1 in 3 UK Businesses Suffer Pest Issues Each Year — Here’s How to Avoid Joining That Number

By Denma Cleaning Services — Pest Control & Proofing for Commercial Premises on the South Coast and Beyond

If you’re responsible for a business premises — whether a warehouse in Eastbourne, a retail unit in Brighton, an engineering facility in Hastings, or an office in Portsmouth — you might believe: “Pests? Not on my watch. "But the data is clear: pests target opportunity, not just neglect. And right now, businesses across the UK — including the South Coast corridor — are part of the statistic.

📊 The Numbers You Should Know

• A UK survey found that over 92% of businesses reported at least one pest incident in a five-year period. rentokil.co.uk+2cleaning-matters.co.uk+2

  
  

• The same survey found that, on average, businesses experienced 3 pest infestations over five years. BPCA+1

  
  

• In industrial and warehouse settings (like those we serve in Eastbourne, Clevedon, Hastings, etc), large open spaces with many entry points are especially vulnerable. Pest Defence Ltd

  
  

  In UK commercial settings, pest incidents were reported to cause:

  • Increased operating costs (for about 82% of affected businesses) cleaning-matters.co.uk+1

  • Damage to finished goods (20% of affected businesses) rentokil.co.uk+1

  • Staff morale impacted in 33% of cases. rentokil.co.uk+1

So yes — you could end up being one of the businesses affected. But you don’t have to be.

🕵️‍♀️ Vulnerable Areas in Local Towns You Should Watch

For clients and premises located in Eastbourne, Brighton, Seaford, Portsmouth, Hastings, Kent, here are common vulnerabilities:

• Warehouse / Distribution Hubs: Big buildings with multiple dock doors, large expanses of storage, lots of packaging = many entry/exit routes for pests.

  
  

• Engineering Facilities in Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, etc: Machinery, warm enclosed spaces, and often service penetrations or piping → perfect rodent hideouts.

  
  

• Retail Units in Brighton, Portsmouth, Kent towns: High foot traffic, food & drink waste, storage areas at the back with less visibility.

  
  

• Offices & Shops near the coast: Older properties, basement storage, proximity to external waste zones or communal bins.

When you combine location + building type + business activity — your risk goes up.

✅ How to Avoid Being Part of That 1-in-3 Statistic

Here are actionable steps we apply for our clients (and you should too):

1. Schedule Proactive Pest-Proofing Visits

   
   

   Don’t wait for signs of infestation. For example, a warehouse in Eastbourne should get a quarterly inspection of all doors, skirting, pipe-entry points, external vents, and service shafts.

   
   

2. Install & Maintain Monitoring Systems

   
   

   In engineering or manufacturing sites (e.g., in Burgess Hill or Haywards Heath) this means rodent monitoring stations, trap records, sealed bait points, and regular reviews so you detect issues early.

   
   

3. Mind Storage & Waste Areas

   
   

   In retail units (e.g., Brighton or Seaford), this means:

   • clear corridors behind stock shelves

   • properly sealed incoming deliveries

   • external bins far from building walls or with pest-proof lids

   • avoiding cardboard stacking against exterior walls

     
     

4. Keep Compliance Documentation & Audit Trail

   
   

   Many clients in Kent, Portsmouth or nearby areas find that regulatory visits (H & S, local authority inspections) require proof of monitoring, proofing and follow-up. Having the documentation ready adds credibility — and helps prevent issues escalating.

   
   

5. Choose a Commercial-Specialist Pest Partner

   
   

   Not all pest control is equal. The risks for a warehouse in Eastbourne are very different to a small domestic kitchen. Choose a service that understands warehouses, engineering plants, retail zones and has local knowledge of the South Coast + UK hub challenges.

6. 
   

🧮 Industry-Specific Stats Worth Noting

• For non-food businesses (such as warehouses, distribution and industrial facilities) in the UK: 42% of firms surveyed experienced three or more incidents of pests in the last five years. BPCA+1

  
  

• The rodent control market specifically in the UK is growing rapidly — for example, valued at USD 532.6 million in 2023, forecast to grow to ~USD 863.8 million by 2032. Straits Research

  
  

• In factories and warehouse environments the challenge is “the sheer size … many gaps, crevices and holes… ideal for pests to nest and multiply.” Pest Defence Ltd

These show two things: not only are pests common — especially in your sectors — but proving you have the right mitigation in place is critical.

🚨 Final Thought

Whether you’re managing a warehouse in Eastbourne, a retail store in Brighton, an engineering facility in Hastings, or any commercial premises in Seaford, Kent, Portsmouth or beyond, being proactive matters.

With over 1 in 3 UK businesses facing pest issues each year, you cannot afford to treat pest control as an afterthought.

📞 Call us: 0330 111 56 56

🌐 Visit: www.denmacleaning.co.uk

Let’s book a tailored site survey and proofing plan for your premises in your town — and keep you off those statistic sheets.

Denma Cleaning Services

Big enough to handle, small enough to care.