HVAC and commercial and industrial cleaning methodologies, Shaun has extensive experience in the facilities management and renewable services sector.