Severe Rodent Problems in Old Tenement Buildings? The Complete Owner's Playbook
Hong Kong has a large stock of tenement buildings from the 1950s and 1960s. Their ageing pipe systems serve as ideal 'highways' for rodents. Rat infestations are often not a single flat's problem but a building-wide or even block-wide issue. If only one household acts, results are limited because rats can re-enter from other floors.
Why Whole-Building Joint Treatment Matters
Research shows that building-wide simultaneous rodent treatment is far more effective than individual households acting separately. By having the owners' corporation or management company engage a pest control company collectively, it is possible to: seal all entry points across all floors; install bait stations on every floor; track rodent activity routes; ensure kitchens and refuse rooms on every floor are treated simultaneously.
The FEHD Rodent Complaint Mechanism
The public can complain about environmental rodent problems to the FEHD (Hotline: 1823). For rat infestations in old tenements, FEHD can issue 'Repair Orders' or 'Cleansing Orders' requiring owners to repair ageing pipework and improve hygiene. Owners who receive such notices should respond promptly and take action, as non-compliance may lead to prosecution.