What Common Area Cleaning Should Be Included in Your Sydney Strata Contract

Common area cleaning is one of the most visible aspects of strata building management. Residents notice the lifts, lobbies, stairwells and carpark every day. When the standard slips, complaints go to the building manager, not to the cleaning company.

Getting the scope right from the start avoids that problem. Here's what a properly structured strata cleaning contract should cover.

Lobby and Entry Areas

The building entrance is the first thing residents and visitors see. It should be cleaned every visit: floors mopped or vacuumed (depending on surface), glass doors wiped streak-free, letterbox area tidied, and any signage or directories dusted. Entry mats should be vacuumed and repositioned if moved.

For high-rise buildings or those with concierge desks, the reception counter and seating area should also be part of the daily scope.

Lifts

Lifts accumulate smudges, scuffs and floor dirt quickly and are high-touch surfaces that warrant attention at every visit. A proper lift clean includes wiping all internal panels and buttons, mopping or vacuuming the floor, and polishing any mirror surfaces. Lift tracks, the floor channel where the doors slide, should be cleared of debris weekly.

Stairwells and Corridors

Depending on building usage, stairwell cleaning frequency varies. In buildings where the lift is primary, stairwells may need cleaning twice weekly rather than daily. Corridors on residential floors should be vacuumed or swept and spot-cleaned for marks on walls and skirting boards.

Carpark and Bin Areas

These areas are often under-specified in contracts. The bin room or waste area should be hosed down and disinfected weekly, not just the bins emptied. The carpark should be swept regularly, with oil spots and tyre marks addressed on a defined schedule. Stairwells connecting to the carpark should be treated the same as internal stairwells.

Periodic Deep Tasks

Beyond regular cleaning, your contract should include scheduled periodic work: pressure washing of paths and carpark surfaces, high-level dusting of ceilings and light fittings, detailed cleaning of pool areas or gymnasium equipment where applicable. These should appear in the contract with defined frequencies, not left to the provider's discretion.

ShineMasters provides strata cleaning for Sydney buildings with full written scope documents. Contact us to discuss your building's requirements.