The holiday let changeover cleaning checklist guide

Updated 22nd October 2024

In this holiday let changeover cleaning checklist guide, we’ll cover the key areas you need to consider when cleaning. We’ll also cover areas to look for in terms of property damage and some top changeover tips too. Read on to find out more.

Why is a holiday let changeover cleaning checklist important?

Holiday home cleaning checklist overview

Holiday let cleaning equipment checklist

Bedroom cleaning checklist

Holiday home bathroom cleaning checklist

Holiday let kitchen checklist 

Living room checklist

Garden and exterior checklist

Holiday let damage checklist

Holiday let changeover top tips

Deep cleaning checklist

How much does a holiday let changeover cost?

Should you hire a cleaning service?

Why is a holiday let changeover cleaning checklist important?

Some form of cleaning is a must after each guest checks out and before the next one checks in. First impressions mean a lot, and a dirty property will likely result in a negative experience. It could also lead to negative guest reviews. Ultimately, neglecting to clean properly could affect your bottom line.

The benefit of having a specific checklist is that it provides a consistent standard for your cleaning processes. Rather than having to remember where to clean or check for damages, a checklist reduces the potential for human error. Provided you have a good checklist, it can also consistently contribute towards positive guest experiences too. Checking that items work and making sure that guests have everything they need can also reduce a guest’s reliance on you in case something doesn’t work or is missing.

Holiday home cleaning checklist overview

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• What equipment you’ll likely need.
• The key areas that need to be cleaned.
• What to consider in terms of property damage.
• General top tips to improve the guest experience and make the changeover go smoothly.

With that out of the way, let’s jump into the key checklist areas. 

Holiday let cleaning equipment checklist

Each property is different. Depending on what needs to be cleaned, your equipment needs could be different. Generally speaking however, you may want to consider acquiring cleaning equipment for these key areas:

• Vacuum cleaners to hoover up dust and debris off surfaces.
• A dustpan and brush to remove debris from areas not easily tackled with a vacuum.
• Dusters to remove dust from surfaces (particularly hard to reach areas). 
• Cloths to wipe down surfaces.
• An all purpose cleaning solution to clean surfaces as you wipe.
• Specific cleaning solutions for particular tasks. Glass, limescale, mould and carpet stains are common examples of areas that may require a more specific cleaning fluid for the job.
• A mop for wiping down floors.
• A brush and bleach solution (or a suitable alternative) for any toilets.
• A box or storage area to put your equipment in.
• Cleaning gloves.

The above checklist covers a wide range of potential cleaning uses. There are other potential issues that you may want to consider, however:

• Ventilation: Some cleaning solutions can be quite toxic to breathe in or touch and a lack of ventilation could make this issue worse. In addition to opening windows when cleaning, you may want to consider purchasing a mask if you feel this could be beneficial.
• Protection: Some cleaning solutions can be quite abrasive, particularly liquid such as bleach and drain unblockers. In addition to utilising gloves, purchasing protective eyewear and an overall may be useful on occasion. 
• Sensitive materials: Some materials in your property such as furniture and certain types of tiles may be sensitive to certain materials or liquids. Purchase equipment specific to certain tasks where relevant.

Bedroom cleaning checklist

Your guests will be sleeping and spending a considerable amount of time in your bedrooms. Making these rooms hygienic and presentable is really important and should be a key focal area for your cleaning efforts.

• Open the window for good ventilation.
• Strip down bed sheets and air the mattress out whilst cleaning other parts of the room. 
• Check under the bed and the mattress for any items that may have been left behind.
• Dust and then wipe surfaces.
• Open drawers and wardrobes, dust the interiors, and wipe off any stains that you find. 
• Clear up rubbish and empty bins.
• Survey the room for any marks or stains. Clean anything that you have missed.
• Change the bedsheets and make up the bed. Make sure that your new sheets have been ironed and are stain free.
• Take away old towels and replace them with new ones (if relevant).
• Wipe down any mirrors, ensuring they are smudge free.
• Put any personal belongings left by previous guests somewhere safe so that you can contact them about it later. 
• Check for any missing items or signs of damage.
• Vacuum carpets. If you have a hard floor then sweep and mop this area instead.

Holiday home bathroom cleaning checklist

Bathrooms are areas that can attract dirt and smells easily. On top of that, if there are any issues with ventilation or too much damp then this can also attract mould. Make sure you follow these steps to ensure that your bathrooms and toilets are spotless.

• Open windows for ventilation to avoid inhaling too many toxic fumes. Where this isn’t possible, turn on the extractor fan if you have one.
• Empty the bins and clear out any leftover rubbish.
• Brush off any toilet stains and wipe down the toilet seat. 
• Disinfect the toilet with bleach or an alternative solution.
• Clean the toilet brush and put it back.
• Replace old toilet rolls with new ones.
• Disinfect and wipe down the sink. 
• Wipe down and disinfect any baths or showers. Make sure that they are dry when finished in order to prevent mould. 
• Replace old shampoos and shower gels with new ones if provided.
• Look for any stains that haven’t been removed. Limescale and mould are common problem areas to look for.
• Clean any mirrors and make sure there are no marks left on them.
• Replace old towels with new ones (if relevant).
• Open any cabinets and wipe down the interiors when required.
• Put any leftover guest belongings in a safe place.
• Look for any missing items or signs of property damage. 
• Sweep and mop the floor. 

Holiday let kitchen checklist 

From a basic health and safety perspective, a dirty kitchen can leave guests exposed to potential food contamination if anything is cooked there. When following these steps, make sure that you disinfect high contact and food storage areas in particular. 

• Open the windows for ventilation.
• Wipe down any kitchen surfaces and ceramic hobs.
• Clean the plates inside any microwaves and wipe down the interiors. 
• Open all the cabinets and drawers. Clean and wipe these down when required.
• Inspect any fridges and freezers. Remove any leftover over food. Wipe and disinfect the surfaces.
• Look inside your dishwasher/washing machine for anything inside. Remove any items and clear out any obvious signs of dirt or grime. 
• Inspect pots, pans, cutlery, glasses and ceramic items such as plates for cleanliness. Even if your previous guest has cleaned these, any leftover marks could be off putting.
• Disinfect the sink and remove any stubborn limescale stains. Limescale stains underneath drying racks are a common problem area. 
• Put all clean cutlery, ceramics and cooking equipment back where they belong. 
• Check the oven to see if anything is inside and do a superficial clean when required (you may wish to reserve full oven cleans for a deep clean session).
• Clear away any rubbish and empty the bins.
• Place any useful items such as welcome packs and teas/coffees somewhere that is easy to see.
• Put any left behind personal belongings in a safe place.
• Check for any missing items or signs of damage. Ceramics and glasses in particular are easy to chip or break if dropped.
• Review the area for any stains or marks that you may have missed.
• Brush and mop the floors.

Living room checklist

A living room is often the focal point of a home and the area where people spend much of their time if staying there during the day. In addition to cleaning, decluttering and focusing on presentation will also be important. 

• Open the windows to get some air in.
• Check inside drawers/cabinets and underneath sofa/chair pillows to look for any left behind items. Clean up or wipe down any dirt, rubbish or crumbs.
• Dust and wipe down surfaces. 
• Put items (DVDs, pillows, board games, etc) back where they belong.
• Wipe off marks on mirrors and TVs.
• Clear away any leftover rubbish and empty the bins. 
• Check for any missed stains or marks.
• Put any left behind guest belongings in a safe place.
• Look for missing items and any potential damage.
• Vacuum the floor. Brush and mop the floor instead if you don’t have a carpet.

Garden and exterior checklist

When creating a garden checklist, it may be helpful to distinguish between tasks that can be done after each guest checks out and tasks that can be carried out on a less frequent basis. Consider carrying out these tasks after each guest stay:

• Remove any leftover rubbish such as food packets and cigarette butts. 
• Check for any personal belongings left behind and leave these in a safe space.
• Inspect any outbuildings and check for signs of breakage, damage and any missing items.
• Tidy up any outside furniture such as garden chairs if they have fallen over or been misplaced.

On a more occasional basis, you may want to consider undertaking the following tasks:

• Remove any scattered leaves.
• Cut the grass.
• Treat and clear out garden weeds. 
• Treat the grass and plants with fertilisers.
• Water the garden.

Holiday let damage checklist

The changeover period is the key time for you to check for any potential damages caused by the previous guest. Doing this as soon as the guest check out allows you to identify damage, contact the guest and/or claim on your insurance. Getting issues sorted promptly can also get your property rectified before the next guest arrives. Here are the top tips you should be following as part of your damage checklist.

• Take photographs: Documented evidence of the state of the property can be useful in the event of a claim. Where damage does occur, take a photo so that your insurer can see the difference from before and after a guest’s stay.
• Make an inventory: Having a list of key items in your property is useful for two reasons. Not only will it remind you of where you need to check in terms of damage, you’ll know if any item has gone missing too. 
• Group by room: Do your damage checks room by room as you clean. Going back and forwards between rooms could mean you take longer or miss something.
• Look for furniture moved around: Take note of any changes if anything in the property has been moved around. If a chest of drawers has been moved, for example, it could be that it had been moved to hide property damage to a wall. 
• Identify key areas: Higher value items, high contact areas or fragile items prone to damage should be focal points of investigation when doing damage checks. Consider whether you want these in your property if they result in frequent claims, however.
• Check that devices work: Regardless of whether they look damaged or not, check that devices work as intended. This allows you to fix or replace anything before the next guest arrives.  

If any damage identified is minor, consider contacting the guest to try and rectify this first. If you charge a deposit when guests book then the damages could be deducted from this. Contact your insurer as soon as possible should you decide to claim.

Holiday let changeover top tips

In addition to utilising a checklist, consider following these holiday let changeover top tips to improve your cleaning process.

• Waste: Make sure that your external bins are put out for collection on the relevant day. If you have a high turnover of guests, however, then you may need to consider paying for a private service that collects these bins more regularly. 
• Towels & linen: In addition to having stain free linen and towels, make sure they are ironed and folded correctly. Your guests will appreciate attention to detail.
• Deep cleans: Schedule some time to do the occasional deep clean. This can make the property easier to maintain and can help you tackle particularly difficult areas. You may want to consider doing this in the off peak season when you have less visitors.
• Welcome packs: To enhance the guest experience, consider creating a welcome pack. This can include useful information about the property and surrounding area as well as other items such as drinks and snacks depending on what you want to do.
• Check in and check out time: Schedule your specified check out time early enough in the day so that you have enough time to clean. Set the check in time for the next guest with this in mind as well.
• Cleaning time: You may benefit from estimating how long it takes to clean and making a note of how long it takes you to finish every time. Doing so allows you to be more efficient and flexible where the need arises (e.g. if a guest requests an earlier check in time).

Deep cleaning checklist

Deep cleaning should be focused on tackling those areas of the house that don’t get regular attention. Here are some key areas you may want to consider:

• Decluttering: Over time, items can accumulate or the layout of the property can start to change. Consider whether decluttering or changing the property layout could enhance the property’s presentation.
• Handles: After each guest stay, cleaning a handle may not seem so important. Over time however, door handles and similar areas could accumulate marks.
• Dusting: Certain areas will accumulate dust over time. Items stacked on top of each other, skirting boards, and shelves not regularly touched may be areas that require attention. 
• Drains: Both outside and internal drains can get blocked fairly easily. This is especially true when you have less control over what guests put in them. If any of your drains don’t clear as efficiently as they used to, then consider using your scheduled deep cleans to unblock them.
• Windows: Clean windows will make your property stand out. Using a window cleaning solution and a window wipers will make them look clear and more presentable.
• Curtains: Whilst not necessary to clean after each guest stay, curtains and blinds will gradually accumulate dust and dirt. 
• Clothes and dishwashing machines: Even if you check these items regularly, the pipes and drains for these devices can clog up or start to smell. Consider utilising cleaning tablets every now and then.
• Ovens: Ovens can be particularly difficult to clean as they are hard to get inside. Burnt stains are also very difficult to remove without specialist equipment, so consider setting aside some occasional time to attend to this.

How much does a holiday let changeover cost?

The cost associated with a holiday let changeover is variable and will depend on numerous factors such as your budget, property type and the type of guest you’re trying to attract. Factors to consider when weighing up costs include:

• Equipment: Consider what equipment has multiple uses to avoid duplicating costs. An all purpose cleaner or homemade solution that isn’t abrasive could be used for multiple surfaces, for example. 
• Maintenance: Make sure that both your property and your cleaning equipment is well maintained. Not doing so could add additional costs if something stops working or breaks down.
• Cleaning services: If employing a cleaner, this will add a significantly higher cost than if you did this activity yourself. On the other hand, the time saving could be used to make your business more productive elsewhere.
• Affordability: You’ll need to make sure that your cleaning costs are appropriate to the budget you’ve set. For more information on budgeting and running a holiday let in general, check out our guide to getting set up with a holiday let business.
• Target audience: Your target audience could dictate the size of your changeover budget to some extent. Wealthier guests may expect pricier welcome packs, for example. Guests booking a more ‘budget’ property may be happy with a clean and basic holiday home setup.

Have a look at our holiday let running costs guide for further information on the topic. 

Health and safety checklist 

Conducting a health and safety assessment of your property is both essential and legally required. It isn’t necessary to hire someone to do this however and there are plenty of resources online to assist you. The Health and Safety Executive has guidance that you may find useful when it comes to the topic of cleaning. When conducting a health and safety cleaning assessment, you should:

• Identify hazards: Identify potential cleaning hazards such as liquids that could cause slips or ladders that could cause you to fall when cleaning windows.
• Assess the risks: Think about who might be affected (e.g. guests or a hired cleaner) and what relevant action needs to be taken to mitigate any risks.
• Take action: Make sure any actions you take are proportionate, reasonable, and can be undertaken without causing harm or injury.

A health and safety assessment should be conducted in relation to your entire property and not just in relation to cleaning. Have a look at our holiday let regulations article to get a much more detailed breakdown on how to do this. 

In addition to conducting a robust health and safety assessment, make sure any hazardous cleaning equipment is stored away in a safe and lockable location if kept on the premises.

Should you hire a cleaning service?

The decision to hire a cleaner is an entirely personal one. Questions you may want to ask yourself are:

• Can you afford it?
• Do you have the time to clean yourself?
• What are the pros and cons of hiring a cleaner versus doing this yourself?

If you’re just starting out and are unsure about your potential profit margins, head over to our holiday home profit calculator tool to give you some inspiration. 

The main benefit of hiring a cleaner is that this type of activity is time consuming and hiring a cleaner frees up considerable time. There are some important considerations you should bear in mind, however:

• Consistency: If you want to provide a certain level of consistent services for your guests, you may want to make sure that your cleaner has a robust cleansing process. Contracting this work out means that you have less day to day visibility of how this work is carried out.
• Damage checks: Properties are expensive assets and it’s vital that inventory and damage checks are carried out thoroughly. Make sure that you’re comfortable with your cleaner’s process for conducting this.
• Legal and liability issues: Hiring someone to carry out work can sometimes bring up legal or liability disputes, such as employment or injury issues. Make sure that your health and safety policy is robust. In addition, make sure that your insurance adequately covers you for issues like this.