A prospective tenant walks into an empty office suite for an inspection. The carpet has a grey track from the old reception desk, the kitchen still has a dried coffee ring, dead insects line the window sills and the air smells stale after two months with the doors shut.
They came to picture their business in the space. Instead, they’re picturing how much work it will need.
Vacant commercial property doesn’t stay clean on its own. Dust settles, insects get in, drains dry out and smells build up. For landlords, property managers and leasing agents, a clean, fresh space can make a real difference to how quickly a tenancy leases and what impression it leaves.
This guide covers how to clean a commercial property between tenants, how to keep it presentable while it’s vacant and what to check before inspections.
Quick answer: After a tenant leaves, book a vacant tenancy clean covering floors, kitchens, bathrooms, windows, high dusting and carpet steam cleaning once make good works are finished. While the space is vacant, book light maintenance cleans every two to four weeks to remove dust and insects, run taps and flush drains, and air out the space. Do a quick check before each inspection so the property shows well.
Step 1: After the Tenant Leaves
The outgoing tenant may have make good obligations under the lease, which can include cleaning. Check the lease and the outgoing condition report to see what they were required to do and whether it was done.
Then plan the order of works:
- Repairs, painting and make good works by trades
- Removal of any leftover furniture and rubbish
- Vacant tenancy clean
- Carpet steam cleaning or hard floor care
- Final check and photos for marketing
Clean last, after trades have finished, so the space isn’t dirtied again.
What a Vacant Tenancy Clean Covers
Floors. Vacuum carpet thoroughly, then steam clean if it’s stained or tired. Scrub and mop hard floors and clean grout in kitchens and bathrooms.
Kitchens. Clean inside and outside cupboards and drawers, benches, sinks, splashbacks and any appliances left in place.
Bathrooms. Deep clean toilets, basins, tiles, mirrors, fittings and exhaust fans.
Walls, doors and fittings. Spot clean marks, wipe skirting boards, door frames, handles and light switches, and remove tape and hooks where agreed.
High areas. Dust vents, light fittings, window frames and tops of partitions.
Windows and glass. Clean internal windows, sills, tracks, glass doors and partitions. Book external windows, especially for street facing suites and shopfronts.
Storerooms and comms rooms. Sweep and clean, and remove leftover items.
Keeping Vacant Space Presentable
Even a freshly cleaned empty space gets tired after a few weeks. Common problems include dust settling on floors, sills and benches, dead insects on window sills and near lights, stale air and musty smells, dry drains that let sewer smells into bathrooms and kitchens, and leaves and rubbish blowing into entries.
A light maintenance clean every two to four weeks can cover:
- Vacuuming and dusting
- Removing dead insects and cobwebs
- Running taps and flushing toilets so drain traps stay full
- Wiping kitchen and bathroom surfaces
- Sweeping the entry and removing junk mail
- Opening windows or running ventilation briefly to air the space
- Reporting leaks, damage, pests or signs of break ins
Before Each Inspection
A quick check before an inspection makes a big difference:
- Turn on lights and check for blown globes
- Open blinds to bring in light
- Remove dead insects, cobwebs and junk mail
- Check bathrooms and kitchens for smells and run taps
- Check the entry and shopfront glass
- Make sure air conditioning or ventilation is running if possible
Leasing agents often do this themselves, but a regular maintenance clean means there’s less to fix on the day.
Shopfronts and Street Facing Tenancies
Vacant shops and ground floor offices are on display to everyone who walks past. Dirty windows, junk mail piled inside the door and dead insects in the display window make a property look neglected. Clean shopfront glass regularly, clear mail often and keep the entry swept.
Multi Tenant Buildings
In a shared building, common areas such as lobbies, lifts and corridors are cleaned by the base building cleaner. Vacant suites inside the building are usually the landlord’s responsibility. Make sure your vacant suite cleaner has access arrangements agreed with the building manager.
Photos for Leasing
Book listing photos after the vacant tenancy clean and carpet cleaning, once carpets are fully dry. Clean windows, bright lighting and clear floors make the space look larger and more appealing in photos.
What It Costs
In Adelaide, commercial cleaning usually costs $32 to $56 per hour, or about $1.76 to $3.44 per square metre per clean. Vacant tenancy cleans, carpet steam cleaning and external windows are usually quoted after a site visit. Ongoing maintenance cleans of a vacant space are often short visits, which keeps the cost manageable.
Questions to Ask a Cleaner
Ask whether they clean vacant commercial tenancies, whether they can schedule cleans around trades and make good works, whether they offer carpet steam cleaning and window cleaning, whether they can do regular maintenance cleans while the space is vacant, and whether they will report problems such as leaks or pests. Ask for a current public liability certificate.
An experienced commercial cleaning Adelaide team will clean to the standard you need for leasing, not just tenancy handover. Once a new tenant moves in, the same provider can quote for their ongoing office cleaning Adelaide needs.
How Ms Clean AU Can Help
Ms Clean AU provides commercial cleaning Adelaide SA services from our base at 71 Alexandra Street, Prospect. We offer office deep cleaning, carpet steam cleaning and window cleaning, with flexible scheduling around trades and inspections. Every new site starts with a free on site assessment and a fixed written price. We hold $20 million public liability insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who cleans a commercial property when a tenant leaves?
The outgoing tenant may have make good obligations under the lease. The landlord usually arranges any further cleaning to prepare the space for leasing.
When should a vacant tenancy be cleaned?
After repairs and make good works are finished, and before listing photos and inspections.
How often should vacant commercial property be cleaned?
A light maintenance clean every two to four weeks keeps dust, insects and smells under control.
Why does a vacant office smell bad?
Often because drain traps have dried out, letting sewer smells in, or because the space hasn’t been aired. Running taps and flushing toilets regularly helps.
Should carpets be steam cleaned before leasing?
Usually, yes, if they’re stained or tired. Clean carpets photograph and inspect much better.
How much does vacant tenancy cleaning cost in Adelaide?
Commercial cleaning usually costs $32 to $56 per hour. Vacant tenancy cleans and carpet cleaning are quoted after a site visit.
Make Your Vacant Space Ready to Lease
Ms Clean AU helps Adelaide landlords, property managers and leasing agents keep vacant commercial property clean, fresh and ready for inspection. We start with a free on site assessment and give you a fixed written price.
Call 0480 321 027 or email [email protected] for your free quote.
Ms Clean AU, 71 Alexandra Street, Prospect SA 5082
