Strata Cleaning Cost in Sydney (2026 Pricing Guide)

How strata cleaning is priced in Sydney

Sydney strata cleaning is almost always priced per visit per building rather than per hour. The cleaner walks the building with the strata manager, agrees a scope (lobby, lifts, corridors, fire stairs, bin room, basement) and quotes a flat per-visit rate. Frequency is then layered on top — most buildings run between one and three visits per week.

This model works for owners corporations because the strata levy is predictable. It works for cleaners because the scope is defined and they can resource it efficiently.

Per-visit rates by building size

Low-rise (under 20 lots, 2–3 storeys): $100–$180 per visit covers lobby, one set of stairs, corridors and bin room.

Mid-rise (20–60 lots, 4–8 storeys): $180–$350 per visit, often including two lift lobbies per floor and a more involved bin room.

High-rise (60+ lots, 9+ storeys): $400+ per visit, with multiple lift lobbies, fire stairs, basement carpark sweep and a much heavier bin room load.

What a Sydney strata cleaning scope should include

Front entry glass wipe, lobby vacuum/mop, lift internal wipe and floor, lift lobby on every floor, corridor vacuum, fire stair spot-check, bin room hose-out, mailbox area dust, and basement entry tidy. Get this on paper before the first invoice — verbal scopes are the number one source of strata cleaning disputes.

Bin room, lobby and lift cleaning — non-negotiables

If only three things get done, they should be bin room hose-out (smell and pest control), lobby presentation (resale and rental value), and lift internals (the most-touched surfaces in the building). Anything else can flex around budget.

Periodic work: carpets, windows, pressure washing

Corridor carpets in Sydney apartment buildings typically need professional steam cleaning every 6–12 months. External windows are usually quarterly. Driveway and carpark pressure washing is normally annual or bi-annual. Budget these separately in the strata sinking fund — they're not part of a normal weekly contract.

How owners corporations should structure the contract

Month-to-month with 30 days' notice is the fairest structure. Require a documented scope, monthly invoicing, and an annual scope review with the committee. Avoid auto-renewing three-year contracts — they make it hard to respond if service quality drops.

Red flags committees should watch for

Cleaners who skip the bin room, leave the same week-old marks on lift mirrors, or never restock the bin room hose — these are early signs that the per-visit hours have been quietly cut. Ask your strata manager for a quarterly walk-around with the cleaning supervisor.