Cleaning during a monthly rental

[Dusana0]

Hi everyone, 

I wonder if you could help me. I am a new host and just checking for assistance. 

I am hosting a tenant for 1 month. During the month rental, am I supposed to clean and change linen etc every week or is that their responsibility?

The current person is asking regarding cleaning and I was under the impression that it was their responsibility. 

Any advice is welcomed. Thank you

Kind regards

Dusana 

[Sarah977 · Accepted solution]

This is really something you should have considered before accepting a month-long booking. Terms are supposed to be clear before a reservation is confirmed, so if the guest doesn't agree, they can find another place that suits them better. Guests really aren't bound by things that aren't mentioned in the listing info when they booked.

That said, hosts who do long term bookings generally recommend that the host do a once a week quick clean/ linen change, mostly so you can make sure the guest isn't living like a pig in there (or damaging things), and keep it at bay if they are slobs. It can also make the guest treat the space more respectfully if they know the host will be going in once a week.

But the guests should take care of cleaning up after themselves just as a short-term guest is expected to, so make the tasks you'll take care of, like vacuuming, dusting, bathroom, whatever, clear and what the guest is expected to look after. They shouldn't be leaving you a filthy greasy stovetop to clean, for instance, or piles of garbage to pick up and remove. In other words, you aren't their personal maid. 

You should try to arrange the same day and time every week to do the cleaning that works for both you and the guest, so you can both plan around it. 

And you can also play it by ear as it goes along- if you find that the guest is a clean freak and the place looks spotless when you go to clean, and they'd prefer to just look after all the cleaning themselves so they have privacy,  that could be okay, too.

@Dusana0

[Dusana0]

Thank you @Sarah977 I really appreciate the feedback. We have arranged a weekly clean. I was just checking as to whether it was mandatory or not. I will build the cleaning fee into the rental price for the next guest. Thank you. 

[Aura4867]

Hello, 

Thank you so much  for the feedback. I am now and I have my first guest for a month.

[Helen3]

I build a weekly clean into longer term bookings. @Dusana0 

If you haven't offered the guest (Not Tenant!) a weekly clean you don't have to provide one.

[Dusana0]

@Helen3 Thank you for the advice. Much appreciated. 

The guest (thank you for correcting me, I couldn't find the right word) had asked for a weekly clean but I hadn't stipulated it under my house rules that it would cost them per week. 

I have changed that now and am learning a lot just from the last two rentals. 

Have a great day. 

Dusana

[Nancy1300]

I give the long-term guest two sets of linens and towels.  Long-term guests use the W/D for laundry once a week they usually wash the sheets and towels as well.  I charge more for long-term guest cleaning because I have someone vacuum, mop, dust the room and clean/disinfect the bathroom.

This works best since LTGs have a different schedule and I found it hard to coordinate a good time so they are responsible for their bed and towels, cleaning person does the rest once a week on a set dau, Friday.

[Brian2036]

@Dusana0 

We don’t do maid service and no one has ever asked for it.

 The house is self-contained with washer/dryer, plenty of linens, vacuum cleaner, dishwasher and cleaning supplies.

If people want maid service they either need to bring one with them or go to a hotel.

In fact, due to COVID-19, many hotels are not providing daily maid service.