Advice
What Attracts Cockroaches Into a Home or Kitchen
Cockroaches look for warmth, moisture, food and dark hiding places, so understanding what draws them in is the first step to keeping them out of your kitchen.
Read the guide →We deal with both the quiet domestic call and the busy accommodation business, and we are used to working around guests, changeovers and kitchens that are in daily use.
Torquay's hotels, lets and converted buildings
Torquay is a resort town with seafront hotels, guest houses, holiday lets and many older properties converted into flats and rooms. These buildings often have shared kitchens, old pipe runs, and floors and walls with plenty of gaps. All of that suits cockroaches, which like warm, damp, dark places close to food.
Steep streets and tightly packed buildings can also mean shared walls and shared bin areas, so an insect seen in one property may have travelled along a service route. Where several flats or rooms are involved, we look at the building as a whole instead of just the room where the call started.
Finding the cause before treating
In Torquay we check behind and under kitchen units, around sinks, appliances, boiler cupboards, drains and bin stores. We look for droppings, egg cases, a musty smell and any live insects, and we may put down monitoring traps to show where they move at night. The findings decide the plan, not the other way round.
Treatment is targeted at the places where the insects shelter, and we then monitor activity. We give simple advice too: fix leaks, keep waste in closed bins, clean behind appliances and seal gaps around pipes. Cockroaches can spread germs onto surfaces and food, which matters in any place where meals are prepared.
Working around guests and changeovers
If you run a Torquay guest house or let, tell us how your rooms are used and when they are free, and we will plan the visit with that in mind. We keep things discreet and give you clear notes on what we found. Paignton and Cockington are also within our area if you have another property nearby.
Frequently asked questions
What should a Torquay guest house do if a guest reports a cockroach?
Stay calm, apologise, move the guest if you can, and do not ignore it. Then call us so we can inspect the room and the kitchen. Early action usually keeps the problem small and shows guests it is being taken seriously.
Can cockroaches live in a holiday let that is empty for weeks?
Yes, if there is warmth, a little moisture and somewhere to hide. Empty properties can still hold insects in drains, pipework and behind units. Regular checks between lets and keeping bins and waste areas clean makes it harder for them to settle.
Do I need to close my business while you treat for cockroaches?
Often not for long, and sometimes not at all, depending on the area. We will explain what needs to be cleared and how long to keep treated areas clear. You will know the plan before we start work.