Hey everyone,
I’ve been dealing with roaches showing up in my apartment lately, and I’m pretty sure they’re coming from the units next door. I’ve cleaned, sealed food, used baits—you name it—but they still keep finding their way in.
For anyone living in multi-unit buildings, how do you actually stop your neighbors’ bugs from becoming your problem?
A few things I’m curious about:
-
Prevention: What’s the best way to block shared-wall entry points?
-
Building responsibility: At what point should the landlord step in?
-
Real solutions: Are gels and baits enough, or do you need professional treatments for the whole building?
Would love to hear what’s worked for you all.
If you’re in an older building, sealing is your best friend. I used silicone caulk around every pipe opening under my sinks and behind the stove. It cut the problem by like 70% overnight.
Dealing with the same issue right now. I put down gel bait and sticky traps, and they helped, but the roaches always seem to come back unless the whole floor gets treated. Super frustrating.
Gels work way better than sprays since the roaches bring the poison back to the nest. But yeah, if your neighbors don’t treat their units too, you’re just playing defense all the time.
Honestly, your building management should step in once it becomes a multi-unit issue. Roaches travel through electrical conduits and plumbing lines, no single tenant can solve that alone.
I forced my landlord to schedule a building-wide treatment last year. Best decision ever. Took two visits, but the roaches basically vanished afterward.
Have you tried the bait stations that go behind the fridge and stove? Those ended up being the “kill zone” for me. They’re not pretty, but they work.
@NewRenter23 Totally agree. If your neighbor’s unit is a mess, your traps just slow the problem. If you can, talk to the neighbor or ask management to check their place.
Professional gel treatments are worth the money. They hit hidden spots you don’t think about—cabinet hinges, behind outlets, the tracks under drawers.
Not gonna lie, I used to think roaches only came from dirty apartments, but nope, they travel anywhere. Keeping things dry and vacuuming often helped me more than I expected.
@PestNerd101 @TenantLifeMike One thing most folks overlook: door sweeps. Roaches wander hallways and slip right under doors. Add a sweep and a weather strip and it blocks a surprising amount.