Cleaning standards

Monday to Friday we will

• Sweep, mop, or vacuum the entrance areas and the stairs up to the first floor.
• Clean the lifts.
• Wipe down and clean the glass partitions in the entrance areas.
• Carry out the fire safety check and report any hazards or issues.
• Check any communal chutes and report any hazards or issues.
• Sweep, mop, and disinfect the bin rooms, and rotate the paladin bins.
• Litter-pick the outside walkways and immediate grassed areas.

Twice a week we will

• Sweep, mop and damp wipe chute areas.
• Sweep and mop or vacuum all landings.
• Sweep and damp mop the stairwell steps.

Once a week we will

• Clean the lift runners.
• Wipe and clean the partition glass on all landings, clean skirting boards, and spot-clean lower walls.  
• Clean the lights and remove any cobwebs.

Saturday and Sunday we will

• Carry out the fire safety check and report any hazards or issues.
• Sweep and mop the lifts.
• Check any communal chutes and report any hazards or issues.
• Sweep and mop the ground-floor entrance if needed.  

Monday to Friday we will

• Sweep, mop, or vacuum the entrance areas and the stairs up to the first floor.
• Clean the lifts.
• Wipe down and clean the glass partitions in the entrance areas.
• Carry out the fire safety check and report any hazards or issues.
• Check any communal chutes and report any hazards or issues.
• Sweep, mop, and disinfect the bin rooms, and rotate the paladin bins.
• Litter-pick the outside walkways and immediate grassed areas.

Twice a week we will

• Sweep, mop and damp wipe chute areas.
• Sweep and mop or vacuum all landings.
• Sweep and damp mop the stairwell steps.

Once a week we will

• Clean the lift runners.
• Wipe and clean the partition glass on all landings, clean skirting boards, and spot-clean lower walls.  
• Clean the lights and remove any cobwebs.

Saturday and Sunday we will

• Carry out the fire safety check and report any hazards or issues.
• Sweep and mop the lifts.
• Check any communal chutes and report any hazards or issues.
• Sweep and mop the ground-floor entrance if needed.  

Twice a week we will

• Sweep, mop, or vacuum the entrance areas, landings, and stairwell.
• Wipe down and clean the glass partitions in the entrance areas.
• Carry out the fire safety check and report any hazards or issues.
• Check any communal chutes and report any hazards or issues.
• Sweep, mop and disinfect the bin rooms, and rotate the paladin bins if required.
• Litter-pick the outside walkways and immdiate grassed areas.

Once a week we will

• Wipe and clean the partition glass on all landings, clean skirting boards, and spot-clean lower walls.  
• Clean the lights and remove any cobwebs. 

Monday to Friday we will

• Sweep, mop, or vacuum the entrance areas and the stairs up to the first floor.
• Clean the lifts, where applicable.
• Vacuum or clean the lounge areas, empty the bins, and wipe down the ledges.
• Clean the communal kitchen and laundry rooms, empty the bins, and clean the worktops and sinks.
• Clean the communal toilets, sinks, showers, and baths  
• Wipe down and clean the glass partitions in the entrance areas.
• Carry out the fire safety check and report any hazards or issues.
• Check any communal chutes and report any hazards or issues where applicable
• Sweep, mop, and disinfect the bin rooms, and rotate the paladin bins.
• Litter-pick the outside walkways and immediate grassed areas.

Twice a week we will

• Sweep, mop and damp wipe chute areas.
• Sweep and mop or vacuum all landings.  
• Sweep and damp mop the stairwell steps.  
• Wipe down ledges on all landings.

Once a week we will

• Clean the lift runners.
• Wipe and clean the partition glass on all landings, clean skirting boards, and spot-clean lower walls.  
• Clean the lights and remove any cobwebs. 

Monday to Friday we will

• Sweep, mop, or vacuum the entrance areas and the stairs up to the first floor.
• Vacuum or mop the lounge areas, and laundry room.
• Vacuum or clean the lounge areas, empty the bins, and wipe down the ledges.
• Clean the communal kitchen and laundry rooms, empty the bins, and clean the worktops and sinks.
• Clean the communal toilets, sinks, showers, and baths.  
• Clean the lifts.
• Wipe down and clean the glass partitions in the entrance areas.
• Carry out the fire safety check and report any hazards or issues.
• Check any communal chutes and report any hazards or issues.  
• Sweep, mop, and disinfect the bin rooms, and rotate the paladin bins.
• Litter-pick the outside walkways and immediate grassed areas.

Twice a week we will

• Sweep, mop and damp wipe chute areas.
• Sweep and mop or vacuum all landings.  
• Sweep and damp mop the stairwell steps.  
• Wipe down ledges on all landings.

Once a week we will

• Clean the lift runners.
• Wipe and clean the partition glass on all landings, clean skirting boards, and spot-clean lower walls.  
• Clean the lights and remove any cobwebs.

Saturday and Sunday we will

• Carry out the fire safety check and report any hazards or issues.
• Sweep and mop the lifts.
• Check any communal chutes and report any hazards or issues.
• Sweep, mop or vacuum the ground-floor entrance if needed.  
• Sweep, mop or vacuum communal toilet floors, and clean sinks and toilets if needed. 

Three times a week we will

• Sweep, mop, or vacuum the entrance areas.
• Vacuum or clean the lounge areas, empty the bins, and wipe down the ledges.
• Clean the communal kitchen and laundry rooms, empty the bins, and clean the worktops and sinks.
• Clean the communal toilets.  
• Wipe down and clean the glass partitions in the entrance areas.
• Carry out the fire safety check and report any hazards or issues.
• Litter-pick the outside walkways and immediate grassed areas.

Once a week we will  

• Wipe and clean the partition glass on all landings, clean skirting boards, and spot-clean lower walls.  
• Clean the lights and remove any cobwebs. 

Communal cleaning standards: what you can expect

We want the communal areas of your building to be clean, safe, and pleasant to use. These standards explain what is cleaned, the standard we expect, and how concerns are dealt with.

All communal areas should be kept:

• clean, tidy and uncluttered
• free from litter, dirt, stains and unpleasant smells
• safe to use, with clear access to exits and walkways

If something has been cleaned properly, it should look clean, smell fresh, and be safe to use.

Areas we clean

Inside communal areas

This includes:

• entrances, foyers and reception areas
• corridors, landings, staircases, and walkways
• lifts (inside and outside)
• bin rooms and refuse chute areas
• laundry rooms, drying rooms and community rooms
• shared kitchens and toilets (where provided)
• caretaker or warden offices (where applicable)

You can expect regular cleaning of:

• floors, stairs, skirting boards and ceilings
• doors, door frames, handles and push plates
• handrails, banisters and grab rails
• windows, glass panels, and mirrors
• light fittings, switches and emergency lighting
• notice boards, signs and intercoms
• furniture such as seating, tables and cupboards
• fixtures like sinks, taps, toilets and bins

All areas should look clean, smell fresh, and be safe to use.

Outside communal areas

External areas around the building are also included, such as:

• entrances and exits
• bin areas and storage areas
• paths, ramps and access routes
• car parks and garage areas
• grass and landscaped areas
• external seating

These areas should be free from litter, broken glass, and hazards.

Rubbish, litter and graffiti

• Rubbish bins are emptied, cleaned and disinfected.
• Litter is picked up from inside and outside the building.
• Bulky items left in communal areas are removed.
• Graffiti is removed as quickly as possible.
• Sharps or dangerous items are handled safely.

Health, safety, and hygiene

We also clean items that help keep residents safe, including:

• fire safety equipment (such as extinguishers and alarm points)
• lift control panels and emergency buttons
• security and CCTV equipment
• ventilation grilles and heaters

How often cleaning happens

Different areas are cleaned at different intervals depending on how often they are used. Some tasks are carried out daily, while others are done weekly or less often, but all areas must always meet the agreed standard.

What happens if standards are not met?

• Cleaning work is checked and recorded.
• If something does not meet the standard: 
  • daily tasks must be corrected within 6 hours 
  • less frequent tasks must be corrected within 24 hours
• If more than a small number of tasks fail, the service is marked as not meeting the standard.

Monitoring and tenant involvement

• Cleaning contractors must keep records of all work completed.
• The council monitors performance regularly.
• Tenant groups can request information. about cleaning standards and performance

Reporting issues

If you notice:

• missed cleaning
• litter build‑up
• graffiti
• unhygienic or unsafe communal areas

Please report it so it can be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Communal cleaning standards: what you can expect

We want the communal areas of your building to be clean, safe, and pleasant to use. These standards explain what is cleaned, the standard we expect, and how concerns are dealt with.

All communal areas should be kept:

• clean, tidy and uncluttered
• free from litter, dirt, stains and unpleasant smells
• safe to use, with clear access to exits and walkways

If something has been cleaned properly, it should look clean, smell fresh, and be safe to use.

Areas we clean

Inside communal areas

This includes:

• entrances, foyers and reception areas
• corridors, landings and staircases
• lifts (inside and outside)
• shared kitchens and laundries
• toilets and shower areas (where provided)
• community rooms and shared facilities

You can expect regular cleaning of:

• floors and stairways
• walls, doors and ceilings
• handrails and balustrades
• windows, glass panels, and mirrors
• light fittings, switches, and ventilation grilles
• furniture, notice boards, and fixtures
• waste bins inside communal areas
• rubbish and waste areas such as bins in communal areas, bins rooms, and chutes
• shared hygiene areas such as toilets, laundries, and kitchens 

All areas should look clean, smell fresh, and be safe to use.

Outside areas

External spaces around buildings are also included, such as:

• paths, access routes and entrances
• canopies over doors
• external walls (including graffiti removal)

These areas should be free from litter, debris, and hazards.

Graffiti, spills, and emergencies

If issues happen, cleaning teams will respond to:

• graffiti or vandalism
• broken glass, spillages or blockages
• bodily fluids or hazardous waste (handled safely)
• water leaks or flooding (cleaned and contained)
• snow, ice and fallen leaves on access paths

Bulky items left in communal areas are removed.

Pest control

Where pests are reported or found:

• specialist pest control contractors are used
• action is taken quickly and monitored until resolved
• treatments are carried out safely and responsibly

Safety and quality checks

• Cleaning work is monitored and recorded.
• Contractors must meet health and safety rules.
• Areas are inspected to make sure standards are met.

If cleaning does not meet the required standard, it must be put right within agreed timescales.

Reporting a cleaning issue

Please report if you notice:

• missed cleaning
• overflowing bins
• graffiti or strong odours
• unsafe or unhygienic communal areas

Reporting problems helps us keep shared spaces clean and safe for everyone.