Rise in Cockroach Infestations in Cardiff
Pest control companies in Cardiff have reported an increase in callouts related to cockroach infestations, with some firms receiving five to six reports weekly. Cardiff council recorded a 9% rise in cockroach reports at domestic properties between 2024 and 2025.
Experts attribute this trend to warmer temperatures and the higher density of residents living in flats and apartments.
Personal Experience with Infestation
Sumesh Geevarghese, a Cardiff resident, described the experience of dealing with a cockroach infestation in his rented apartment as
"very stressful". He added,
"They started coming from everywhere."
About the German Cockroach
The German cockroach is the most prevalent of the five main cockroach species found in the UK. Despite its name, it originates from South East Asia and relies entirely on humans for survival in the UK environment.
According to the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), these cockroaches can carry pathogens responsible for food poisoning and other bacteria, including salmonella, staphylococcus, and streptococcus.
Regional Reports and Variations
In 2025, Cardiff council received 86 reports of cockroach infestations in domestic properties. Newport council reported 31 cases, and Swansea council had 13. Conversely, rural areas in Wales reported minimal to no cockroach infestations when contacted by .
Details of the Infestation Experience
Geevarghese, aged 45, first noticed cockroaches when a neighbour moved out and left belongings outside, including clothes and kitchen items.
"They had kept a lot of their stuff outside - their clothes, their kitchen things, everything, before vacating,"he said.
"I could see cockroaches outside."
Shortly after, he observed cockroaches inside his home.
"I turned on the light and I could see a cockroach running, two or three were running,"he recalled.
He attempted to manage the infestation with supermarket-bought sprays, but the problem worsened.
"They started coming from everywhere, from the wi-fi router, under the kettle, the toaster and all the switchboards. We would cook and they would keep coming from the sockets, from under the microwave."
Cardiff council informed him of a
"backlog"preventing them from attending all cases. Subsequently, his letting agent agreed to cover the cost of private pest control services, which treated his apartment over four visits.
Geevarghese stated the situation is now
"OK now."
Council and Pest Control Perspectives
A Cardiff council spokesperson clarified,
"Treatment of cockroaches is not a statutory service, and the council does not currently provide this service for private residents."
Chris Corbett, from Aderyn Pest Control in Caerphilly, noted a steady increase in cockroach-related callouts since 1981.
"Five years ago, we were getting probably one or two [calls] a week,"he said.
"At the moment we're getting around five or six a week coming in."
Scientific Insights on Cockroach Spread
Dr George Beccaloni, an entomologist and cockroach expert who curated insect collections at London's Natural History Museum for over 20 years, explained the northward movement of various species into Britain.
"We know that lots of species are moving northwards and colonising Britain for the first time,"he said.
"The German cockroach needs warmth, food and water during the winter to survive.
Now we're having milder winters, populations of the cockroach in ducts and drains which would normally be killed by the cold, are probably able to survive the winter."
Factors Contributing to Increased Infestations
The BPCA suggested that the rise in cockroach reports may also be linked to the increasing number of people living in flats and apartment complexes.
Niall Gallagher of the BPCA stated,
"With apartments, they are naturally warmer, because [there's] obviously lots of heating,"adding,
"You have more people living in a closer proximity, which then allows that potential to spread there as well.
We might be seeing an increase because we generally have more people around, we have more people living closer together.
They can do naturally well in usual room temperature, because they'll seek out those additional sources of heat, such as your fridge motors and your, sort of, your humid areas."
Advice for Homeowners Facing Cockroach Infestations
Gallagher advised,
"The first thing to do, as soon as you find a cockroach, is contact professional pest control, ideally a BPCA member, to come out, do a survey [and] give you the right treatment plan,"cautioning against DIY methods.
"We don't recommend DIY pest control because it can also spread between multiple properties as well."
He acknowledged that admitting to pest problems can be difficult for some individuals.
"Sometimes people can get very embarrassed by pests because there is an inclination that maybe they're dirty, which actually isn't always the case,"he said.
"Sometimes you are just unfortunate.
There are companies out there with a royal warrant. Why is there a royal warrant? Because the royals will get pests.
[Pests] really will affect everyone at some point in their life."
Gallagher emphasized that cockroach infestations can be controlled despite challenges.
"With the right treatment, with the right engagement, every cockroach infestation can be controlled,"he said.
"Humans, unfortunately, can make treatment difficult, especially if you're working, in multiple occupancy, or you work in an apartment, and actually you might need to get into five or six apartments, you know, it can make it difficult, but it can absolutely be done.
With the right preparation, and with the right pest controller, any pest can be solved."
