The holiday-let changeover checklist (that cleaners actually use)

The best checklists are short enough to follow and specific enough to matter. Write one per property — every house has its own quirks — and keep it where your team can see it on the job.

Changeovers are where reviews are won or lost. Guests rarely mention a perfect clean, but they always mention a hair in the shower or an empty toilet roll holder. A checklist takes the guesswork out — for you and for whoever is cleaning.

It also makes life easier when someone new joins your team, covers a holiday or cleans a property for the first time. Everything they need to know is written down.

Room by room

Use this as a starting point and adapt it to each property. The aim is a list your cleaner can work through without having to think about what comes next.

• BedroomsFresh linen, spare blankets, under the beds, hangers in the wardrobe, curtains working.
• BathroomsTowels, toilet roll stock, shower drain, limescale on taps, bin emptied.
• KitchenDishwasher empty, fridge cleared, hob and oven wiped, tea and coffee topped up.
• Living areasRemote controls, cushions straightened, glass tables smear-free, log basket filled.
• OutsideHot tub checked, garden furniture wiped, bins out, door mat clean.
• Final walk-roundHeating set, lights off, windows locked, key safe reset.

Make it stick

A checklist only works if it is used every time. These habits help it become part of the routine rather than a sheet of paper in a drawer.

1. Keep one checklist per property, with notes for that house — “the back door sticks”, “spare key in the blue tin”.
2. Ask for a photo or short video of each finished room. It protects your cleaner as much as it reassures you.
3. Flag same-day turnarounds so the tight ones get priority.
4. Give your team a quick way to report problems — a broken lamp found today is one fixed before the next guest.

Keep it alive

The best checklists change over time. Every time a guest mentions something — good or bad — ask whether it belongs on the list. Within a few months you will have a checklist that reflects exactly what your guests care about.