What Is Strata Cleaning? Your Simple Guide for 2023

According to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) a whopping 2.5 million Australians now live in apartments or townhouses.

So, with more than 10% of the Australian population now living in shared spaces, it should come as no surprise that Strata cleaning is one of the fastest-growing facets of the commercial cleaning industry.

But what exactly is strata cleaning, what does it cover, and how do you find a strata cleaning service for your apartment or shared living space? This article will run through what’s covered under the umbrella of strata cleaning services, what you can expect when you hire a strata cleaning service, how often they should be cleaning your space, and what you can do to make an informed decision with your body corporate.

Different types of strata cleaning services

When we think of strata cleaning services, it’s easy to just think of large apartment blocks with pools, gymnasiums, and shared living spaces that invariably need cleaning and upkeep to keep them looking their best. However, there are a myriad of different building types and spaces that are covered under the umbrella of strata cleaning services. Some of the most popular spaces that are usually covered include:

• Apartment blocks
• Townhouses
• Shared commercial spaces
• Retirement villages
• Serviced Apartments
• Hotels & resorts
• Business parks

Given that all these types of properties share spaces, there will it inevitably be a tug-of-war over who should be keeping the space clean and whose responsibility it is to take care of these various shared spaces. In general, most of these spaces will have a body corporate which governs the cleaning and upkeep of shared spaces. The body corporate is responsible for finding, interviewing, and hiring strata cleaning services that are administered on a regular basis so residents and tenants can enjoy these spaces.

 

What is covered under strata cleaning?

 

When it comes to strata cleaning services, there is no one-size-fits-all service. Because all properties are different, they all require different routines to ensure shared spaces are kept clean for all tenants. The size of the building and the number of shared spaces will largely dictate what is required of a professional strata cleaner. Some of the services that are typically covered under a strata cleaning routine include:

Stairwells

Keeping stairwells clean and free from any hazards is an essential part in keeping a strata managed building safe for all tenants. Strata cleaning services will go through and clean stairwells, remove debris, and ensure that any potential maintenance issues are highlighted before they become a bigger problem.

Driveways

Keeping driveways clean involves sweeping, hosing, and even pressure washing services to ensure that they look their best and are accessible by cars, bikes, and wheelchairs.

Gyms and pools

If you’re lucky enough to live in a strata managed property that includes a gym or pool, then keeping the space clean and safe for all residents is a key consideration. Without the right care and attention from a specialist strata cleaning company, gyms and pools can quickly become a space that are avoided by tenants.

Internal hallways

Internal hallways and shared spaces indoors are a key component in strata cleaning services. This means vacuuming, wiping down hard surfaces, and ensuring that they continue to look pleasant for tenants and their visitors. Keeping these spaces clean isn’t only about keeping up visual appearances, it also means cleansing from bacteria and all of the other nasties that can build be present.

Windows and facades

Windows and facade cleaning is especially relevant, since clean glass makes a substantial difference in the appearance of a building. Facades and windows can gather dirt, dust, grime and cobwebs which can be reached with specialist window washing equipment. Periodic cleaning of these window and facade services ensure that the building remains a visually appealing for tenants.

Outdoor spaces

Outdoor spaces such as driveways, entries to the property, internal pathways, and gardens are an integral part of strata cleaning services. Depending on the type of strata cleaning that you enlist, this could include an all-inclusive garden maintenance and cleaning service; however, it’s also not uncommon that this is allocated to a separate company that specialises in green spaces. Regular cleaning of gardens and lawns also ensures that dead leaves, branches, and other hard materials are disposed of so that they do not cause a hazard for tenants.

Bins and rubbish

Again, depending on the type of service you require, cleaning can include bin and rubbish maintenance to ensure the bins go out on rubbish night and then come back in the next day, along with cleaning and deodorising bins. In some cases, cleaners can assist with disposal of hard rubbish when residents have the opportunity to get rid of certain types of hard rubbish and green waste that they may have accumulated.

 

Why is strata cleaning so important?

While individual owners are responsible for keeping their private spaces tidy, when it comes to keeping shared spaces clean, tit’s best to hire a commercial cleaning company.

Strata cleaning means that cleaning is carried out on a routine basis by a professional cleaner, leaving residents free to enjoy their spare time without having to worry about the cleaning of common spaces.

Some of the reasons Strata cleaning is essential include:

Consistency: professional strata cleaning ensures that cleaning is carried out on a regular basis and there is a consistent level of cleanliness throughout the property.

Safety and hygiene: Strata cleaning services aren’t simply about keeping up visual appearance as, they also play an essential role in ensuring that hazards such as wet floors, accumulated rubbish, and grime are addressed promptly to reduce the risk of physical hazards and viral hazards.

Property value: When it comes to the value of a property, owners have a shared interest. Strata cleaning will maintain buildings, leading to better resale values for units, which means that owners will enjoy a higher market price should they choose to sell their property down the line.

 

How to choose the right Strata cleaning company

So, if you’ve gotten this far in the article, maybe thinking; ‘How can I choose the right Strata cleaning company?’ Well, here are a few tips that you can take when finding the right team:

Experience and reviews: Choose a company that has a good track record of working with strata managed buildings. These companies will often have reviews and testimonials from satisfied body corporates and tenants that can back up the quality of their work and reliability of their service.

Tailored services: Like we mentioned above, each strata building is different so it’s important to work with a company that can tailor their services to your requirements.

Communication: A professional strata cleaning service will provide regular communication including any potential maintenance issues that they have noticed, and regular updates so that the body corporate and tenants can stay on top of what is happening. Be wary of companies that provide limited communication.

 

Final Thoughts

Strata cleaning services go beyond keeping a building looking good, it’s about ensuring the health and safety of all tenants and maintaining a harmonious living environment for everyone.