Roaches Coming from Neighbor’s Apartment – What Can I Do?

You’re sitting in your home, minding your own business, when you see a roach dart across your floor. You look closer and see that several more roaches are crawling around.

You start to wonder where they came from, and then you realize – they’re coming from your neighbor’s apartment.

If you’re dealing with a severe roach infestation in your home that you think is coming from your neighbor’s apartment, there are a few initial things you can do to solve the problem…

1. First and foremost, try to talk to your neighbor about the problem. They may not even be aware that they have a roach problem and be willing to take measures to fix it.
2. If they’re not receptive to your concerns or if you don’t feel comfortable talking to them, you can contact your landlord or a property manager.
3. You can also try DIY solutions to keep roaches away from your home, such as sealing up cracks and crevices, using roach traps, and keeping your home clean.

If you still see roaches after taking these steps, you may need to call a professional exterminator.

It’s obvious to want to do everything possible to keep cockroaches out of your house. So I’ve got some extra pointers on what to do if your neighbor has roaches so you can make life easier…

Why Do You Get Roaches From a Neighbor?

If you have a roach problem in your home that you suspect is coming from your neighbor’s apartment, there are reasons why this might be happening.

1- Your Neighbor is too Close

First and foremost, roaches only need small gaps and openings to move in – they can easily travel through cracks and crevices in walls, floors, and ceilings.

Especially if you reside very close to your neighbors (which is natural in apartments and societies) and they have a cockroach problem, your apartment is also in danger.

Sometimes when your neighbors visit your place, they may also bring cockroaches into your home through items such as bags, boxes, clothing, etc. So you should be extra vigilant when it comes to guests.

2- Your Neighbors Moved Out, or They are on Vacation

Roaches coming from neighbors and getting into your apartment may also be due to the fact that they have moved out of their apartment, and there’s nothing that cockroaches can feed on anymore.

When people move out or go on a short vacation, they don’t always clean up as well as they should.

This can again lead to new roach problems for the new tenants and neighbors residing nearby.

3- There is a Shared Ventilation and Plumbing System

In some apartments, there is a shared ventilation system between units. This means that if your neighbor has roaches, they can easily travel through the vents and into your apartment.

Shared plumbing (sewers, drains, and pipes) and poor sanitation next door are other ways roaches can spread from one unit to another.

So, take a closer look at them, and if you see any gaps or cracks, seal them up.

4- The Building is Old And Not Well-maintained

If the building you live in is old and not well-maintained, it’s more likely that there will be cracks and crevices for roaches to enter.

These are usually around the floorboards, old wood panels, door & window trims, air conditioning units, garages, etc.

Make sure to check your apartment for any gaps and seal them up. You can also talk to your landlord about fixing any issues with the building that might be contributing to the problem.

5- Roaches Move to Your Apartment in Search of Food

Much like we humans, roaches are also attracted to food, water, shelter, and warmth.

So if your neighbor’s apartment is already infested and is full of cockroaches, they will breed and multiply soon.

Once their colony gets multiplied, there is possibly a lack of food for all of them; some might end up in your apartment searching for sustenance.

What Can You Do If Your Neighbor Gave You Roaches?

This is a vexing circumstance, but you should start by talking with the neighbors you believe are responsible for your cockroach problem before resorting to drastic measures.

To resolve the issue and keep amiable relations between you, try to figure out the solution while discussing it.

It’s a good idea to start the discussion by asking your neighboring homeowners if they’d be willing to share and pay for an exterminator’s services.

Because cockroaches will migrate as soon as it’s safe, only one of you calling in an exterminator is pointless.

Can You Sue Your Neighbor for Roaches?

Cockroaches are smelly and really smell bad if there is an entire colony.

So if a neighbor’s apartment becomes infested with them, you might wish to explore your legal options.

But before you get started and make an accusation, confirm (and have proof) that your neighbor is responsible for the outbreak, or you will have no basis for a lawsuit.

• If you’ve done everything, you can (including talking to neighbors), but roaches keep coming back into your apartment, contact your town health department to investigate the situation.
• If the officials find that your neighbor is the source of the roach infestation, they will inspect the premises and may establish a violation if necessary.
• You can even ask the officials to put in writing that your neighbor hasn’t done anything to prevent or eradicate the problem, which will help you have a solid case against your neighbor when you take legal action.

By taking the steps above, you can gather all the evidence that your neighbor is causing the roaches problem in your apartment and that they are at fault.

When taking legal action, you can sue your neighbor for the cost of extermination, damages, and even pain and suffering if the roaches have caused you physical or emotional distress.

You might also want to explore your options for filing a restraining order against your neighbor if they are unwilling to work with you to resolve the issue.

Filing a restraining order will require you to go to court, but it may be your best option if you feel like your neighbor is putting your health and safety at risk.

What If I Live in a Rented Apartment – Can My Landlord help?

If you live in a rental home, you may find it more convenient to communicate with your landlord rather than speaking to your neighbor directly.

Landlords in most US states function as intermediaries and use their authority to help solve the problem faster.

Your landlord has the power to perform a legal duty to address the infestation, ensuring clean, sanitary living conditions for all tenants as required by the law.

Based on the severity of the problem and the one who is responsible for it, your landlord can provide solutions such as:

• Asking the tenant responsible for the roach infestation to leave the property
• Sending an exterminator to handle the problem
• Taking action against the tenant by filing an eviction notice
• Offering to move you to a different unit in the building

Keeping your apartment cockroach-free after your landlord has taken care of the initial problem is up to you as a tenant.

If you’re about to sign a lease for a new place, be sure that it stipulates that extermination falls on the responsibility of your landlord—this will save you from future issues.

But remember, you may not sue the property owner directly because an apartment has roaches; most legal contracts state that the tenant is responsible for keeping it clean.

What’s the Best Way to Get Rid of Roaches Coming from Neighbors?

Cockroaches are able to flatten their exoskeletons in half and splay their legs outwards, widening themselves just enough so they can slither through tiny nooks and crannies.

All it takes is a small gap between houses for these pesky insects to travel from one home to another.

Sprinkling diatomaceous earth around your apartment’s entry points is one of the best methods to keep cockroaches out of your home.

Diatomaceous earth, which looks like sand but contains 80-90 percent silica, will draw oils, fat, and water out of cockroaches as soon as they walk through or consume it.

Diatomaceous earth is not poisonous to animals or humans but eradicates insects by damaging their exoskeletons (outside shells).

Some roaches will also bring the “bait” back to where they live and give it to the other roaches, who will also eventually die of starvation and dehydration as a result.

And because cockroaches are already becoming resistant to certain pesticides, diatomaceous earth is such an excellent choice.

The Conclusion

Cockroaches have the uncanny ability to fit through even the tiniest of spaces – no matter how much you try to seal them.

Remember that if you decide to take some legal action against your neighbor for a roach problem, your chances of winning the case are low in most cases.

So, your first step should be to reach out to your landlord or the neighbor. Talk to them if they are friendly and can help get the solution.

Everyone will be better off if cockroaches are gone, so work together to get rid of them before you decide to take legal action.