An apartment complex cleaning contract is a legal agreement between an apartment manager or owner and a cleaning service or company. The contract outlines the cleaning company’s services, the frequency of cleanings, the payment terms, and the responsibilities of both parties.
As an apartment complex owner, it’s essential to verify that your contract has everything it needs to guarantee that your property is properly cleaned and taken care of. Below, we outline a few important terms to ensure are included in an apartment complex cleaning contract before you decide to hire a new commercial cleaning service.
What to Include in an Apartment Complex Cleaning Contract
Cleaning contracts for apartment complexes should include the following information:
- The names and contact information of the apartment complex representative and the cleaning company
- The scope of work, including the frequency and type of services provided
- The areas that will be cleaned
- The payment terms
- The responsibilities of both parties
- A dispute resolution clause
- Terms and conditions for emergency services
The contract ensures that both parties are clear about their rights and responsibilities. It can also come in handy down the road if legal issues arise. You should be aware of a lot regarding these contracts, regardless of whether you represent a cleaning company or an apartment complex.
Always Get It in Writing
Technically speaking, cleaning contracts between apartment complexes and companies can be written or verbal. However, verbal agreements won’t hold much weight (if any) in court if the need for litigation arises. In addition, written contracts provide more protection for both parties by giving clear proof of agreed-upon terms, evidence that can be easily referenced without much room for misinterpretation.
Outline the Term
It may seem obvious, but many people forget to include the term and term conditions in contracts. For example, cleaning contracts can be valid for an indefinite term or a fixed time. A fixed-term contract is for a specific period, such as one year. An indefinite-term agreement is valid and remains active for an open-ended period.
Specify Termination Stipulations
It’s vital to include any relevant conditions for terminating the contract. Usually, either party may terminate cleaning contracts with or without cause. But if an agreement is terminated without cause when it would typically be needed, the terminating party must pay the other an early termination fee. In addition, some contracts contain stipulations regarding termination, such as requiring 30 days’ notice for termination.
Cover Yourself in the Event of Disputes
If a dispute arises between the two parties in a cleaning contract, mediation, arbitration, or litigation can be used to reach a resolution. Mediation and arbitration are non-binding; this means parties are not required to follow the decision of the mediator or arbitrator.
However, litigation is a lawful, legally binding process in a court of law. Therefore, both parties in litigation cases must follow the court’s decision. For this reason, cleaning contracts should always include a dispute resolution clause that stipulates how disputes will be handled.
The Scope of Work
One of the essential parts of an apartment complex cleaning contract is the details about the scope of work. This is a detailed list of the services that will be provided. Ensuring that both parties are on the same page and have the exact expectations.
The scope of work that is outlined in the contract should contain the following information:
- The specific services that will be provided
- The frequency of the cleaning services
- The areas that will be cleaned
- The materials and equipment that will be used
- The safety precautions that will be taken
All parties must review the scope of work before signing the contract. If there is anything unclear for either party, it should be brought up and resolved before signing.
The scope of work should be measurable and specific to avoid misunderstandings. It should also be realistic, which means that the cleaning company should be able to complete the tasks in the time that’s agreed upon.
At the same time, the scope of work should be flexible enough to allow for some changes as the apartment complex’s needs evolve. For example, if a new apartment building is built, the contract must be updated accordingly.
The scope of work must also include specifics about what days and times the cleaning will be done for the apartment complex. Finally, it should also outline the fees and payments that will be exchanged for such services and when those transactions will occur.
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We hope you found this guide on apartment complex cleaning contracts helpful! Remember, the purpose of the contract is to protect both you and the cleaning service that you hire. If you have questions, always remember to ask the cleaning service before you sign the dotted line—and ensure the information is also included in your contract. In the end, a well put-together contract is one way to ensure that you hire the right people for the job at hand.
At 360clean, apartment complex cleaning is nothing new. For nearly two decades, we have offered health-focused office cleaning services for businesses throughout the United States. We understand that safeguarding your employees’ and tenants’ health and well-being is your top priority, and that’s why we deploy our proven JaniMed® system, which consists of specialized training, hospital-grade disinfectants, touch surface disinfection, and state-of-the-art equipment, like micro-fiber technology and Hepa Vacuums. The best part is that we can often implement our JaniMed® system at the same price or even less than your current commercial cleaning service.
To learn more about our commercial cleaning services for apartments, contact us today for a free proposal. Thanks for stopping by our blog; we hope to help you soon!