Badalona City Council is asking residents and property owners to help prevent rats and cockroaches by keeping buildings and shared areas clean, disposing of food waste in bins and containers, and maintaining drains and pipes. The council says these measures matter because both pests can readily find food and shelter in urban areas.

For residents, the distinction is practical: problems inside private homes or buildings should be dealt with through a professional pest-control service, while sightings or infestations in streets and other public spaces can be reported to the council's Health Service at [email protected].

What residents and building owners can do

In its official guidance, the council identifies regular cleaning and maintenance as key prevention measures. Rats and mice are rodents that adapt well to cities, while cockroaches are insects that also seek out food and sheltered spaces.

  • Place leftover food and other waste in litter bins or waste containers.
  • Check that drains, gullies, pipes and shared spaces are clean and properly maintained.
  • Seal gaps and cracks, which can provide shelter for cockroaches.
  • Keep water in traps and cover the drains of sinks, baths and terraces, especially before leaving home for several days.
  • Fit physical barriers, such as insect screens and door or window seals, where appropriate.

The guidance lists meter rooms, lift areas, garages, basements, septic tanks, internal courtyards and gardens among the shared or private areas that should be checked. It says private drainage connections are the property owner's responsibility, while the council is responsible for the public sewer collector and public inspection chambers.

How to report a public-space problem

Residents who spot rats or cockroaches in public spaces should email the City Council Health Service at [email protected]. The council's official pest-prevention leaflet also advises households with a problem inside their home to contact a professional pest-control provider.

Primary sources: badalona.cat. Reported by badalonadigital.com, seu-e.cat.