Cockroach infested block please can someone advise?

[pinkpetal2]

Hi I live in a block of flats there's 96 flats here the last year 1 or 2 people mentioned they had cockroaches and was told by the council it's an isolated issue and not to worry but treat them yourself so they did.

Fast forward to now it's about 70 flats no one can afford to get pest control in, the council will only spray landings and not individual flats who can we contact to help?.

I'd say easily 85% of the people that live here are reliant solely on benefits they can't afford to treat and the people that did, now have them again.

I'm so worried they'll come into mine it's awful.

What can we do to be heard? We are in Greater London.

I'm also concerned about the fact our block is in such a bad state and yet the council keep pumping money into it to clad it that was 8.9 million, and from floors 1-9 7 of them have flooding issues on the landing and in flats. Nothing gets fixed properly.

Any advice will be helpful please.

Sorry, meant to add that it is one of the absurdities of the way social housing is funded that councils can get funding for improvements, eg cladding, but not for routine stuff.

Absolutely bloody bonkers.

These are really good at getting rid of bugs including cockroaches. I used these for a moth infestation, they are smoke bombs. I have a newborn so was worried about using them but I read up online and the chemical is safe for humans (it even used to be put in skin cream for pregnant women!).

www.amazon.co.uk/Pest-Expert-Clothes-Killer-Smoke/dp/B0161HBNF6?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

They are also not too expensive (£15 for 4 bombs so enough for 2 rooms). Here they are again but just advertised for cockroaches

www.amazon.co.uk/Cockroach-Killer-Smoke-Bombs-3-5g/dp/B071RD74Q1/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=cockroach+smoke+bomb&sprefix=cockroach+smoke&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1606383406&sr=8-4

If it is a council property complain up until stage 3 then take it to the ombudsman service. Environmental health too.
I would say go to the papers with sad faces but can understand why you wouldn't want to.

It's common for social housing landlords to only treat communal areas for pests. You and your neighbours need to use the complaints system to escalate the issue. But as PP have said. It may be quicker to try and get your local MP interested.

Environmental Health will have their arse on a plate with huge fines if they ignore infestations (rats, bed bugs, cockroaches etc), mould, health & safety , fire regulations etc . Google the number for your local councils .

Agree with everyone else that you need to get local councillors and the MPs involved.

Also get everyone you know in the block to report it in the same week - that pushes it up the system.

Yes the environmental health and if nothing is done make a formal complaint, follow the process to escalate and then go to the ombudsman. Councils literally run for the hills at the idea of the ombudsman so that should get some traction.

Basically you need to make a nuisance of yourself as it needs to be easier for them to deal with it rather than you and the complaints.

It shouldn't be that way but my experience is all local authorities are like this - and the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Goliath Gel (fipronil) is very effective and safe around children and pets. A big tube is enough for the entire block of 96 flats and would solve your problem at less than a pound a flat. You can get it from Amazon/eBay. Put some gloves on before applying.

Just looked and it’s about 20 quid for the big tube, 60ml

Hi I haven't read every message yet as haven't stopped today we've been door knocking each flat we've done 9-5 floors 20 didn't answer but we've found a hell of a lot of flats. One woman has had them that bad she hasn't been sleeping in her bedroom, yet hasn't phoned the council at all about it .
We are going above the normal council people and going straight to our counsellors who are brilliant at solving things, environmental health and the head of the council because it's so bad.
Going back out after the school run to do 5 to 1, so will reply properly then.

Oh and our normal man who runs this block is adamant it's only 4 flats