Practical guide
Cleaning after every check-out: always include it, or leave it to the guest?
It is one of the first questions we are asked. Both are done; one makes life simpler, the other a little harder. Here is what we see, visit after visit.
Updated 18 September 2026 · 2 min read
Two approaches
Always included: a professional clean follows every check-out, and its cost is usually built into the price of the booking.
Left to the guest: they tidy up themselves before leaving, or pay extra to have it done for them.
What a systematic clean changes
- the property is ready for every arrival, whether or not the previous guest was careful;
- nobody has money to collect on site;
- the standard of cleanliness no longer depends on each person's idea of clean;
- check-out does not turn into a debate about what was done.
Leaving it to the guest: what to expect
It works, but requires a check after every departure, and sometimes a second visit when the result is not good enough. You also need to know in advance how to react to a property left in a poor state. And when the next guest arrives the same day, there is no margin at all.
Check-out notes, in every case
A systematic clean is no licence to leave the dishes in the sink. A few lines displayed near the door — friendly, short, practical — prevent most unpleasant surprises.
What we include: the latest check-out time, where to leave the keys, the dishes, bins and recycling, windows to close, heating or air conditioning to switch off.
This guide gives general pointers. It is not legal advice, and the obligations that come with letting a property remain its owner's. The law that applies is French law; legal texts are cited in French.