Govanhill has been crowned the bedbug capital of Scotland- with the number of infestations rising.
The Glasgow area has been named as the worst in the country for reported infestations of the blood-sucking beasties.
Glasgow Live reports that Scotland has faced an approximate 50 per cent hike in the number of reports by social tenants, Glasgow has seen reports double – making the city the worst in the country for sightings.
A Freedom Of Information Request has revealed that between 2019 and 2023 – the pests have soared – rising from 90 to 168, with the data showing reports have risen year on year.
Glaswegians had the worst bedbug problem in Scotland with infestations rising from 104 to 254 over the period. Edinburgh was named second worst with reports rising from 156 to 158.
However, the true number is expected to be much higher with multiple housing associations and councils not holding the same data or declining to release it.
Glasgow City Council is among the authorities not collecting data on social housing reports despite multiple housing associations telling residents to report directly to the council. Their data shows that over the period there has been a slight decline in the number of reports from 290 to 241 over the period.
Last month, we reported that rat sightings in Scotland’s biggest city have trebled in a decade, according to official figures with council bosses receiving almost 10,000 reports of rats in 2024 with almost a fifth of the rodents being spotted inside flats and houses.
John Slaven, GMB union organiser at Glasgow council, said: ““It was once unusual to see a rat but most people living and working in the city wouldn’t blink twice now.
“Seeing a rat is like seeing a pigeon and no Glaswegian will be at all surprised by the explosion in rat sightings.”
Govanhill housing Association has said it is ‘committed’ to eradicating the problem and has put ‘considerable resources’ into pest control.
It comes as revealed that reports of pests at social housing have skyrocketed from 22,967 to 31,557 between 2019 and 2023 across Scotland and from 4383 to 7790 in Glasgow.
A spokesperson for Govanhill housing Association said: “The Association is aware of the problems that can occur with bed bugs in the area especially in mixed ownership blocks of flats in which it owns most of its stock. It is committed to eradicating the problem in its own flats and puts considerable resources into this, and we believe that this can be successful if private owners in these blocks of flats and the Council support this process.”
Niall Gallagher, Technical and Compliance Manager at the British Pest Control Association previously told Glasgow Live: “Pests are often the visible symptom of deeper systemic failings. Infestations typically arise when housing conditions deteriorate, pointing to problems like dampness, waste mismanagement, or overcrowding.
“Latest figures reveal that the backlog of housing repairs in Scotland has reached nearly £6m, while the number of social housing tenants taking rat complaints to the Ombudsman has risen tenfold in the past four years, from 71 complaints in 2019/20, to 759 in 2022/23.
“Regular property inspections can identify and resolve maintenance issues before they lead to infestations, so integrating pest management into housing policy is essential.
“BPCA views pest control as a critical component of public health and housing strategy and is committed to advocating for pest control as part of the national housing conversation.
“Tackling pests is not just about improving living standards but about ensuring that everyone, regardless of income or circumstance, has the right to a safe, healthy home.”
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “Rats are unfortunately a fact of life in large urban areas and Glasgow’s experience fits with other cities across the UK.
“It’s believed the covid lockdown prompted a significant change in behaviour with rats moving into more residential areas, where they have become visible.”
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