Pest Control in Social Housing

Rats and other pests remain among the most persistent problems in social housing. Their presence is a matter of public health, resident wellbeing and confidence in local services. The link between pest activity and waste management is well established, yet many housing estates still rely on infrastructure built between the 1950s-70s, that was never designed to meet today’s waste volumes. When food waste, litter and bulky items are left in exposed areas, conditions can quickly become ideal for infestation, making effective pest control a critical part of estate management.

Understanding the problem

Pest issues rarely occur in isolation. They are symptoms of wider environmental challenges such as:

Inadequate waste storage
Missed collections
Broken bins
Poor lighting
Neglected outdoor areas

In densely populated estates, these factors compound, creating hotspots that are difficult to control through traditional extermination alone.

Population growth

It is noted that in the UK there are more people than ever, living in closer proximity. The Office for National Statistics reported in 2024 that the UK population grew to a record 69.3 million, marking the second-largest annual increase in more than 75 years. This means increasingly close living quarters and a sheer volume of waste produced, which cannot be processed effectively by outdated infrastructure systems.

Rising temperatures

Studies show that urban rodent populations increase as temperatures rise. In US cities such as New York, San Francisco and Toronto, rat activity has surged by over 150% in the past decade in line with warmer winters.

Recent research led by the University of Richmond found that rat numbers are increasing fastest in cities experiencing the greatest temperature rises. That means that here in the UK, as winters become milder, rats face lower mortality, longer breeding seasons and more year-round food sources. All this means that infestations are likely to become a continual, rather than seasonal, challenge for urban areas.

COVID-19 aftermath

The global COVID-19 pandemic left lasting changes to how people live, work and dispose of waste. More people stayed home, food delivery services expanded and domestic waste volumes rose sharply. Human behaviour altered almost overnight as countries across the world ‘locked down’ but this also had a direct impact on rodent and pest behaviour.

As city populations shifted from business and commercial districts to residential areas with people working from home, so rodent populations migrated accordingly, always following food sources. With more waste stored in communal areas and older estates lacking secure bins or well-maintained storage, infestations quickly took hold and spread.

The British Pest Control Association reports that over 70% of pest controllers experienced an increase in calls for rats since March 2020, with an increase of 30% during the spring and summer, a time which would traditionally see the least number of calls. In the months and years following this, pest control services across the UK have reported a consistent increase in callouts.

Impact

Unfortunately, once rats, mice or other pests become established, they can spread rapidly between properties and across communal areas. The impact of this for residents is huge.

A 2025 BBC investigation revealed that residents whose homes had become infested were unable to sleep, anxious and ashamed to invite visitors into their communities. Concerns over health, stress and a real sense of helplessness is keenly felt by residents in these situations. This is particularly so where infestation problems persist, despite repeated flagging or complaints.

Recent bin strikes in Birmingham have demonstrated how quickly these issues can escalate, as uncollected waste and overflowing communal bins created ideal conditions for rats and other pests. In some areas, rogue traders offered illegal clearance services while others faced fines for unsafe waste storage and fly-tipping. These examples highlight how unmanaged waste environments can spiral into broader challenges. Left unresolved, they can also cause significant financial and reputational damage to landlords.

Solutions

The most effective long-term strategy for the treatment of rat, mouse and other pest infestations focuses on cutting off access to food and shelter. In urban settings, this means tackling waste containment directly.Modern pest control begins with infrastructure. Rodent-proof bins, secure communal storage and well-maintained collection areas prevent access to food sources and reduce the conditions that allow infestations to develop in the first place. This principle has underpinned recent urban initiatives, from New York City’s compulsory use of sealed waste containers, to UK housing projects adopting fully enclosed external bin housings. These solutions deter pests, support recycling, reduce odour and improve estate appearance.

However, infrastructure alone cannot solve the problem. Success depends on coordination between housing, waste and environmental health teams, backed by resident engagement and data-led monitoring.

This approach has been demonstrated on the Landsdowne Estate in Sheffield, where a coordinated, multi-agency project brought together environmental health officers, housing managers, waste operations and contractors to tackle pest issues linked to waste and maintenance. By sharing data and taking joint responsibility, the team were able to identify root causes and prevent the same issues from reoccurring elsewhere in the city.

The upcoming metroSTOR webinar: Pest Control, with Sheffield City Council will share further insight into this work, highlighting how a joined-up strategy can transform pest management on housing estates and ensure that quick wins are matched with long-term planning and prevention. Find out more about how to sign up.