Strata Cleaning Responsibilities in BC
Under BC's Strata Property Act, strata corporations are responsible for maintaining common property. This includes lobbies, hallways, elevators, parkades, laundry rooms, and any shared amenity spaces. The standard of maintenance must be reasonable — not perfect, but not neglected. Poor common area cleaning is one of the most common complaints at strata council meetings and one of the leading causes of owner dissatisfaction in Metro Vancouver strata buildings.
What Strata Cleaning Should Cover
High-frequency areas (daily or 3× weekly in most buildings):
- Lobby: sweep, mop, wipe intercom and mailbox surfaces, sanitize door handles
- Elevator interior: wipe walls and control panel, mop floor, sanitize buttons
- Mailroom: sweep, tidy
Weekly service:
- All hallways: vacuum or mop depending on floor type
- Laundry room: clean machines (exterior), wipe surfaces, sweep and mop floor
- Recycling and garbage area: sweep, wipe bins if applicable, deodorize
Monthly service:
- Elevator shaft inspection area cleaning
- Parkade sweep
- Amenity room deep clean (gym, party room, guest suite)
- Window ledges and common area surfaces
Insurance and Liability Requirements
Any cleaning service working on strata property in BC should carry commercial general liability insurance (minimum $2M) and WorkSafeBC coverage. Request a certificate of insurance before signing any contract. If a cleaner is injured on strata property and the strata corporation cannot demonstrate it hired an insured, properly covered service, it may face liability. This is a non-negotiable requirement — not optional.
Contracting a Strata Cleaning Service
Most strata cleaning contracts in BC are month-to-month or annual. Key terms to establish: frequency of service for each area, scope checklist for each visit, documentation requirements (completion log or photos), escalation contact for missed visits, and insurance certificate on file. Maidless can provide all of the above for strata properties in Metro Vancouver. Contact hello@maidless.ca for a custom strata cleaning quote.