Cardiff and other Welsh cities have reported more cockroach infestations in 2025, with Cardiff recording 86 household complaints — up 9% on 2024. Experts link the rise to milder winters and densely populated apartment living, which help more insects survive and spread. Health bodies warn cockroaches can carry bacteria such as Salmonella, and councils say treatment for private homes is not a statutory service. Professionals advise early, coordinated pest control rather than DIY fixes to contain outbreaks.
Warmer Winters Fuel Cockroach Surge in Welsh Cities — Cardiff Reports 86 Household Cases in 2025
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Urban areas of Wales, especially Cardiff, have seen a noticeable rise in cockroach reports, a trend local pest controllers and the BBC attribute to milder winters and denser apartment living. Cardiff logged 86 domestic-property reports in 2025 — a 9% increase on 2024 — while Newport and Swansea recorded 31 and 13 reports respectively. The increase appears concentrated in built-up areas; rural authorities report little comparable activity.
Why Experts Say Numbers Are Climbing
Entomologists and pest professionals point to a mix of environmental and housing factors. Dr. George Beccaloni told the BBC that warmer winters mean fewer cockroaches are killed off in drains, ducts and other sheltered locations, allowing populations to survive and expand. In addition, tightly packed apartment blocks provide indoor heat, shared access to food and water, and easy pathways between units — all conditions that help infestations spread.
On-the-Ground Evidence
Local pest-control firms have noticed the change. Chris Corbett of Aderyn Pest Control said: "Five years ago, we were getting probably one or two [calls] a week. At the moment we're getting around five or six a week coming in." For residents like Sumesh Geevarghese in Cardiff the problem became immediate after a neighbour moved out. "I turned on the light and I could see a cockroach running, two or three were running," he told the BBC.
Health and Practical Concerns
Cockroaches are more than a nuisance. The British Pest Control Association (BPCA), cited by the BBC, warns that cockroaches can carry food-poisoning organisms and bacteria such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. Beyond health risks, infestations are stressful and can impose financial costs on tenants and homeowners.
Who Pays and What To Do
Cardiff council told the BBC that treatment of cockroaches is not a statutory service and the council does not currently provide pest control for private residents, so costs often fall to occupants or landlords. Experts advise contacting a professional pest controller early rather than attempting DIY measures. Niall Gallagher of the BPCA recommended calling a BPCA member to conduct a survey and produce an appropriate treatment plan, warning that DIY attempts can fail or even spread infestations between properties.
"With the right treatment, with the right engagement, every cockroach infestation can be controlled," Gallagher told the BBC. "With the right preparation and with the right pest controller, any pest can be solved."
Final Points
Infestations are not necessarily a sign of poor household cleanliness — sometimes they are simply a matter of circumstance. Coordinated treatment across affected units, prompt professional intervention, and awareness of shared building risks are key to controlling outbreaks as winters stay milder.
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