Airbnb Cleaning Companies in the UK

[Jaya0]

hi all,

With Airbnb taking off I've shifted all of my cleaning to a local airbnb cleaning company. However, I've had some issues and wondered what you could reasonably expect of a contracted cleaning company to do.

How much would you expect to pay for room cleaning and linen per booking? (I charge £20 which includes fresh linen and laundry as well as cleaning which I pay to the cleaning company with no mark-up)

Would you expect that you would be informed of e.g. slow draining sinks, mold left on bathroom surfaces, low stocks (e.g. if more toilet roll is required, bin liners), so that you can deal with these issues before the next guests arrive?

Under what circumstances would you expect (and get!) a full refund for a cleaning session in order to pass it back to a guest who has not got the service they paid for? 

How do you approach evidencing bad reviews on account of poor cleaning quality?

And... do you know of any good ones in Bristol? I'm afraid I only know of a struggling one!

Happy New Year everyone!

Jaya

[Helen3]

Hello @Jaya0 from a fellow Bristol host.

I am not sure if you are asking the community what guests would pay or what other hosts would pay for cleaning/linen?

I don't use a cleaning company I use a cleaner and I wash and iron my own linens (although my cleaner does strip beds and put the wash on for towels/linens). I pay my cleaner between two - three hours cleaning but can't pass this charge onto my guests as I wouldn't be competive so just pass on a token amount.

I think it is up to us as hosts to regularly check our properties for maintenance issues such as mould or slow draining sinks.

Having said that if you specifically mentioned as part of your cleaning contract that you wanted the company to check for signs of maintenace issues, then they should do that.

If you feel the guest deserves their cleaning fee, because the listing wasn't cleaned properly, then you should return it, and then see if it can be resolved with the cleaning company afterwards - not make it dependent on you getting the fee returned.

The cleaning company should outline in their contract with you under what circumstances a cleaning fee will be returned. I presume you would have photo/video evidence that the accomodation was not cleaned in line with any agreed specification.

Not sure where you are based in Bristol but your place seems very cheap for a studio apartment, I would suggest you increase your day rate. And then add a small cleaning fee say 10-15 pounds.

I can't see bad reviews for cleaning on your listing, but if you aren't happy why not have a couple of recommended local cleaners on standby.

Good luck.

By the way why do you have a room listing for 150 pounds a night as a listing - is this a mistake?

[Jaya0]

Thanks for responding so quickly Helen. It’s great to get advice from a superhost!

Ok point by point:

1. I always refund if cleaning is substandard. It’s more a case of what standards are expected contractually with airbnb management companies, so not about what guests would pay for. Management companies handle most things and our arrangement has been that we would be notified of any maintenance issues. More recently we’ve had too many back-to-back bookings to be able to check before the next guests arrive.
2. Yes - I have stipulated a photo on all sides - the guest, us and the company. Sadly it’s not been adhered to on the company side.
3. We used to use a cleaner and do our own linens but recently switched as I have a couple of other jobs to manage on top.
4. The other room I have listed is more of an overflow room in the rare occasions there are issues in the studio. Hence the price tag. We had a double booking once due to syncing issues and I hate breaking promises..
5. We’ve been lucky that guests have allowed us to rectify most issues but there’s no point sourcing it unless we can rely on the standards. Airbnb management companies are still very young so I’m keen to find out other peoples’ experiences.
6. We’re in Knowle on Wells Road which makes us not as popular as your place which looks lovely and central. Our pricing is variable (smart pricing handled by airbnb) so not always at the lowest end.

Thanks so much for your thoughts on this. If anyone else you know has been going down the management company route, I’d love to talk to them.

Jaya

[Leonie85]

Hello,

My name is Leonie, and I specialise in 5* serviced accommodations in house keeping, with a great cleaning team behind me. Covering the Bristol area.

Are you looking for new or additional house keepers ?

I don’t have a running website at present, but I do have a catalogue of work carried out.

Look forward to hearing from you
Leonie 🙂

[Jessika6]

Hi Leonie,

If you do any work in Bath, I would love to get in contact ASAP, as I need a cleaner for my flat in Bath! Thanks!

[Brian1843]

Does anyone know of a good cleaning company for Air BnB  covering the Gloucestershire area , specificaly Tewkesbury ??

[Helen3]

Hi @Brian1843 

I find my cleaners on local area FB groups.

Don’t forget to take up references and have a contract .

[Brian1843]

thanks Helen, good idea with Facebook, ill check that out. 

cheers 

[Helen427]

Hello @Brian1843 have you looked through other listings in your location  to see if they use cleaners & have good feedback in Reviews?

Have you looked  here in CC searchbox using related keywords to establish if someone is offering their services or also looking for one who they may know who is looking for work.

Perhaps you can also try those avenues & msg Hosts to see if they could share your details and share a cleaner.

 It's always good to network with others in the industry as you can share titbits etc.

All the best

[Kate1889]

Hi,

If anyone has any recommendations for a cleaner or cleaning company that would be able to service two cottages in Ponterwyd, Wales, I would be grateful if they could post in here as I’m also about to embark on the Air BnB hosting journey and as I will be managing both properties remotely (I live outside the UK), I would like the confidence that I’m using someone reliable, trustworthy and good. 

Thanks in advance, 

Kate

[Eldertree0]

Hi everyone

Does anyone know of a good cleaning company for Air BnB covering the Devon area, specifically Exeter

 I'm a little bit strangle to find cleaner in this area ??

Thanks

Monica.