Sydney property at risk, demand for pest control soars during La Niña

userOctober 15, 2022

Thousands of cockroaches lurk under sofas, termites have caused significant damage to structures, and rats are infested. These are the issues facing Sydney residents as the city experiences its wettest year on record.

La Niña brought an explosion of pests to our homes.

Data from Hipages, a tradie platform, shows a significant increase in demand for pest control nationwide in the 12 months to October.

Termites are causing problems in Sydney.

Pest inspection jobs surged 178% year-over-year, pest control jobs surged 149%, with bees (581%), rodents (369%) and ants (275%) being the most sought after. rice field. rear.

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Stuart Tucker, CCO of Hipages, says two years of wet weather created the perfect breeding ground for a variety of pests.

Termites can cause severe structural damage.

They prefer moist conditions.

“La Niña creates the perfect environment for pests,” says Tucker.

“For pests such as cockroaches, termites, ants and mozzies, the combination of humidity and moisture is optimal for breeding.”

Julian Bracewell, director of Pest2Kill, said termites are currently a problem in Sydney.

He said older buildings such as terraced houses, Californian bungalows, and Art Deco apartment complexes were most at risk due to dampness in crawlspaces.

Cockroaches also love humidity. Picture Jaytown.

Getting rid of them can be very difficult.

“Termites are attracted to moist environments,” he said. “Many houses in Sydney have a subfloor underneath, and the damp wood caused by soil moisture is very attractive to termites.”

He said he was summoned to a block in a unit that was so infested with termites that a structural engineer had to be brought in to assess the damage done to the floor and walls.

He said homeowners had to pay tens of thousands of dollars in the worst cases to get rid of termites and repair structural damage.

Hipages CCO Stuart Tucker.

Cockroach populations also increased due to wet weather, and some homes were infested with pests.

“They love humidity and moisture,” he said.

“We’ve been working really hard. This year, we had a couple who saw thousands of people fleeing as they moved items around their homes.

Rats were also on the rise as the Council began to “lose control” of the situation.

La Niña also significantly increased the number of storm-related jobs, showing data showing a 204% increase in deforestation, as well as a 204% increase in ventilation (300%) and moisture protection (285%).

Pest2Kill director Julian Bracewell.

Marty Sadlier, director of MCG Quantity Surveyors, said the forecast for a third heavy rain event or ‘triple dip’ has left the majority of Australian property owners at risk due to continued increases in construction costs leading to underinsurance. said to mean that

“After two wet summers already, flooding is more likely this year as the catchment area of the dam has increased and the water table has risen,” Sadlier said. .

“Repairing flooded properties means demand for labor and materials will continue to soar.”