If you are leasing a space in Detroit and you are asking who handles cleaning, you are usually dealing with something practical, not theoretical.

• The lobby looks neglected.
• The trash area is a mess.
• The restroom situation is getting complaints.
• Or you are getting billed for “cleaning” but nobody can explain what is being cleaned.

The reason this gets so confusing is simple: commercial cleaning is rarely “one owner.” It is split based on the lease. Most of the time, the tenant cleans inside their unit, and the landlord manages shared areas. But the details can change based on lease type, the building setup, and whether CAM charges apply.

And if your space includes a kitchen, it gets even stricter. Kitchen cleaning is not a “nice to have.” It is a daily operational requirement, and it is usually the tenant’s responsibility because it is tied to how the tenant runs the business, not how the landlord runs the property.

This guide explains:

• What tenants usually handle
• What landlords usually handle
• What to look for in the lease (so you’re not guessing)
• The common gray areas that trigger disputes
• How to set cleaning responsibilities clearly
• When it makes sense to hire commercial cleaning services Detroit MI, especially for kitchen cleaning

Start with the building split: “your space” vs “shared space”

Cleaning responsibility makes more sense when you stop thinking in titles (tenant vs landlord) and start thinking in zones.

Leased premises (tenant-controlled)

This is your suite, your store footprint, your office, your kitchen, your storage, your private restroom inside the unit, and your back-of-house.

If it is inside the four walls of what you lease, that is usually your daily responsibility.

Common areas (landlord-controlled)

This includes spaces used by multiple tenants:

• Lobby and reception areas
• Hallways and corridors
• Elevators and stairwells
• Shared restrooms
• Shared trash rooms or dumpster enclosures
• Parking areas and entry points

The landlord usually arranges cleaning here, but tenants may pay for it through CAM or operating expenses. That’s where many disputes start because the tenant is paying, but expectations are unclear.

Lease type decides the cleaning “default”

Even before you read the cleaning clause, the lease structure already hints at what you should expect.

Full-service lease (often more included)

In a full-service setup, the landlord may include building services in the rent. That can include common area cleaning, but it still doesn’t always include cleaning inside your unit. Many tenants assume “full-service” means the landlord handles everything, then realize their suite is still their responsibility.

Modified gross lease (mixed responsibility)

This is the zone where confusion happens most because some services are shared and some are tenant-provided. You might have common areas cleaned, but your unit is not included. Or the landlord provides light cleaning, but anything beyond that is on the tenant.

NNN / CAM-driven lease (tenant pays operating share)

In NNN-style setups, the landlord typically manages common areas and bills tenants for their pro-rated share of operating expenses. Cleaning is often one of those expenses. The problem is that the lease may not define:

• What “cleaning” includes
• How often it happens
• What standard is required

So the building may technically “clean,” but not at the level tenants expect.

What tenants are usually responsible for

Tenants are typically responsible for keeping the leased space clean, safe, and operational. That usually includes both everyday upkeep and scheduled cleaning.

1) Day-to-day cleaning inside the unit

This includes:

• Floors (sweeping, mopping, vacuuming)
• Dusting and surface wipe-down
• Removing trash from interior bins
• Cleaning private restrooms inside the unit (if the suite has them)
• Keeping entry areas presentable (especially for retail)

The important detail here: even if the landlord cleans the building, tenants usually still must keep their own unit in “commercially clean condition.” That phrase shows up often in leases and it is intentionally broad.

2) Waste handling inside the unit

Tenants typically handle:

• Bagging trash properly
• Preventing overflow or leakage
• Moving trash to designated disposal areas
• Keeping their disposal area from attracting pests

If the building provides dumpsters, tenants still usually must follow rules for breakdown, bagging, and scheduling. That becomes critical for restaurants and food tenants because one bad trash routine can create pest problems that affect neighboring tenants.

3) Kitchen cleaning (if the tenant operates food prep)

If your leased space includes a kitchen, prep area, or commercial food handling, your cleaning obligations are not “basic janitorial.” They’re operational.

Kitchen cleaning includes:

• Grease control on cooking surfaces and surrounding splash zones
• Daily cleaning of floors around cooklines, prep tables, and dish areas
• Drain and floor detail work (buildup here creates odor and pest risk fast)
• Cleaning behind and underneath heavy equipment where grease collects
• Sanitation routines for food contact surfaces
• Consistent removal of food waste before it becomes a facility issue

This is also why kitchen tenants often need a specialized provider, not a generic office cleaner. Kitchen cleaning requires the right chemical approach, the right schedule, and a team that understands what a commercial kitchen actually needs to stay safe and compliant.

What landlords are usually responsible for

Landlords generally handle cleaning and upkeep in spaces that serve the entire building, because it’s part of maintaining the property’s usability.

1) Common area cleaning and presentation

This typically includes:

• Entryways, lobbies, and corridors
• Elevator cab wipe-downs and basic surface cleaning
• Stairwell sweep and spot cleaning
• Shared restrooms (if the building provides them)
• General odor control and trash room upkeep
• Touchpoint cleaning in high traffic areas (handles, railings, buttons)

But here’s what matters: some landlords provide only “light cleaning” and call it complete. If the lease doesn’t define scope, you get a building that looks “technically serviced” but still feels dirty.

2) Exterior areas and shared site upkeep

Depending on the property, this can include:

• Sweeping entrances and sidewalks
• Keeping exterior trash areas clean
• Seasonal cleanup (salt, debris, leaves)
• Basic maintenance cleaning around loading zones

Exterior cleanliness impacts tenant foot traffic and overall safety. That’s why many buildings tie it directly to operating expenses.

3) Base-building systems (not tenant-level cleaning)

Landlords are usually responsible for maintaining structural systems. That’s not “cleaning,” but it matters because tenants often confuse building maintenance with janitorial responsibility. For example, a landlord may fix a roof leak, but the tenant may still be responsible for the interior cleanup after the leak affects their unit unless the lease states otherwise.

The most common gray areas that trigger disputes

This is where most “tenant vs landlord” arguments actually come from. Not the obvious stuff.

1) Shared restrooms

If restrooms are shared, landlords usually clean them. But disputes happen when:

• Cleaning is too infrequent
• Restocking is unclear (paper goods, soap, towels)
• Tenants assume “cleaning” includes deep sanitation

This is why scope matters. Restroom cleaning has levels, and a building that only does surface wipe-downs will still create complaints.

2) Trash rooms and dumpster enclosures

Who cleans spilled liquids? Who handles odor? Who deals with overflow?

A lot of leases say tenants must dispose properly, but they don’t define who cleans the mess when one tenant does it wrong. That’s why trash areas become a constant conflict point.

3) Grease and kitchen-related impacts

In food spaces, grease travels.

• It can build up in shared areas near back entrances.
• It can attract pests that affect other tenants.
• It can create odors that spread into hallways.

Landlords often want tenants to manage grease-related cleanliness fully, including anything tied to the kitchen’s operations. Tenants sometimes assume landlord cleaning should cover it because it’s “outside the unit.” That mismatch creates disputes.

4) After-hours cleaning access

Tenants may need cleaning after close. Landlords may restrict access times, require certificates, or have security protocols. If the building restricts access but still expects “commercially clean condition,” tenants get stuck unless the rules are clarified.

5) “Deep cleaning” vs “routine cleaning”

This is the big one.

Routine cleaning is the weekly or nightly stuff. Deep cleaning includes:

• Baseboards, vents, corners, buildup zones
• Degreasing and detail work in kitchens
• High dust areas and behind equipment

If the lease doesn’t define which party handles deep cleaning and at what frequency, it becomes a surprise cost.

How to protect yourself: build a cleaning responsibility checklist

If you are a tenant or landlord and you want fewer headaches, the simplest move is to create a clear responsibility map and attach it to your lease or operational agreements.

Before the checklist, here’s the rule: if nobody owns it clearly, it becomes neglected.

A cleaning scope checklist should define:

• Which areas are tenant responsibility
• Which areas are landlord responsibility
• How often each area is cleaned
• What “clean” means (basic tidy vs detailed sanitization)
• Who restocks supplies (especially restrooms)
• Who handles overflow or spills in shared areas
• Who handles kitchen-related exterior mess or grease zones
• How issues are reported and responded to

This turns cleaning from “assumption-based” to “process-based.”

When it makes sense to hire commercial cleaning services Detroit MI

A lot of Detroit businesses try to handle cleaning in-house until it becomes a problem:

• Staff gets inconsistent
• Standards drop under pressure
• Health inspection stress increases
• Grease and buildup creep into areas nobody notices until it’s serious

Hiring commercial cleaning services Detroit MI makes sense when:

• The building is multi-tenant and presentation matters daily
• The business operates long hours and needs after-hours service
• The facility includes food prep and requires reliable kitchen cleaning standards
• The cost of inconsistency is higher than the cost of service (complaints, pests, failed inspections, shutdown risk)

If your building includes a kitchen, cleaning responsibility should not be vague

Lease language can be debated. Kitchen reality can’t.

If your business runs a prep area or full commercial kitchen, kitchen cleaning has to be consistent, detailed, and built around how your operation actually runs.

D Poole Commercial Kitchen Cleaning Services supports Detroit businesses that need reliable cleaning standards without the stress of last-minute scrambling. If you want a plan that covers daily cleaning priorities plus the deeper work that prevents grease buildup, odors, and pest risk, reach out to schedule a walkthrough and get a cleaning plan that fits your kitchen.

FAQs

1) Who is responsible for commercial cleaning in Detroit buildings: tenants or landlords?

Most leases split responsibility. Tenants usually clean inside their leased space, while landlords handle common areas. The exact split depends on the lease type and the cleaning/CAM language.

2) If tenants pay CAM, does that mean the landlord must clean common areas?

Often yes, but CAM only guarantees that tenants are paying for operating expenses. It does not automatically guarantee the frequency or quality unless the lease or building scope defines it. Always ask what services are included and what schedule is being followed.

3) Are tenants responsible for kitchen cleaning even if the landlord cleans the building?

Yes, in most cases. Kitchen cleaning is tied to the tenant’s operations and food safety requirements. Even if common areas are cleaned by the building, the tenant is typically responsible for cleaning and sanitation inside the kitchen and food prep areas.

4) What’s the biggest cause of cleaning disputes in multi-tenant buildings?

Gray areas. Trash rooms, shared restrooms, back entrances, and “who cleans the mess when someone else causes it” issues are the biggest dispute zones. Disputes happen when responsibilities are not defined clearly.

5) Can landlords require tenants to keep their space “commercially clean”?

Yes, and many do. The problem is that phrase is broad, which is why tenants should clarify what standard is expected, especially for spaces with kitchens, grease zones, or public-facing traffic.

6) How do restaurants avoid cleaning conflicts with landlords?

By defining responsibility clearly in writing, especially for trash handling, grease areas, back entrances, and any shared spaces used for kitchen operations. A written scope avoids constant back-and-forth and prevents blame shifting.

7) How often should a commercial kitchen schedule deep cleaning?

It depends on volume and grease load, but most kitchens need a consistent rhythm: daily operational cleaning plus scheduled deep cleaning for drains, behind equipment, heavy grease zones, and detail areas that staff usually can’t reach during service hours.

8) When should a tenant hire commercial cleaning services Detroit MI instead of relying on staff?

When cleaning standards are inconsistent, when the operation runs long hours, when customer complaints or health inspection risk is rising, or when the facility includes a kitchen. A professional schedule reduces the risk of buildup and prevents “catch-up cleaning” emergencies.