Most small apartment buildings need a weekly clean of the shared areas, quick daily checks of the trash and entries, and deeper jobs monthly and quarterly. In Florida, unless agreed otherwise in writing, the landlord of a building other than a single family home or duplex must make reasonable provision for the clean and safe condition of common areas, garbage removal and extermination (section 83.51).
The schedule
| How often | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Daily, or at every visit | Pick up litter and flyers, check the trash area for overflow and loose bags, check hall and stair lights, note spills or leaks |
| Weekly | Sweep and mop halls, stairs and entries; wipe handrails, door handles and switches; clean the laundry room floor, sink and machine tops; sweep the trash area and wipe container lids; dust the mail area and clear junk mail |
| Monthly | Wash entry door glass; dust light fixtures, vents and baseboards; wash out trash containers; wipe marks off walls; clear lint from behind the dryers |
| Quarterly | Scrub hard floors and stair treads; wash walls in busy areas; clean outside light fixtures; check caulk and door seals for gaps; pressure wash walkways and the trash area, usually quoted separately |
A starting point for buildings of 2 to 24 units. Busy entries and trash areas may need two visits a week.
Keeping pests out
UF/IFAS Extension advice for cockroaches in multifamily buildings comes down to removing food, water and hiding places, with residents, the pest control company, managers and cleaners all involved.
- Keep trash areas clean and lids closed, and remove cardboard as soon as possible
- Clear food and drink spills in common areas the same day
- Seal around plumbing pipes and other entry points, and check screens and seals on doors and windows
- Fix leaks and dry wet areas quickly, especially in the laundry room
- Keep storage areas and the laundry room free of clutter
- Keep a log of pest sightings and share it with your pest control company
Who does what
| Task | Usually done by |
|---|---|
| Halls, stairs, laundry and trash areas | Your cleaner, on a set schedule |
| Pest treatments | A pest control company |
| Trash and recycling collection | The hauler or the city, with the cleaner keeping the area tidy |
| Lights, leaks and repairs | You or your handyman, from the cleaner's reports |
| Inside each unit | The tenant, who must keep it clean and sanitary and remove garbage (section 83.52) |
Setting it up
- Walk the building and list every shared space, including breezeways, laundry and mail areas
- Choose a frequency for each one from the table
- Give your cleaner the list, a place to store supplies and access to water
- Ask for a short note or photos after each visit, with anything that needs repair
- Review the list every quarter, and after a storm
Common area cleaning typically starts from $120 a visit, quoted per building, and weekly or every two week schedules cost less per visit. To budget it alongside your units, see budgeting for turnover cleaning, and our free Florida turnover checklist covers the units themselves.
Send a request for common area cleaning and a local cleaner will call you to quote.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and local rules change, and your lease may add terms. For advice on your property, speak to a Florida attorney.