Changeover cleaning checklist

What you need to know

The plain-English guidance that comes with this document.

• A consistent changeover is what earns five-star reviews — and catches problems early. Cleanliness is the single thing guests judge most, and a checklist means it's the same every time whether you or a cleaner does it. It also turns the changeover into a mini-inspection: you spot the wobbly chair, the failed alarm or the damage from the last guest before the next one arrives.
• Build the safety checks into the routine. Pressing the smoke and CO alarm test buttons at every changeover, confirming the fire information sheet is present, and checking locks and heating take seconds and keep you on top of the duties in your compliance checklist. An alarm found dead at changeover is far better than one found dead by a guest.
• Flush the water if the property's been empty. Standing water in pipes, taps and showers is where legionella risk builds — running the outlets through for a few minutes when a property's sat empty between lets is a simple, effective control. Worth a permanent tick on the list.
• Log damage and lost property at the moment you find it. The changeover is when you can still link damage to the guest who caused it and act on your booking terms / deposit — and when a guest's forgotten charger is easiest to return. Note it here rather than trusting memory.
• Restock the consumables guests expect. Loo roll, soap, tea and coffee, bin liners — the small stuff that makes a stay feel cared-for. Running out reads as neglect.
• Adapt the rooms to your property. Add or remove sections (hot tub, garden, extra bathrooms) so the list matches what you actually have. A cleaner should be able to follow it without knowing the place.