An investigation has revealed that Govanhill social housing residents are increasingly battling bedbugs as the area has been named the worst in Scotland for infestations.
It comes after we revealed that some of the countries poorest are paying the price for ‘deep systematic failures’ which have left rats, insects and bedbugs swarming homes.
While 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.
Now we can reveal that Govanhill is the bedbug capital of the city – which is already the worst in Scotland for the the small blood-sucking insects which crawl out at night and bite exposed skin to feed on blood.
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.
We previously revealed how Glaswegians faced 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.
Sharon Smith had been left in tears after being moved out of her mouldy flat into a “freezing” hotel room with “bed bugs” just weeks before Christmas.
In December last year, we spoke to mum-of-four Sharon Smith who had been left in tears after being moved out of her mouldy flat into a “freezing” hotel room with “bed bugs” just weeks before Christmas.
The 42-year-old and her children aged four, 12 and 14 were moved by Wheatley Homes Glasgow (WHG) so that work could be carried out at her Castlemilk home, which is riddled with damp and black mould.
She said: “I woke up the other day and saw a bed bug running across the bed. All they have done is move me across the hallway. My wee girl was hysterical the night we found the bed bugs, she is very upset.”
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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.
According to the data, there were 3,116 reports of rodents affecting social housing in Glasgow up 116 per cent from 1142 in 2019. While nearly every area has seen massive increases, Edinburgh has seen a 26 per cent hike to 2803 from 2224 reports during the period while North Lanarkshire has seen a 76 per cent rise from 2242 to 3954.
Glaswegians are increasingly becoming the targets of aggressive rats which have left more than 100 residents needing hospital treatment. NHS stats show there have been 98 cases of rats causing wounds to arms, hands and fingers. They also list multiple cases of wounds to faces, legs, heads, toes and other areas unspecified.
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.”
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