Pests in Older Buildings in Sharjah and Ajman: The Tenant's Role and the Building's Role | Al Asfour Al Zahabi

A guide for residents of older buildings in Sharjah and Ajman about cockroaches, bed bugs and rodents moving between flats. You will learn what you can do yourself, what falls on the building, and how to prepare your flat before treatment to get a real result.

Many residents of older buildings in Sharjah and Ajman go through the same experience: you treat your flat for cockroaches or bed bugs, the problem calms down for a few weeks, and then it comes back. The reason is usually not just a failed treatment, but that the building itself provides routes and hiding places that move insects and rodents between flats. In this guide we explain why these buildings are more prone to infestation, how to recognise each pest, what you can do as a tenant, what the building should do, and how to prepare your flat before treatment.

Why do older buildings suffer more from pests?

In areas such as Al Qasimia, Al Majaz and Al Nahda in Sharjah, and Al Nuaimiya, Al Rashidiya and Al Bustan in Ajman, there are residential buildings that are twenty or thirty years old or more. Many are in good condition, but time leaves its mark in places the resident does not see:

Cracks and voids: cracked walls, open gaps around pipes, loose tiles and old false ceilings are all hiding places and routes for insects.
Old drainage networks: damaged traps, missing covers and cracked pipes open the way for large cockroaches coming up from the drains.
Shared light wells: the light well that the kitchens and bathrooms of several flats overlook sometimes collects moisture and rubbish and becomes a meeting point for cockroaches and rats.
Dense, mobile population: frequent moves between flats and second-hand furniture, beds and sofas coming in from different sources mean bed bugs and cockroaches arrive with belongings.
Shops and restaurants on the ground floor: grocery stores, restaurants and stores below the building can attract rodents and cockroaches if waste is not managed well.
Bin rooms and chutes: old rubbish chutes that are not washed regularly become a permanent source of infestation on every floor.

Cockroaches in older buildings: two species, two sources

In these buildings we usually find two species together, and each needs a different treatment:

The small German cockroach

Small and light brown with two dark stripes behind the head, it lives and breeds inside kitchens: in cabinet hinges, behind the fridge, under the sink, and inside old cabinet wood damaged by water. It moves between neighbouring flats through gaps around kitchen pipes and electrical boxes, and in belongings and boxes. Its main treatment is gel bait and monitoring, while avoiding household sprays that scatter it.

The large American cockroach

Large and reddish brown, it climbs up from the drainage network, manholes and light wells, and appears at night near drains. It is common in older buildings because of dry or damaged traps and missing covers. Its treatment relies on sealing entry points and treating the drains and common areas.

If you have a clear infestation of either species, our cockroach control service in Sharjah starts with an inspection to identify the species and source before choosing the treatment method.

Bed bugs: how do they move between flats?

The bed bug is a small, flat, reddish-brown insect about the size of an apple seed. It feeds on blood at night and hides by day in cracks close to where people sleep. Its presence has nothing to do with poor hygiene; it travels with luggage and furniture and can infest the cleanest homes.

In older buildings the risk of spread is higher for clear reasons:

They arrive with second-hand beds, mattresses and sofas, or with suitcases and clothes from infested accommodation.
They crawl between neighbouring flats through electrical socket openings, voids behind wall panels, cracks around pipes and under doors.
When a single flat is sprayed, some bugs may escape to the next flat and come back later.
Furniture left near bin rooms or in corridors may be picked up by another resident who does not know it is infested.

Signs of infestation

Red bites, often in a line or cluster on the arms, neck and legs after waking, though some people show no marks at all.
Small blood spots on sheets and pillowcases.
Tiny black dots on mattress edges and seams and in bed frame joints.
Empty shed skins and tiny white eggs in cracks near the bed.
An unusual sweetish smell in the bedroom when the infestation is heavy.

For more detail, see our guide to bed bug signs and treatment in the UAE.

Rats and rodents in older buildings

Rodents look for food and shelter, and older buildings provide both: shops and restaurants on the ground floor, bin rooms, false ceilings, AC ducts and voids around vertical pipes. Small mice can pass through very small openings and climb pipes and cables between floors.

Signs of their presence:

Scratching or movement sounds in the false ceiling at night.
Small dark droppings like grains of rice near food or behind appliances.
Gnaw marks on food packets, cables or wooden doors.
Dark greasy smudges on walls where they pass regularly.
A strong, unpleasant smell in cupboards or near the ceiling.

If the sounds come from the ceiling or AC vents, read our article on rats in false ceilings and AC ducts. Do not try to catch a rat with your hands, and do not put poisons in open places that children or pets can reach.

What can the tenant do?

Even if the source is outside your flat, there is a lot you can do to reduce the infestation and protect your home:

Seal openings inside your flat: gaps around kitchen and bathroom pipes, cracks in tiles and the gap under the front door, using silicone, filler or a door draught strip.
Look after your drains: make sure covers fit tightly, and pour water into unused drains regularly so the traps do not dry out.
Reduce food and hiding places: store food in airtight containers, take rubbish out daily, and clear boxes and clutter behind doors and on top of cabinets.
Inspect any second-hand furniture before bringing it in: especially beds, mattresses and sofas; check seams and joints with a torch before they enter the home.
Do not use foggers or random spraying: they scatter cockroaches and bed bugs into neighbours' flats, from where they come back, and make professional treatment harder.
Document the problem: take photos of the pests and where they appear and record the dates; this helps when contacting the landlord or building management.
Report early: do not wait until the infestation is large; inform the landlord or watchman in writing by message or email.
Talk to your neighbours: if you agree to treat in the same week, the result is much better and lasts longer.

What should the building or landlord do?

Some parts of the problem cannot be solved by the tenant alone, because they are in common areas or in the building's structure. Responsibilities vary according to the tenancy contract and the agreement with the landlord, so check your contract, but these tasks usually fall on building management or the landlord:

Regular treatment of common areas: bin rooms, chutes, light wells, corridors, plant rooms and manholes.
Washing bin rooms and chutes regularly, and repairing their doors so they stay closed.
Repairing damaged drainage, and replacing missing covers in light wells and on the ground floor.
Sealing large openings in external walls and light wells around pipes and cables, and fitting mesh over ventilation openings.
Following up with ground-floor shops and restaurants on waste management and preventing build-up.
Coordinating simultaneous treatment of several flats on the same stack or floor when complaints repeat.
Preventing second-hand furniture and mattresses from being left in corridors and near bin rooms.

When you contact management, be specific: state the type of pest, where it appears, the dates, photos and, if possible, which neighbours are affected. A clear request gets acted on faster than a general complaint.

Preparing the flat before treatment and afterwards

Preparation is half the success of a treatment, especially in older flats with many hiding places. You can review the full preparation checklist before a pest control visit; these are the key points by type of pest:

For cockroaches

Empty the cabinet under the sink and the most infested cupboards, and put the contents in sealed bags or boxes.
Clean grease from surfaces and behind the hob, but do not spray any insecticide in the days before the visit.
Leave access behind the fridge, oven and washing machine.

For bed bugs

Collect sheets, pillowcases, curtains and clothes near the bed in sealed bags, wash whatever can take it in very hot water, then tumble dry on high heat.
Do not move items from the infested bedroom to other rooms or another home before they are washed or well sealed.
Move the bed slightly away from the wall, empty nearby drawers, and clear clutter from under the bed.
Do not dump the mattress in the corridor or near the bin room without wrapping it, so you do not pass the infestation to others.

For rats

Put all food in airtight containers or the fridge, and do not leave bread and fruit uncovered.
Tell the technician where you hear sounds or see droppings, and leave access to the false ceiling hatches.

In all cases, tell the technician about children, pets, elderly people or anyone with asthma or allergies, and follow the re-entry and ventilation time they give you if a residual spray is used.

What to expect after treatment

Cockroaches: you may see a temporary increase in the first few days, then a clear drop within one to two weeks, with a follow-up visit after two to three weeks.
Bed bugs: usually need more than one visit, because eggs may hatch after the first visit, and some bites may continue for a few days after treatment.
Rats: the result depends on sealing entry points, and the technician checks traps and baits and assesses activity on later visits.

If the infestation returns quickly after a successful treatment, that is a strong sign the source is in the building or the neighbouring flat, and you should escalate with building management so that common areas and neighbouring flats are treated together.

When do you need a pest control company?

If you see small and large cockroaches together, or they appear in daytime.
If you suspect bed bugs: repeated bites, blood spots or black dots on the mattress.
If you hear movement in the ceiling or find rat droppings.
If you have tried spraying more than once and the problem came back.
If you are moving into a flat in an older building and want it treated before your furniture goes in.
If you are a landlord or building manager receiving complaints from more than one flat.

We provide pest control in Sharjah and Ajman, including bed bug control in Ajman, with a flat inspection and follow-up on results. Prices usually start from AED 150 for a small flat and vary with size, type of pest and the level of infestation, and treatment of several flats or common areas in the same building can be arranged.

Frequently asked questions

I treated my flat and the cockroaches came back. Did the treatment fail?

Not necessarily. In older buildings the infestation often comes from neighbouring flats, light wells or bin rooms. Seal the gaps, inform management, and ask for simultaneous treatment with neighbours and common areas.

Do bed bugs mean the flat is dirty?

No. Bed bugs travel with luggage and furniture and feed on blood, so they can infest any home however clean it is. But clutter gives them more hiding places and makes treatment harder.

Who pays for pest control: the tenant or the landlord?

It depends on the tenancy contract and the agreement between the two parties. Common areas are usually the building's responsibility, while inside the flat it depends on the contract, so check it and contact the landlord in writing.

Can just one flat be treated in an infested building?

Yes, and the infestation will drop a lot, especially with gaps sealed, but the chance of it returning is higher. The best result comes from treating neighbouring flats and common areas in the same period.

Should I throw away the mattress if I find bed bugs in it?

Not always; many mattresses can be treated. If you decide to get rid of it, wrap it well in plastic and label it as infested so no one takes it, and do not leave it in the corridor.

How many treatments will I need in an older building?

Usually one treatment visit and at least one follow-up. In buildings with an ongoing source, a regular programme for the flat and the common areas may be the most suitable solution.

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Book an inspection of your flat in Sharjah or Ajman

If you live in an older building and cockroaches, bed bugs or rats keep coming back, the Al Asfour Al Zahabi team will inspect your flat, find the source and set up a treatment and follow-up plan, and can coordinate treatment of neighbouring flats and common areas. Call or WhatsApp us on 0588837818.