PropertyModerate risk
Can Pests Move Between Apartments?
Quick answer
Yes. Cockroaches, bed bugs, ants and mice can move between apartments through shared walls, ceiling spaces, plumbing and electrical penetrations, ducts, and under doors into corridors. Treatments in one unit can push pests into neighbouring units, which is why coordinated building-wide management usually works better.
Why this happens
Service penetrations are often poorly sealed, leaving continuous pathways through a building.
Pests disturbed by treatment or renovation seek new shelter, often next door.
What you can do
- Seal penetrations inside your unit with appropriate sealant or escutcheon plates.
- Fit door seals to the corridor door.
- Tell your building manager about pests early so they can check neighbouring units.
When professional help may be needed
Strata managers can arrange inspections of adjoining units and common areas to find the source.
Related pest
Cockroaches
Fast, flat-bodied insects that hide in warm, damp gaps and come out at night to feed. A few introduced species cause most household problems in Australia.
Bed bugs
Small, flat, blood-feeding insects that hide in mattress seams, bed frames and furniture near where people sleep. They spread in luggage and second-hand furniture, not because of poor hygiene.
Related questions
Related guides
Pests in Apartment Buildings
Why pests move between units, who is usually responsible for what, and how residents, owners and strata managers can work together to solve pest problems for good.
GuideThe Australian Guide to Cockroaches
Everything an Australian household needs to know about cockroaches: which species you are seeing, why they are there, how they get in, the health implications, and how to prevent and manage them.
GuideHow to Pest-Proof Your Home
A practical, room-by-room approach to reducing pests without relying on chemicals: remove what attracts them, close the ways in, and make your property less comfortable for them.
Local information
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Sources & further reading
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