Most disappointment with strata cleaning comes back to one thing: nobody wrote down what was supposed to happen. A clear scope of works fixes that. It tells every provider exactly what to price, tells your cleaner exactly what to do, and gives the committee something to measure performance against.
What a scope of works is
A scope of works is a schedule that lists:
- every area of common property to be cleaned
- the tasks in each area
- how often each task is done
- the standard expected
- how work is recorded and reported
It forms part of the contract and is the reference point for every question about what’s included.
Step 1: List every area
Walk the building from the street to the roof and list each space. A typical list:
- Street frontage, paths and gardens
- Main entry and foyer
- Letterbox area
- Lifts (list each lift)
- Corridors (by level)
- Stairwells and fire stairs
- Driveway, paths and visitor parking (litter)
- Bin room(s) and chute rooms
- Bicycle and storage rooms
- Gym, BBQ, rooftop and function rooms
- Shared amenities and end-of-trip facilities
- Any commercial or retail common areas
Don’t forget the forgotten spaces: fire stairs, plant room entries, the bicycle room.
Step 2: List tasks for each area
Use specific, observable tasks. “Clean foyer” is vague. “Vacuum entry mat, mop hard floor, clean entry glass both sides, wipe intercom and letterboxes” is clear. Our body corporate cleaning checklist has a full task list to borrow from.
Step 3: Set frequencies
Group tasks by frequency:
- Every visit
- Weekly / fortnightly
- Monthly
- Quarterly
- Six-monthly / yearly
Our guide to how often to clean common areas gives typical frequencies by building type.
Step 4: Separate periodic work
Soft washing, carpet steam cleaning, external glass and high dusting are often priced separately. List them as periodic items with their own frequency so quotes stay comparable.
Step 5: Define the standard
Describe what “done” looks like: floors free of visible dirt and marks; glass free of smears; bins lidded and floors dry. Photos of the standard you expect can help.
Step 6: Reporting requirements
State what you expect:
- confirmation of each visit (a signed-off checklist)
- completed checklist each visit
- photos of nominated areas
- reporting of damage, hazards and maintenance issues
- committee and manager access to records
Our reporting service meets all of these as standard.
Step 7: Exclusions and responsibilities
Be explicit about what’s not included, and who does it: lot interiors, pool chemistry, landscaping, pest control, caretaker duties. This avoids disputes later.
Step 8: Site rules
Include working hours, noise limits, where cleaners park, where chemicals and equipment are stored, water and power access, and key/fob arrangements.
A simple template structure
| Area | Task | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foyer | Clean entry glass both sides | Every visit | Includes push plates |
| Foyer | Mop hard floor (pH-neutral) | Every visit | Natural stone |
| Lift 1 | Vacuum door tracks | Every visit | |
| Stairwell A | Mop treads and wipe handrails | Every visit | |
| Entry paths | Soft wash | 6-monthly | Run-off managed |
| Bin room | Mop and sanitise | Weekly | |
| Bin room | Bins out/back | Weekly | Tuesday collection |
Review it every year
Buildings change. New facilities, new residents and new problem areas mean the scope should be reviewed at least annually, ideally before the AGM budget is set.
Let us help
You don’t need to write it alone. When we visit your building, we walk every area with you and put the scope in writing as part of your quotation — free.
By Strata Cleaning Co. · 10 September 2026