Between guest stays, the safety checks come before the cosmetic ones. A short-term rental sees heavy, varied use from people who don't know the house, so the smoke and CO alarms and a charged fire extinguisher are the items you verify on every turnover, no exceptions. They're the difference between a bad review and a tragedy.
Quick turnover safety checklist
- Test the smoke and CO alarms.
- Check the fire-extinguisher pressure gauge.
- Restock the first-aid kit.
- Check the HVAC filter.
- Clean the dishwasher filter.
- Wipe the washer door gasket.
- Clear the shower drains.
- Clean the range-hood grease filter.
Test the smoke and CO alarms
Working alarms are required in many jurisdictions for rentals, and guests won't know if one is dead. Press the test button on every unit each turnover, replace weak batteries, and replace any alarm past the date printed on the label.
Check the fire extinguisher
Confirm the pressure gauge needle sits in the green and the pin and seal are intact, and that the extinguisher is mounted where a guest can reach it in the kitchen. A discharged or out-of-date disposable unit gets replaced; recharging and internal service are a certified technician's job.
Restock the first-aid kit
Guests dig into the first-aid kit for everything from blisters to burns. Open it each turnover and replace what's missing, used, or expired: bandages, gauze, tape, antiseptic, and gloves.
Check the HVAC filter
Back-to-back stays load the filter fast, and a clogged one strains the system and worsens the air for the next guest. Check it on turnover and replace it when it looks gray.
Clean the dishwasher filter
Guests run the dishwasher hard and rarely rinse plates, so the filter clogs with food and starts to smell. Pull and rinse it between stays so dishes come out clean for the next guest.
Wipe the washer door gasket
A front-loader's gasket traps water and grows mold and odor that transfer to towels and linens. Wipe it dry and leave the door ajar between guests.
Clear the shower drains
Hair builds up fast in a rental shower drain and leads to standing water mid-stay. Clear the drains on turnover so they run freely.
Clean the range-hood filter
Guest cooking loads the hood's grease filter quickly. Degrease the metal filter regularly so it keeps pulling smoke and grease out of the air.
Local codes still apply
Local codes and short-term rental regulations vary widely, including state-specific carbon monoxide alarm requirements, fire-extinguisher placement, occupancy rules, and lead-paint disclosure. This is a baseline. Check what your jurisdiction and your platform require on top.
Good maintenance rhythm
The checklist gets you through this turnover once. Keep the unit safe between tenants by running this routine every turnover.
- Every turnover: test the smoke and CO alarms and check the fire-extinguisher gauge.
- Every turnover: restock the first-aid kit and check the HVAC filter.
- Every turnover: clean the dishwasher filter and wipe the washer gasket.
- Every few stays: clear the shower drains and degrease the range-hood filter.
- At the date on the label: replace alarms that have aged out.
- As needed: replace a discharged or expired fire extinguisher.