Most strata councils review their cleaning contracts only when something goes wrong — a complaint about hallway carpets, a missed amenity-room clean before a long weekend, or a contractor who quietly stopped showing up. By then, the council is reacting under pressure, with limited options and no time to compare.
This piece walks through what we think councils should evaluate when looking at a cleaning contract — based on a decade of working with strata corporations across Vancouver Island.
1. Confirm WorkSafeBC coverage is current
This isn’t paperwork — it’s the council’s legal protection. A cleaner injured in your building without active WorkSafeBC coverage becomes a problem your strata corporation may have to absorb. Ask for a current WorkSafeBC clearance letter, not just a verbal assurance. We provide ours unprompted; if your current cleaner can’t produce one on request, that’s your sign.
2. Ask who actually does the work
A surprising number of cleaning contracts get signed with a company that subcontracts the actual labour to whoever’s available that week. The result: different faces every Tuesday, no continuity, and no accountability when something’s missed.
We assign the same crew to your property. The same people learn your building — where the cleaning closet is, which amenity room hosts events on weekends, which corner of the lobby always collects salt in winter. That continuity is what makes the difference between “they came” and “they did it right.”
3. Get the scope in writing — line by line
“Common-area cleaning” means different things to different cleaners. One contractor’s scope of work might include elevator interiors and stairwells; another’s might skip both. Insist on an itemized scope document attached to the contract. Include amenity rooms (with frequency), entryway glass, parking-garage sweeps, and exterior touch-ups if you want them.
4. Build documentation into the contract
Photos. Service logs. Date-stamped check-ins. Whatever format your council uses, the cleaner should be providing visible proof of work — both for your records and for resident complaints. Without documentation, you’re relying on memory and finger-pointing when something goes sideways.
5. Watch the cancellation clause
30-day notice on either side is industry standard and reasonable. Be cautious of contracts requiring 90 or 180 days notice with auto-renewal — those favour the contractor, not the strata. If the relationship sours, you should be able to exit cleanly.
6. Ask about overflow + emergency response
Spills, vomit, vandalism cleanup, flood remediation — these happen. Does the cleaner respond to ad-hoc requests, and at what cost? Get the rate and response time in writing before you need it.
Free walkthroughs for Vancouver Island strata corporations
We’re actively booking strata accounts across Vancouver Island. If your current contract is up for renewal or you’re reviewing your common-area maintenance program, request a free walkthrough — we’ll quote against your existing scope and you’ll have a comparison point.
Call (250) 268-7111 or email [email protected].
Looking for service across Vancouver Island? See our Commercial Cleaning Services page or call (250) 268-7111 for a free estimate.
