Got uninvited critters this summer?

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Date Published: 27 January 2026

During a long hot summer, it creates perfect conditions for creepy crawlies that can set up camp in our homes uninvited. New research shows where the bugs are worst.

You know the drill.

If you’re thinking of buying a home, it’s a good idea to organise a pre-purchase pest inspection.

This will confirm the presence of any hidden nasties like termites that could leave you with an unwanted repair bill.

But once the excitement of settling into your home dies down, it’s important to organise regular pest inspections.

Getting the all-clear at one point in time doesn’t mean your place will be free from creepy crawlies forever.

Australia’s worst locations for pests

If you think your home doesn’t harbour bugs, think again.

Airtasker’s recent Roaches to rodents report reveals Australia’s most pest-infested cities¹.

It turns out that inner city residents are more likely to share their home with unwanted pests than regional dwellers.

Sydney has the dubious distinction of having eight of the top 10 most pest-infested areas nationally.

In particular, Sydney city, the inner south, inner east and inner west dominate the league table for pest hotspots.

Inner-city Brisbane comes in fourth, while Inner Melbourne took out fifth place for pests.

The problem pests in your patch

Just as each city is unique, the main creepy crawlies also vary between state capitals.

Cockroaches are the big issue in Sydney and Perth according to Airtasker.

Brisbane has something of a flea problem.

And in Melbourne, there’s a good chance you could share your space with rats and mice.

Avoiding the ‘ick’ factor

Household pests aren’t just high on the ‘ick’ factor, they can also spread disease and be highly destructive (we’re thinking termites especially).

Getting rid of pests isn’t cheap either.

According to Airtasker it can cost around $654 to eliminate cockroaches, $373 to rid your home of fleas, or more than $4,000 to clear your place of those nasty timber-chomping termites¹.

This explains why a pre-purchase pest inspection is so important for home buyers.

It also highlights why a regular pest check-up makes good financial sense for home owners.

Talk to us about managing your home maintenance costs

For friendly advice on funding options to clear a pest problem, call us on 1300 13 22 77, Mon-Fri 8am-8pm (AEST/AEDT) or 8am-3pm on Saturdays. Or pop in and speak to the friendly team at any of our stores.