Why Do Pests Suddenly Appear in a House That Has Been Empty for Months?

Coming back home after being away for several months could bring some unexpected surprises. Apart from dust, stuffiness, and cobwebs, finding rats, mice, insects, or any other kind of intruder can be quite unpleasant.

Many people find it odd that pests suddenly become a problem in a house that was left unoccupied for a long time. In fact, there were no humans, no food, and very little activity in the house.

On the contrary, an unoccupied house can become a perfect place for some pests to reside. Without disturbances, undetected ways to enter the house, and places to hide in, pests can easily feel comfortable there.

Understanding the reasons why this is happening can help homeowners detect potential problems and avoid future infestations.

Why Do Pests Enter Empty Houses?

There are various reasons why pests enter a building, and the lack of presence of humans in a place does not necessarily make a house less appealing to them.

Indeed, an unoccupied building may provide some distinct benefits to the pests.

1. Less Disturbance:

Various activities performed by humans may drive off certain types of pests from occupying specific spaces. Activities like cleaning, moving around, opening of windows and other household chores may disrupt nests and hideouts of various pests.

The disturbance becomes less when a house is left unoccupied for months on end.

2. Unnoticed Entry Points:

Some small gaps near doors, broken vents, roof gaps, and gaps near pipes can serve as easy access points for pests.

These entry points would be identified while conducting routine inspections of an inhabited home. But, in an uninhabited home, small damages can go unnoticed.

Even a small gap can be used by mice and insects to come in and explore the home.

3. Adequate Shelter:

Most pests need sheltered, warm and undisturbed places to survive.

The unoccupied home provides many such places that include loft, basement, kitchen cabinets, walls cavity and space under the floorboards.

These places would protect the pests from the adverse effects of the weather and their predators.

4. Variations in Seasons:

Pest activity changes in different seasons.

While in the winter season, rats and mice may look for shelter inside. In the summer season, ants, wasps, flies and other insects may appear.

A vacant property which stays vacant through different seasons would suffer from multiple pest activities.

Which Pests Are Commonly Found in Empty Properties?

The type of pest that could infest an unoccupied property would depend on the location, condition, and environment of the building, as well as the season.

Rats and Mice:

Rodents are one of the most common types of pests that infest unoccupied buildings.

They gain entry to the building through cracks around pipes, damaged air bricks, vents, and doorways.

They would then go into lofts, kitchens, storerooms, and wall cavities.

Indicators of rodent presence include droppings, scratching sounds, gnawing marks, nesting material, and torn packaging.

Rats and mice can cause damage by gnawing on electrical wires and other materials.

Cockroaches:

Cockroaches can get into buildings through drains, holes, deliveries, and other ways.

Cockroaches prefer to look for places that have some moisture and food.

Even though an empty house will not provide any fresh food for cockroaches, they can survive using very little organic materials, dirt around the house, and other means.

They can hide behind appliances, under sinks, and in cupboards.

Bed Bugs:

Bed bugs are always connected to sleeping rooms and upholstered furniture.

They can enter a property due to infested furniture, beds, suitcases, or other things.

Even though a house is empty, bed bugs may still be there because they can survive without eating anything for a long time.

It depends on whether there were bed bugs in the property before it became vacant.

Wasps:

Wasps may construct their nests in protected places like roof spaces, lofts, sheds, and cavities in walls.

An unoccupied building may offer ideal places for building nests, especially when there are entry points.

The nest may not be detected until the building is reoccupied, and one finds wasps going in and out of the building.

Carpet Beetles:

Carpet beetles and their larvae may breed in buildings if suitable materials are available.

The larvae may eat natural fibres like wool, feathers, and certain types of fabrics.

They may damage carpets, clothes, curtains, and upholstered furniture.

Since their activities may go unnoticed in storage areas and under furniture, infestation may not be detected for months.

How Can Pests Survive in a House Without Food?

The most common misconception regarding abandoned properties is that pests will move out due to the absence of food sources.

Different pests have different survival needs.

There are some types of insects that are capable of surviving for long periods with their stored energy sources. Some pests might use things as a food source which people would not think of as something edible.

Rodents are capable of checking the surroundings, like nearby properties, garden areas, drainages, and outside areas, after which they return back to the sheltered spots.

Insects can make do with limited sources of organic substances. There are some pests that can remain dormant until conditions become favourable.

A vacant property doesn’t mean that the place becomes unfavourable for pests.

Signs of a Pest Infestation in an Empty House

Upon revisiting a vacated property, it is essential to check that everything is in order prior to assuming that all is well.

While some signs will make it clear that an infestation exists, other signs would need closer attention.

The common signs of infestations include:

• Faecal matter found around cupboards, lofts, and storage areas.
• Chewed surfaces on the furniture, electric wires, and any wrapping.
• Noises of scratching or movement through walls and ceilings.
• Nests created from such materials as paper, fabrics or insulators.
• Dead pests on window sills and around lights.
• Damage in carpets, curtains, and clothes.
• Strange odours are found in enclosed spaces.
• Traces of mud or oily stains on walls.

Such signs may give indications about what pests you are dealing with and where there might be a need to investigate more. Not all signs guarantee that an infestation is active and thus needs more professional attention.

How to Manage and Prevent Pests in an Empty House?

The presence of pests in an unoccupied property could be very irritating, particularly when you are trying to prepare the place for occupants or sell the property. There are certain things you can do that would help prevent the problem and safeguard your property from infestation.

The following are tips you may want to consider:

• Property inspection: Ensure you inspect the lofts, cupboards, kitchens, bathrooms, and storerooms for any signs of pest existence.
• Remove the source of food: Get rid of any old foods and rubbish and ensure the cupboards and worktops are clean.
• Look out for moisture: fix any leakages in the pipes, damp areas and standing water.
• Block entry points: Seal the appropriate gaps around the pipes, doors, windows and vents only after making sure no pests are trapped in.
• Ensure regular inspections: Arrange to have someone check up on the property at periodic intervals while it is still unoccupied.

When Should You Contact a Pest Control Professional?

In case the property has been vacant for several months, and you find out about some pest activity, it might be useful to find out whether it is a small issue or something that needs professional assistance.

Professional pest control service will be useful in case:

• There are rodents nesting in lofts or wall cavities.
• There are bed bugs found in bedrooms or furniture.
• Cockroaches are present in different parts of the property.
• Wasps have made their nest in the property.
• There is pest activity despite all cleaning and preventive measures.
• It is difficult to determine what pest caused the damage.

Aman Pest Control is an independently owned and operated pest control Bristol company which provides safe, professional and affordable service to both domestic and commercial clients. By accurately identifying the type of pest, Aman can tailor the most appropriate treatment plan to address the issue. Whether it’s termites, ants, rodents, or more, each pest requires a different approach for effective control.

Proper identification not only helps prevent further damage but also ensures that we use the safest and most efficient methods. Vacant houses may attract pests due to the availability of shelter, access, and lack of disturbances. Pests such as rodents and insects may create infestations unnoticed for months.

Regular inspections, good housekeeping, moisture control, and pest proofing are some steps that may help to prevent pest problems. In case you find pests in your house after moving back into an empty house, early detection and pest control may be helpful.