Cleaning for owners' associations: stairwells, lifts and halls

Stairwell cleaning and more

When it comes to cleaning for an owners' association, most people think of the stairwell. Stairwell cleaning is indeed the core of the work, because every resident passes through it daily. But the lift, the entrance and the storage rooms also determine how a building looks. A fixed cleaning plan covers these areas together, so no corner gets skipped for months.

This is for board members and managing agents of apartment complexes, shared stairways and mixed buildings in the central Netherlands. The owners' association is our client here. Cleaning inside the homes themselves isn't part of this.

For residents, the regularity makes the main difference. When everyone knows when the cleaning takes place and what happens then, it's also easier to speak to each other about belongings left in the corridor.

What we do in the shared areas

Which areas are included differs per complex. The plan can include, among other things:

• Stairwell and shared stairway. Sweeping and mopping the steps, wiping handrails and balusters, including skirting and corners.
• Lift. Floor, walls, mirror and buttons. This is exactly where everyone sees fingerprints and dirt.
• Entrance and hall. Doormat, floor, letterboxes, door entry panel and glass doors.
• Walkways and corridors. Sweeping and mopping, with agreements about residents' belongings.
• Storage rooms and bicycle storage. Passages clean and free of litter, at a lower rhythm than the stairwell.
• Windows in shared areas. With window cleaning, the windows in the stairwell and hall stay clear.

That way, every owner can see what their contribution pays for.

Fixed times and clear agreements with the board

An owners' association benefits from regularity. We agree a fixed day or part of the day, for example weekly or fortnightly, in line with the number of homes and how busy the building is. That makes it easy to inform residents and to see whether a round has been carried out.

With the board or managing agent, we agree who the point of contact is, how residents can pass on a comment and how we get access to the building and to water. If a complaint comes in, it goes through one line and not through all residents at once. If we notice something along the way, such as a broken light or a leak, we can pass that on to you.

Costs that fit the budget

The price depends on the number of floors and homes, the areas in the plan and the frequency. Because tasks and rhythm are fixed, you can include the cleaning in the budget properly. One-off work, such as deep cleaning of floors or storage rooms, is listed separately in the quote.

How it's arranged matters for an owners' association too

If you choose a cleaning company on behalf of the other owners, you want to be able to justify that choice. Keurmerk Schoon helps: the company applies the collective labour agreement for cleaning correctly, has its administration in order and is insured, including for damage on site. An independent body checks this at least once a year. VCA shows that safety has been thought through in advance, for example with wet stairs and passages that have to stay clear. Read more about our certifications.

From walk-through to regular round

We start with a walk through the building, together with a board member or the managing agent. We look at the floors and stairs, the lift, the storage rooms and the places residents complain about most. We also discuss practical matters: where we can get water, where cleaning materials can be kept and how we get in.

You then receive a quote you can share with the other owners. Once the cleaning is approved at the meeting, we agree the start date and the fixed day. It's often useful to let residents know in advance who is coming and when, for example with a note in the hall. If you are switching from another supplier, we time the start to the end of that contract. After the first rounds we would like to hear how it's going, so we can adjust the frequency if a stairwell needs more or actually less.

Why Shinesta for your owners' association

Shinesta is compact, so you speak to people who know the complex and can plan it themselves. Do you manage several buildings? Then also read about cleaning for property managers. Would you like a proposal for the next meeting? Request a quote and we will plan a walk through the building.