Keeping Your Property in Top Condition: Cleaning Between Every Stay

One of the most common worries landlords have about short stays is wear and tear. More guests means more people coming and going, so surely the property will suffer?

In practice, a well-run short stay can keep a home in better day-to-day condition than a typical tenancy. The reason is simple: it's professionally cleaned and checked after every single guest. This article explains why that matters and what a proper turnover clean should include.

Why frequent cleaning helps

In a standard tenancy, the household cleans the property as they see fit. A property manager might inspect a few times a year, and a full professional clean usually happens at the end of the lease. Small problems, like a dripping tap, a mark on a wall or mould starting in a bathroom, can go unnoticed for months.

In a short stay, someone goes through the property after every guest. That means:

• dirt and grime don't build up
• bathrooms and kitchens are cleaned thoroughly and often
• linen and towels are changed every time
• small problems are spotted early, when they're cheaper to fix
• the property is checked regularly for damage

The property is maintained continuously, rather than restored once a year.

What a good turnover clean covers

A thorough clean between stays should include, at a minimum:

Bedrooms

• fresh linen on every bed
• vacuuming, including under and around furniture
• dusting surfaces, bedside tables and window sills
• checking wardrobes and drawers are empty and clean

Bathrooms

• cleaning and disinfecting the toilet, shower, bath and basin
• clearing drains and checking for leaks
• fresh towels and bath mats
• wiping mirrors, tiles and fixtures
• watching for any signs of mould or damp

Kitchen

• cleaning benches, cooktop, oven and splashback
• emptying and wiping out the fridge and microwave
• running and emptying the dishwasher
• checking crockery, cutlery and cookware are clean and complete
• emptying all bins

Living areas

• vacuuming and mopping floors
• cleaning glass, mirrors and screens
• dusting and wiping down furniture
• straightening furnishings

General checks

• testing lights, appliances and heating or cooling
• checking doors, windows and locks
• noting any damage or maintenance needs and reporting them

Furnishing for easy care

How a property is furnished also affects how well it holds up. Durable, easy-to-clean surfaces, washable covers, good-quality mattress protectors and sensible storage all make each clean faster and more thorough. Felt pads under furniture help protect floors, and doormats at entrances reduce the dirt that gets walked through the home. These small choices help the property stay in good shape over the length of a lease.

Maintenance between stays

Cleaning is only half the job. A good operator acts on what the cleaner finds. A loose handle, a blown light globe or a slow drain should be fixed promptly. Bigger issues should be reported to you in line with the lease.

Ask any operator how they record and report maintenance, how quickly small repairs are done, and who pays for what.

Protecting the building, too

If your property is in an apartment building, cleanliness affects your neighbours. Rubbish needs to go in the right bins at the right time, and common areas should be left as guests found them. A professional operator will make this part of every turnover and follow the building's by-laws. Our guide to strata by-laws and landlord consent covers the rules side.

What landlords should expect

If you lease your property to a short-stay operator, it's reasonable to expect:

• professional cleaning after every stay
• prompt attention to small repairs
• clear communication about anything bigger
• the property returned in good condition at the end of the lease, as set out in the lease

How CozyStayz does it

We clean between every stay and keep up regular upkeep for the whole lease. We're a small local team running our own Adelaide CBD stays, so we're close by when something needs attention, and you have one point of contact.

Because we can usually pay more than a typical long-term tenant, you also get a higher rental yield, with certainty your property is looked after: cleaned, checked and maintained between every stay.

If you'd like to know what we could offer for your property, request a rent offer. You might also like to read what to look for in a short-stay leaseholder.