As the academic year drew to a close, A Quality Service (AQS) took on one of its most ambitious projects to date: preparing thousands of student accommodation rooms across the UK for the upcoming academic year. Over the summer of 2024, our expert team successfully deep-cleaned 5,715 rooms across nine cities—a monumental effort that required meticulous planning, adaptability, and a commitment to excellence. 

From addressing unique site challenges to exceeding client expectations, here’s how we delivered one of our largest and most complex cleans. 

Scope of work: A growing challenge 

Building on the success of previous years, AQS expanded its student accommodation cleaning programme in 2024. Our mission was to deep-clean 5,715 rooms across nine cities—York, Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds, Leicester, Bristol, Bath, Plymouth, and Cardiff. This included work at 12 iQ Student Accommodation sites and one Vita Student site, with additional new sites in York, Leicester, and Leeds. 

Beyond standard deep-cleaning services, we tackled unique requirements, such as a “bag and bin” service for 329 rooms. This involved clearing belongings and waste left behind by departing students. Each location presented its own challenges, including staggered move-out and move-in schedules, temporary summer rentals, and even refurbishment works. 

Meeting challenges head-on 

Student accommodation cleaning is a race against time. Our team faced tight turnaround periods at many sites, with just days to prepare rooms between move-outs and new arrivals. Delays caused by refurbishment works added complexity, but our team's adaptability and close coordination with contractors reassured our clients that we would stay on schedule. 

Maja Abramek, Project Manager for Education at AQS, shared insights into the challenges: 

“Every site was unique. In Leicester, we dealt with heavy limescale buildup, while in York, the site's sheer size posed logistical hurdles. It was about understanding each client’s needs and tailoring our approach to meet them.” 

Despite these pressures, our team remained focused on delivering exceptional results. Our ability to adapt, maintain high standards, and meet deadlines didn’t go unnoticed. As John Gruszka, Operations Manager at iQ Student Accommodation in Plymouth, noted: 

“It has been amazing working with you this summer. High, consistent standards throughout, clear communication, logistics, and delivery are excellent, and overall, your teams are great. Thanks for making one of the toughest parts of the summer turnaround seem seamless and smooth - it has helped massively.” 

Planning, communication and teamwork: The keys to success 

The scale of this project demanded detailed planning and proactive communication. To ease the workload during peak times, we cleaned some sites early in June. This early engagement allowed us to identify potential challenges, such as specific cleaning requirements or unexpected site conditions, and create contingency plans for every scenario. Our proactive planning gave our clients a sense of security and confidence in our ability to deliver. 

“Each site required careful coordination,” explained Maja. 

“Our team worked tirelessly to ensure every space was cleaned to the highest standard, ready for students’ return. It was all about knowing our clients, sites, and people and investing in those relationships.” 

This proactive approach not only ensured seamless execution but also garnered praise from clients across all sites. Emma Pang at iQ Accommodation in Leicester commented: 

“I just want to say a big thank you to Nathan and the team, especially this week—it has been amazing.” 

Cleaning on this large scale wouldn't have been possible without a great team dedicated to these cleans. Maja adds: 

“During the student accommodation deep clean, it’s very challenging. You will come across a wide range of cleaning challenges throughout. It’s not for the faint-hearted. Some of these rooms will need lots of cleaning, and each room differs from the next. Having a team that is amazing at what they do and love what they do plays a key role in the smooth running.” 

Why choose AQS? 

The 2024 summer deep clean reaffirmed our position as a trusted partner for student accommodation providers. Our attention to detail, ability to adapt to complex challenges, and commitment to clear communication consistently exceeded client expectations. 

Reflecting on the success of the project, Maja shared: 

“The key to success is knowing your people, clients, and sites. When you invest in good people and strong relationships, great results follow.” 

For student accommodation providers seeking a reliable, highly skilled cleaning partner, we always deliver seamless, high-quality results. 

Let us make your next summer turnaround just as successful. Get in touch with our team today by calling 01443 217000 or emailing info@aqualityservice.co.uk.