Free guide

Holiday let changeover cleaning checklist

A practical list for the clean between guests, with a version you can print and tick.

The short answer

A changeover clean makes the property ready for the next guest. It is not a deep clean. Walk the property in the order below, tick only what you have done, and leave a note for anything you could not finish. The printable list is on this page.

Agree the list before the first clean

Use one list for the property and stick to it. A cleaner cannot guess whether the oven, the inside of the kitchen cupboards or the garden furniture is part of today's job. Cross out what does not apply, and add the odd things this house has, such as a hot tub cover or a travel cot.

Keep a changeover clean and a deep clean as two different jobs. The changeover is what has to be finished before the next guest. The deep clean is the work you schedule on an empty day. Mixing them is how a same-day turn runs late.

Say which products to use, and which not to use on stone, wood or glass.
Name where clean linen is, where dirty linen goes, and who washes it.
Agree what 'guest-ready' means for the beds, the towels and the welcome bits.

Printable checklist

Cross out anything this property does not have. Add a line for a hot tub, a dog, a cot or a log burner if you offer one. Tick on paper, or use the same tasks on the cleaner's phone.

Before you start

Read the checkout time, the next check-in and any note from the owner.
Check you have linen, cloths, bags and the products this property uses.
Open windows for a short airing if the weather allows. Close and lock them before you leave.
Look for a guest note about something broken, missing or left behind.

Kitchen

Clear and wipe the worktops, hob, sink and splashback.
Check the oven, microwave and fridge. Wipe everyday spills. Flag a heavy oven clean if that is a separate job.
Empty the fridge of opened food unless the owner says otherwise, then wipe the shelves.
Empty or run the dishwasher and put away the clean items.
Empty the bin, fit a new liner and take the rubbish to the outside bin.
Restock washing-up liquid, dishwasher tablets and bin bags if you supply them.
Empty the kettle, toaster and coffee maker of crumbs and used pods.
Sweep and mop the floor, including under the table.

Living and dining

Plump cushions, fold throws and put furniture back where it belongs.
Check sofas and under cushions for crumbs, food and lost items.
Vacuum the floor and the edges.
Wipe the table, remotes, switches and door handles.
Empty the bins and replace the liners.

Bedrooms

Strip the beds and check the mattress and pillow protectors for stains.
Remake every bed with clean linen. Change a soiled protector rather than covering it.
Check under the bed, in open drawers and in the wardrobe for forgotten items.
Vacuum, including under the bed if you can reach.
Wipe bedside tables, handles and the mirror.
Leave spare linen only where the owner has agreed.

Bathrooms

Clean the toilet, including under and behind the seat.
Clean the shower, bath and screen, and wipe away loose hair.
Wipe the basin, taps and mirror.
Empty the bin, replace the liner and wash the floor.
Restock toilet roll and hand soap, and leave the agreed number of clean towels.
If the extractor grille is clogged, do not pull it apart. Report it.

Hall, stairs and cupboards

Vacuum the hall and stairs.
Wipe handles and the banister.
Check the coat cupboard for forgotten coats, shoes and bags.
Put keys, remotes and the house folder back in their usual place.

Outside and bins

Bring in cushions and close the parasol if they were left out.
Pick up glasses, rubbish and dog mess in the garden or on the balcony.
Leave the bins as the owner asked. Put them out only on the collection morning if that is the agreement.
Check the path and the parking match the access note.

Final walk-through

Walk from the front door to the kettle, as a guest would.
Set the heating and hot water only as the owner asked.
Close and lock the windows. Use the door you were told to use.
Turn lights off, except any the owner wants left on.
Photograph finished rooms only if the owner has asked for photos.
Report damage, low supplies or anything unfinished before you leave.
Do not repair gas, electrics or alarms yourself.

Leave a record, not a vague 'all done'

A tick without a note is enough for ordinary tasks. Anything odd needs a sentence: what you found, which room, and whether the next guest can still stay. Take a photo of damage or of a finished room when the owner has asked for one. Do that before you lock up, while you can still see the problem.

Changeover Master can hold this list on the cleaner's private job link. There is no login. They tick the tasks on their phone, add a photo of the finished clean, and report a problem if something is damaged, missing or low. When they mark the clean done, the account owner gets one email with the checklist count, the photo count and any open problems. The pictures are not attached. If you want that on your own properties, you can start a free trial.

Worked example · illustrative

A same-day cottage

The situation

A two-bedroom cottage checks out at 10:00. The next guests arrive at 16:00. The cleaner finds a stained mattress protector and an empty toilet roll in the downstairs loo.

What you do

They change the protector, remake the bed, restock the toilet roll from the spare box, and note the stain with the room name. The rest of the list is ticked. The unfinished deep oven clean is not squeezed into this turn. It is written down for an empty day.