In 2004 Sovereign Housing set up a pilot scheme in partnership with ServiceMaster Clean of Newbury for the cleaning of communal areas. This decision was part of a strategy to constantly improve services for their tenants. As a Housing Association they were mindful that a dirty communal area both affects and reflects on everyone concerned with that building.
We work closely with housing associations and tenants to constantly improve the quality of the service that we provide.
The contract cleaning of the communal areas for General Needs Flats can be particularly demanding, due to the numbers of people, size of area and types of floors. ServiceMaster Clean introduced Commercial Cleaning Operation Units complete with independent engine, water tanks, pumps and heat exchangers for hot water rinse extraction of carpets and hard floors cleaning, for efficient cleaning of communal areas. Cleaning Operatives are also equipped with, pressure washers, vacuum cleaners and high reach window cleaning systems.
The number of Shared ownership flats, whereby the householder is a joint owner of the property with the Housing Association, is increasing. In general terms the properties are modern and tenants have very high expectations for standards of cleaning. The communal area needs not only to match the standards of the flats but to enhance them.
The needs of Sheltered Group Schemes are very different. The communal areas, such as the lounges, are important areas for socialising, so it is very important that a high standard of cleanliness is maintained. The day time cleaners provided by ServiceMaster Clean work to a service schedule, which is managed and monitored by Area Supervisors.
In today’s world of consumer awareness, a transparent cleaning service is not a need but a necessity. In other words the tenants want to see their cleaners, they want to see a professional image and most importantly they want to see what they are getting for their money.
ServiceMaster has more than 60 years experience in the cleaning industry. The ServiceMaster Clean network presents a clean professional image with the distinctive yellow Commercial Cleaning Operation Units. ServiceMaster Clean of Newbury, who operates the Communal Cleaning System, is building a reputation for quality cleaning services throughout our business-wide area.
In order to standardise a Quality Assurance Management Programme for Communal Cleaning ServiceMaster are setting up Commercial Operation Centres in the UK who will operate the communal cleaning system developed by ServiceMaster Clean Newbury.