HOA Area – Keeping it Safe & Sanitized

The landscape of cleaning, sanitation, and disinfecting has changed significantly since COVID-19 hit at the start of 2020. It’s a topic that we’ve touched on countless times over the past two years, as it’s directly related to our business and the services we provide at No More Dirt. The heightened sensitivity to public sanitation and raised standards of cleanliness makes our industry an important one, especially considering that these things won’t decrease in significance given the “new normal”. Many people are applying the same level of concern for public health to their homes, but in the case of HomeOwners Associations (HOA, for short), public and private health can be considered one in the same. That’s because HOAs are responsible for, in this case, the maintenance and sanitation of residential communities and buildings. If you work for or manage an HOA area, then it’s a good idea to stay informed on the newest and best practices. Here are some tips for keeping your HOA area safe & sanitized:

Common Areas: The Importance of Disinfecting

Disinfecting has been and will continue to be the most important maintenance task in HOA communal areas. To keep your HOA safe and sanitized, you’ll need to effectively disinfect all common areas, facilities, rooms, tools, and more, and at a greater frequency.

Provide Personal Hygiene Resources

In your HOA’s communal areas, it’s a good idea to provide personal hygiene resources for residents. These include, but aren’t limited to, hand sanitizer stations, disinfecting spray bottles and paper towels, or even masks and gloves where and when appropriate. Residents doing their part helps the overall level of sanitation.

Keep Residents Informed…Remotely

The CDC is and has been the primary source for guidelines and information that are all-things COVID-19, and it’s no different for HOAs. Keeping the residents of your community informed on community guidelines and protocols can only help maintain a safe and sanitary community, but make sure to disseminate your communications remotely, such as via email and/or posted signage.

HVAC Maintenance

Air quality is a critical part of maintaining clean HOA communities, especially within closed areas. The performance of your HOA community’s HVAC systems will either help or hurt the overall cleanliness of your HOA’s communal areas, so it’s a good idea to schedule an HVAC inspection and move forward with HVAC maintenance if needed. 

Limit Use of Non-Essential Areas & Facilities

This tip may be tricky to execute, since communal gathering areas and facilities are considered amenities of HOA communities, and a big part of the reason residents are willing to pay the HOA fees they do. However, it’s those areas and facilities that, if not managed well in the “new normal”, can increase the exchange of or risk of exposure to harmful pathogens like COVID-19. Try temporarily restricting access to areas such as pools, playgrounds, and community centers, and adding a security measure like requiring residents to submit requests to use these areas at specific dates and times.