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We walk through them every day without thinking, but stairwells play a double role in a building: they are evacuation routes in an emergency, and they are among the first spaces visitors notice. Dirty or cluttered stairs hurt the building's image — and can become a real hazard. Here are five tips for clean, safe stairwells. Tip 1: Disinfect handrails regularly Handrails are among the most-touched surfaces in the entire building: every resident going up or down puts a hand on

More and more residential buildings offer residents a gym or fitness room. It is a great asset for attracting and retaining tenants — but also a demanding space: sweat, shared equipment, floor mats and high humidity make it fertile ground for bacteria and bad odours. Here are seven hygiene rules to put in place to keep the space spotless. Rule 1: Require equipment wipe-down after every use Install visible, well-stocked cleaning stations: disinfectant spray and paper towels at

A burst pipe, a sewer backup, a roof leak or a broken washing machine in the laundry room: water damage is one of the situations property managers dread most. And when water reaches the common areas — hallways, lobbies, garages, stairwells — you need to act fast to protect the building, the residents' health and the condo association's budget. Here are the six steps to follow, from the first discovery to the return to normal. Step 1: Secure the area first Safety comes before

Unit renovation, hallway refurbishment, parking garage work: as soon as a job site opens in the building, dust gets everywhere. Lobbies, hallways, elevators, stairwells — common areas pay the price, and resident complaints follow close behind. For a property manager, construction work is unavoidable. But damage to common areas can be limited with good preparation. Here are 6 practical tips. Require a common-area protection plan before work begins Before a contractor starts, a

In many residential buildings, the garbage chute is the most overlooked piece of equipment. Yet it is one of the main sources of odours, dirt and pests in common areas. When a chute is neglected, resident complaints arrive quickly — and problems become expensive to fix. The good news: regular maintenance and a few good habits are enough to keep your chutes clean, functional and odour-free. Here are 6 practices to put in place. Clean the chute doors on every floor regularly Ch

Lighting is one of the most underestimated parts of building maintenance. Yet a poorly lit hallway looks dirty even when it was just cleaned, and a dark parking garage worries residents with good reason. For a manager, a few regular checks are enough to keep a building safe and welcoming. Here are 7 simple checks to build into your routine. 1. Replace burnt-out bulbs without delay Ask your cleaning team to systematically flag defective bulbs on every visit. The replacement it

Online deliveries keep increasing, and building lobbies are paying the price: parcels stacked in a corner, torn boxes, packaging left on the floor. For a property manager, a poorly managed package delivery area quickly becomes a source of complaints, clutter and even theft. Here are 6 simple rules to turn that chaos into a clean, functional and secure space. 1. Give parcels a dedicated space Designate a fixed area: a marked-off corner of the lobby, shelving, lockers or a smal

When it's time to organize a building's maintenance, one question comes up again and again: is it better to hire an in-house concierge or to hire a cleaning company? Both models have their advantages, and the right choice depends on your situation. Here are the points to compare to make an informed decision. 1. Your building's size and complexity For a small building with a few units, a part-time concierge may be enough: tasks are limited and on-site presence has value. Beyon

No matter how good your cleaning service is, complaints will come. A missed stain in a hallway, dust on a handrail, an overflowing garbage bin: for the resident who reports it, it's a detail that matters. The good news is that how you handle a complaint often matters more than the complaint itself. Here is a simple 5-step method, designed for property managers and condo boards. 1. Welcome the complaint without getting defensive The first reflex is to defend yourself: "the tea

Rooftop terraces, shared balconies and common outdoor decks are valuable assets for a building: residents love them in summer, and they raise the property's appeal. But in October, these outdoor spaces need special attention before winter sets in. Here is the end-of-season cleaning to plan, so you protect your installations and start fresh in the spring. 1. Remove furniture and accessories Tables, chairs, parasols, planters, outdoor rugs: all removable furniture should be cle

In any residential building, dozens of people touch the same surfaces every day: doors, elevators, stair railings, intercoms. These contact points are also where fingerprints, germs and residue accumulate fastest — yet they are often the areas a regular cleaning pass covers most quickly. Here are the 5 most-touched areas in your building's common spaces, and how to make sure they stay clean between visits. 1. Door handles and entry push bars Front door handles, hallway door h

Party, meeting or reception in the community room: a simple 6-step method to restore the room quickly and avoid forgotten tasks.

Carpet or hard flooring in your building's hallways: compare the real maintenance costs of both to choose the option that protects your budget for years.

The shared laundry room is small, but it generates a disproportionate number of complaints: machines that smell bad, wet floor, lint everywhere, laundry forgotten for hours. Good news: most of these irritants can be fixed with a clear hygiene routine and a few posted rules. Here are 6 rules that change everything for property managers and condominium syndicates. 1. A visible cleaning schedule that is actually followed Floors washed, machines wiped, lint traps emptied, sinks c

Indoor parking garages are among the most visible common areas day to day, yet they are also some of the most neglected in cleaning plans. Residents pass through them morning and evening, visitors form a first impression there, and yet cleaning is often limited to a quick pass. Here are 7 maintenance points property managers most often overlook, and how to integrate them into a simple, lasting routine. 1. Fine dust and brake dust A fine layer of grey dust settles on ledges, p

Dogs and cats leave hair, paw prints and odours in lobbies, hallways and elevators. Practical advice for property managers and condo syndicates.

July 1st and moving days damage hallways, elevators and lobbies. Here are 7 simple ways to protect your building's common areas on moving day.

Weekly maintenance keeps your common areas presentable day to day. But some tasks — stripping floors, deep-cleaning carpets, dusting light fixtures or washing high windows — can't be done on every visit. That's where seasonal deep cleans come in. Scheduling these interventions at the right time of year protects your surfaces, extends their lifespan and helps you avoid costly repairs. Spring: Repairing Winter Damage After months of salt, sand, calcium and moisture, spring is t

Garbage and recycling rooms rarely make the priority list… until a tenant complains about odours in the hallway or reports flies near the bins. For a property manager, these spaces are among the most sensitive areas of a building: a poorly maintained room can quickly become a hygiene problem, a pest problem and an image problem. Here are 6 practical tips to keep your garbage and recycling rooms clean all year round. Tip 1 — Set an Appropriate Cleaning Frequency The garbage ro

Fall is the best time to get your common areas ready for winter. Every year, de-icing salt, slush and melting snow damage the floors in entrance lobbies, hallways and stairwells. A little prevention now will save you costly repairs in the spring. Why salt is the enemy of your floors De-icing salt eats through floor finishes, leaves stubborn whitish stains and accelerates wear on ceramic, vinyl and concrete. In stairwells, it makes surfaces slippery and increases the risk of t