Commercial cleaning
Strata and common area cleaning: what to specify and who to ask
Strata cleaning is judged by owners and residents who walk the same lobby every day, so consistency beats intensity. Contracts are typically awarded by the strata committee or building manager and cover a fixed run of tasks: lobby and lift interiors, stair and corridor vacuuming, bin room washing and bin rotation, carpark sweeping, and periodic pressure washing.
What a proper scope covers
- Lobby, lift interiors and entry glass
- Corridors, fire stairs and common laundry
- Bin room wash-down and bin presentation on collection days
- Carpark sweep and cobweb removal
- Periodic pressure washing of entries and driveways
Before you sign anything
- 1Get the bin day routine in writing — moving and returning bins is the task residents notice most.
- 2Ask who reports maintenance issues (broken lights, graffiti) and how.
- 3Confirm pressure washing frequency and whether water use is billed to the building.
- 4For older buildings, check the plan for cleaning tiles and grout without damaging them.
- 5Ask for a site attendance record so the committee can verify service.
Strata and common area cleaning by city
Providers offering strata and common area cleaning
Questions people ask
- Who signs the cleaning contract for a strata building?
- Usually the owners corporation acting through the strata manager or committee, following a quote comparison. Individual owners cannot generally engage a common-area cleaner on their own.
- What is a reasonable term for a strata cleaning contract?
- Twelve months with a review is common, and many committees prefer a shorter initial term so they can test service quality. Check any automatic rollover clause before signing.
- Is gardening included?
- Usually not. Cleaners typically handle blowing and sweeping of hard surfaces adjacent to gardens, while mowing and pruning sit with a separate grounds contractor.