Strata Cleaning Checklist: Common Areas

A strata cleaning checklist lists every common area in the building, what should be cleaned there and how often. It gives the owners corporation, the strata manager and the cleaner the same written standard, so residents know what to expect and the committee can check the work. Use the checklist below as a starting point and adjust it to your building. Looking for a strata cleaner? iCleanPro cleans common areas for residential and mixed-use buildings across Western and South-West Sydney. See our commercial cleaning service or call 0452 340 647.

Why a Written Strata Checklist Matters

Complaints about strata cleaning usually come from different expectations. One resident expects the lobby glass to be spotless every day; the contract only says "lobby cleaned weekly". A checklist with frequencies fixes this. It also helps when you compare quotes, change cleaners or report back to owners at the AGM.

Strata Cleaning Checklist by Area

Entrance and lobby

- Entry doors and glass cleaned, inside and out where reachable. - Floors vacuumed or swept and mopped. - Mailboxes, intercom panels and noticeboards wiped. - Entry mats cleaned or shaken out. - Cobwebs removed from ceilings and light fittings.

Lifts

- Lift floors vacuumed or mopped. - Walls, mirrors and stainless steel cleaned. - Buttons and handrails wiped. - Door tracks cleared of debris.

Corridors and stairwells

- Floors vacuumed or swept and mopped. - Handrails and balustrades wiped. - Skirting boards and door frames spot cleaned. - Fire doors and exit signs dusted (without obstructing them). - Stair treads and landings checked for spills and rubbish.

Car park and driveways

- Rubbish and leaves removed. - Oil spots treated where agreed. - Periodic sweeping or pressure cleaning. - Storage cages and bike areas kept clear of rubbish (not residents' items).

Bin rooms

- Floors swept and washed. - Bins cleaned periodically to reduce odours and pests. - Bins moved to and from the kerb for council collection if included in the contract. - Overflowing or contaminated recycling reported to the strata manager.

Shared facilities

- Gyms, pools, BBQ areas and common rooms cleaned to the building's needs. - BBQ plates cleaned after reported use or on a schedule. - Outdoor furniture wiped.

Suggested Frequencies

- Lobby and entrance — Typical frequency: 2–5 times a week, depending on traffic - Lifts — Typical frequency: Each visit - Corridors and stairwells — Typical frequency: Weekly to several times a week - Bin rooms — Typical frequency: Weekly, with bin washing monthly or as needed - Car park — Typical frequency: Monthly sweep; pressure cleaning quarterly or yearly - Windows and glass (common areas) — Typical frequency: Monthly to quarterly - High dusting and cobwebs — Typical frequency: Monthly Larger buildings with high foot traffic need more frequent cleaning. Smaller walk-up blocks may suit a weekly visit.

What to Put in the Strata Cleaning Contract

- The checklist and frequencies above, adapted to your building. - Visit days and times, so residents know when cleaners are on site. - Access arrangements for keys, fobs and the bin room. - Insurance certificates and police checks for staff. - Safety: how cleaners handle wet floors, chemicals and working at height. - Reporting: how cleaners report damage, graffiti, illegal dumping or maintenance issues. - Quality checks: a sign-off sheet in the building or digital checklists, and a named contact. - Price and review: what is included in the regular price, what is extra, and when the contract is reviewed. Our commercial cleaning contract checklist covers the general terms in more detail.

Matching the Checklist to Your Building Type

Small walk-up blocks. A weekly visit covering the entry, stairwells, letterboxes and bin area is often enough. The main risks are leaves, bins and cobwebs, so seasonal extras matter more than daily presence. Medium buildings with lifts. Lifts and lobbies show dirt quickly and are what residents notice first. Two or three visits a week usually keeps them presentable, with corridors done weekly. Large or mixed-use buildings. Retail tenants, gyms, pools and higher foot traffic mean daily lobby cleaning and more frequent bin room work. A site-specific schedule and a building manager who checks the work are essential. Buildings with car parks under the building. Car park dust gets carried into lifts and lobbies. Regular sweeping near lift entries and periodic pressure cleaning reduce how often the lobby needs a full clean.

How to Check the Cleaning Is Being Done

- Ask for a sign-off sheet in the cleaner's cupboard, or digital checklists sent after each visit. - Have the building manager or a committee member do a short walk-through each month using the checklist. - Ask residents to report issues through one channel so patterns can be spotted. - Review the scope each year when the contract comes up for renewal.

Common Strata Cleaning Problems

Bulky items left in common areas. Cleaners usually do not remove furniture or mattresses. Agree who arranges council clean-ups. Residents' complaints going to the wrong person. Ask that complaints go through the strata manager or building manager so they can be tracked. Seasonal leaves and storms. Autumn leaves and storms create extra work in driveways and drains. Agree how one-off clean-ups are approved and charged.

Strata Cleaning FAQs

Who decides the cleaning scope?

The owners corporation, usually through the strata committee and manager, approves the scope and contract.

Can residents ask cleaners to do extra work?

Not under the strata contract. Private cleaning inside apartments should be arranged separately.

How do we compare strata cleaning quotes?

Give every cleaner the same checklist and frequencies, then compare hours on site, staffing and what is excluded.

Get a Strata Cleaning Quote

iCleanPro is based in Lansvale and services strata buildings across Western and South-West Sydney. Request a free quote or call 0452 340 647.

Strata Cleaning Checklist for Sydney Owners Corporations