Sydney is one of Australia's most densely strata-titled cities — particularly on the North Shore, where apartments and townhouse complexes are common across suburbs like Neutral Bay, Cremorne, Crows Nest, and Chatswood. If you're on a strata committee or own an investment property, understanding your cleaning obligations is essential.
Who Is Responsible for Strata Cleaning?
Under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW), the owners corporation is responsible for maintaining common property in a "clean and in good repair" condition. Common property typically includes: lobby and foyer areas, lifts and stairwells, corridors and hallways, car parks and driveways, pools and gym facilities, and garbage rooms.
Individual lot owners are responsible for cleaning within their own apartment or townhouse.
What Does a Strata Clean Cover?
Weekly or Fortnightly Maintenance
- Vacuum and mop all common area floors
- Wipe down lift interiors including buttons and handrails
- Clean letterbox area and entry foyer
- Empty common area rubbish bins
- Clean and sanitise any common bathrooms or toilet facilities
Monthly or Quarterly Tasks
- High-pressure wash of car park or driveway
- Window cleaning on common area windows
- Pool surrounds scrubbed and cleaned
- Bin room deep cleaned and deodorised
- Garden furniture cleaned and maintained
⚖️ Compliance note: Sydney strata committees are increasingly scrutinised by NCAT (NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal) for failure to maintain common property. A documented cleaning contract is useful evidence of due diligence.
Choosing a Strata Cleaning Provider
When selecting a strata cleaner, strata committees should verify: public liability insurance of at least $10M (Northline Cleaning carries $20M), police checks for all staff, the ability to provide a detailed scope of works, and references from comparable strata properties in Sydney.
Strata Cleaning Costs in Sydney
Strata cleaning contracts in Sydney's North Shore typically range from $200–$600 per visit depending on building size and scope. Annual contracts provide budget certainty and priority scheduling. Northline Cleaning provides strata cleaning quotes with itemised scope, allowing committees to present the detail at AGMs.