Pest Control Keysers Estate

Pest Control in Keysers Estate

Keysers Estate is a residential area in the EN postcode near Broxbourne in Hertfordshire, sitting in the Lea Valley. The housing is mainly post-war, with a mix of terraced and semi-detached properties typical of mid-twentieth century estate development. The proximity to the Lea Valley with its rivers, reservoirs and green spaces is the main driver of pest activity. Brown rats live along the waterways and in the rough ground on the valley edges and they move into the residential area through the drainage network and along the boundaries between gardens and open land.

The post-war construction of the homes on the estate means cavity walls, air bricks and suspended floors are standard features and all of these provide routes for mice once gaps develop. After decades of use the original building fabric opens up around service entries, at the base of walls and where extensions have been added. The terraced sections have connected roof spaces that let mice travel between properties, making treatment of a single house in isolation difficult. The communal green spaces and playing fields on the estate give rodents habitat to breed in before moving into the surrounding houses.

Wasp nests are common in the summer months, with loft spaces, garden sheds and the hedges along garden boundaries all providing nesting sites. Fleas can be an issue in homes with pets, particularly in the carpeted rooms typical of this era of housing. The Lea Valley setting is a real asset for the area, with its green spaces and waterways providing a pleasant environment, but it also means wildlife is always nearby and the pest pressures that come with it are a regular feature of life on the estate.