Pests in Student Housing: How to Spot, Stop, and Prevent Infestations

When you’re living in student housing, pests in student housing, unwanted insects or animals that invade shared or rented living spaces. Also known as housing infestations, they don’t care if you’re on a tight budget or just moved in last week. Whether it’s a mouse sneaking through a crack in the kitchen wall or bed bugs hitching a ride on your secondhand sofa, these problems don’t vanish just because you’re a student. And no, your landlord isn’t always going to fix it for free.

Rodent infestation, the presence of mice or rats in a building, often signaled by droppings, gnaw marks, or scratching sounds at night. It’s not rare in older student flats where pipes run behind walls and food is left out after late-night noodles. Cockroaches, resilient insects that thrive in warm, damp areas like kitchens and bathrooms. They show up when crumbs aren’t cleaned up, bins aren’t sealed, or shared kitchens are ignored. And then there’s bed bugs, tiny, blood-sucking parasites that hide in mattress seams and furniture joints, often brought in from travel or secondhand items. They don’t mean your room is dirty—they just mean someone else brought them in, and now you’re stuck dealing with it.

You’re not alone. A 2023 survey by a UK student union found over 30% of students in shared housing reported seeing at least one pest in the past year. Most didn’t report it because they thought it was normal—or worse, they feared being blamed. But here’s the truth: landlords are legally required to keep properties pest-free under the Landlord and Tenant Act. If you’ve got evidence—photos, dates, a dead cockroach in a jar—you’ve got leverage.

Knowing the difference between a one-off sighting and a full-blown infestation saves you stress and money. One mouse? Maybe a trap will do. Dozens of droppings in your cupboard? That’s a professional job. A single bed bug? Could be an accident. A rash on your arms and bites in a line? That’s a problem you can’t ignore.

Most student housing doesn’t come with pest control built in. You’ll often have to act fast—and smart. Seal gaps under doors. Store food in airtight containers. Never leave dirty dishes out overnight. Vacuum regularly, especially under beds and sofas. If you’re sharing a kitchen, make a simple cleaning roster. It’s not glamorous, but it stops problems before they start.

And if you do find something? Don’t panic. Take pictures. Write down when and where you saw it. Contact your accommodation office or landlord in writing. If they ignore you, your student union can help. Some even have free pest inspection services or know which local companies offer student discounts.

What you’ll find below aren’t just tips—you’ll find real stories from students who’ve dealt with this. How one person got rid of bed bugs without throwing out their entire wardrobe. How another convinced their landlord to fix a rat problem by showing photos of chewed cables. What to say when your flatmates say, "It’s not my problem." And which cheap, effective products actually work—no gimmicks, no overpriced sprays.