Ants in a residential complex are more than just a nuisance. Individual reports from apartments, stairwells, or basements often seem harmless at first. However, if ants appear repeatedly or in several areas of the same building, there may be a larger infestation behind it.
For property managers, it is therefore crucial to consolidate reports early, identify possible trails, and coordinate measures with residents. Individual, uncoordinated treatments often eliminate only the visible ants—not the cause or the nest.
Why ants can become a problem in apartment buildings
Ants are attracted to food, moisture, and sheltered access points. Residential complexes often provide suitable conditions, for example in kitchens, basements, waste rooms, on balconies, or along pipe and cable penetrations.
They can move between different areas through joints, shafts, and cavities. As a result, multiple complaints from the same building may be connected.
Possible consequences include:
- recurring complaints,
- spread to other apartments,
- hygiene problems,
- uncoordinated use of different products,
- greater effort and rising costs.
Ant reports should therefore not be considered individually, but always in the context of the entire property.
Ant report received: The correct procedure
1. Record reports centrally
The same information should be requested for every report whenever possible:
- exact location where they were found,
- time and frequency,
- individual ants or a clearly identifiable trail,
- possible entry point,
- photo of the ants and the location where they were found,
- products already used,
- other affected apartments or areas.
This makes it quicker to determine whether multiple reports are related to the same infestation.
2. Assess the urgency
Single find outdoors
A single ant on a balcony, terrace, or façade is not initially a clear indication of an infestation.
Procedure: Document where the ants were found and monitor for any further occurrences.
Recurring ants in the building
If ants appear repeatedly in an apartment, the stairwell, or the same location, this should be investigated promptly.
Procedure: Check routes, food sources, and possible points of entry. Also clarify whether other areas are affected.
Several apartments or areas of the building affected
If several reports come from the same property, a coordinated approach is required.
Procedure: Consolidate reports, limit the spread, and have the ant species identified if necessary.
What matters is not only the number of visible ants, but also the pattern behind the reports.
3. Inform residents consistently
residents should be asked to:
- photograph the areas where ants were found,
- report any further sightings, including the location and date,
- keep food and pet food sealed,
- remove waste and sweet residues,
- not to use several products at the same time,
- coordinate planned measures with property management.
Especially important: Sprays, baits, and household remedies should not be combined in an uncoordinated manner. Strongly scented products can change pathways and impair the effectiveness of baits.
4. Check pathways and access points
Common entry points include:
- Window and door connections,
- Balcony and terrace joints,
- Pipe and cable penetrations,
- Skirting boards,
- Cracks in walls,
- Basement and utility shafts.
Before treatment, it should be checked where the ants are coming from and which areas are affected. Access points should not always be sealed immediately, as the ants may otherwise switch to other pathways.
5. Reduce food and moisture sources
A clean environment does not eliminate the nest, but it does make the building less attractive to ants.
The following should be checked in particular:
- Open food and pet food,
- Sweet residues,
- Waste and returnable-container areas,
- Hard-to-reach kitchen areas,
- Damp joints or utility lines,
- Basements and communal rooms.
Targeted and coordinated ant control
Removing individual ants is usually not enough. Visible ants account for only a small part of the colony.
For clearly defined infestations, a coordinated approach using bait products can be helpful. These are placed along active pathways and at suitable infestation sites. In apartment buildings, measures should be coordinated centrally whenever possible rather than left to individual tenants.
The right solution for property managers
The Kaeferling Pro Ant Set provides a practical basis for a structured approach.
The key benefits:
- Complete solution instead of individual products: The set combines ant gel, bait stations, bait strips, pre-filled bait boxes, and barrier spray.
- Targeted colony control: Ants consume the bait and carry it back to the nest.
- Flexible application: Suitable for pathways, skirting boards, joints, entrance areas, basements, and other infestation sites.
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor use: Practical for apartments, stairwells, communal rooms, balconies, and outdoor areas near the building.
- Clean placement: Bait stations and bait strips enable controlled application.
- Fast action in the event of an acute infestation: Property managers can respond to clearly defined infestations without having to assemble individual products separately first.
- Traceable implementation: Placement, inspection, and subsequent measures can be documented and coordinated on a building-by-building basis.
The set is particularly suitable for clearly defined infestations that can be treated in a coordinated manner by property management, caretakers, or facility services.
When a professional pest control company should be called in
Professional assistance is advisable when:
- multiple apartments or floors are affected,
- ants are emerging from shafts or wall cavities,
- the infestation keeps returning,
- the ant species is unclear,
- very small, yellowish ants appear,
- an infestation of the building structure is suspected.
In such cases, spot treatment may not be sufficient.
Common mistakes
Typical mistakes include:
- Removing only visible ants,
- Failing to consolidate reports,
- Wiping away trails before inspection,
- Using several products at the same time,
- Sealing access points too early,
- Not monitoring measures sufficiently.
Successful control therefore requires both suitable products and clear responsibilities.
Preventing ant infestations
After treatment, affected areas should continue to be monitored. Regular visual inspections, clean waste and communal areas, eliminating moisture, and subsequently sealing suitable joints and penetrations are recommended.
Conclusion: Consolidate reports and act in a coordinated manner
Ants in apartment buildings should not be considered only on an apartment-by-apartment basis. Multiple reports from the same building may indicate shared trails, entry points, or a larger infestation.
A structured approach helps:
Record reports, assess urgency, inform residents, investigate causes, and coordinate measures.
Approaching ant infestations in a property in a structured manner:
View the Kaeferling Pro Ant Kit
Expertise for Property Management Companies: Assessing Ant Infestations in Apartment Buildings Correctly
Especially in apartment buildings, successful control depends not only on using suitable products. A structured approach, correctly assessing the infestation, and coordinating the implementation of measures are equally important. The online training “Expertise: Ants” Kaeferling Pro provides practical guidance on reliably identifying ant species, recognizing the causes of infestations, and selecting suitable control strategies.
Participants learn to identify typical trails and entry points, assess infestations correctly, and plan measures professionally. The training also shows how inspections and control measures can be documented in a clear and traceable manner—an advantage for property management companies, janitorial services, and property managers who oversee multiple properties and want to establish consistent procedures.
The online training includes video lessons, practical materials, and a final exam. After successfully completing it, participants receive a certificate of attendance and achievement. It is particularly suitable for property management companies, facility managers, janitorial services, and pest control professionals who want to specifically expand their expertise in dealing with ant infestations.
Now the Online training “Expertise: Ants” discovern
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