Specialist Cleaning for Councils and Housing Associations in Bristol

Social housing throws up cleaning problems that no domestic cleaning company can handle. Drug contamination after police raids. Mould infestations that put tenants in hospital. Hoarding situations where you can’t see the floor. Needle-strewn stairwells. Properties left in states that take your breath away. And not in a good sense.

Bristol Cleaning Heroes has provided specialist cleaning for councils and housing associations for over 25 years. We understand the regulatory framework, the safeguarding requirements, and the budget pressures. We work quickly, document thoroughly, and charge fairly.

To arrange a site visit or get a quote, call 07985 505061 or email hello@bristolcleaningheroes.co.uk. For emergencies: 0808 303 7072.

We currently work with housing teams across the Bristol area and have previously supported Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire Council, and several housing associations including LiveWest and Bromford. Our IICRC certification and £2M AXA insurance policy meet standard procurement requirements.

Awaab’s Law: Mould Compliance

Awaab Ishak died in 2020 from prolonged exposure to mould in his Rochdale social housing flat. He was two years old. The Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 introduced strict duties on social landlords to investigate and fix damp and mould hazards within set timescales.

This isn’t optional. And it’s not something you can fix with a tin of anti-mould paint.

We carry out professional mould remediation that meets Awaab’s Law requirements. Our process:

1. Assessment. We identify the mould species, the moisture source, and the extent of colonisation. Not every dark patch is the same risk level.
2. Containment. For significant infestations, we isolate the affected area to prevent spore spread during treatment.
3. Remediation. Physical removal of mould growth, HEPA vacuuming of spores, and application of antimicrobial treatments.
4. Documentation. Written report with photographs, moisture readings, treatment details, and recommendations for preventing recurrence.
5. Follow-up. We can return to check the remediation has held, which gives your housing team an audit trail.

Founder’s opinion: too many housing providers treat mould as a cosmetic problem. It’s not. It’s a health hazard, particularly for children, elderly tenants, and anyone with respiratory conditions. Spending properly on remediation now prevents compensation claims, disrepair cases, and worst of all, harm to tenants. The cost of doing it right is always less than the cost of doing it twice.

Honest caveat: mould remediation only works long-term if the underlying moisture problem is addressed. If there’s a structural damp issue, a leaking roof, or inadequate ventilation, the mould will come back. We’ll flag these issues in our report, but we’re cleaners, not builders. You’ll need your maintenance team or a contractor to fix the root cause.

Drug Lab Cleanup (Clandestine Lab Decontamination)

After Avon and Somerset Police finish processing a cannabis farm or methamphetamine lab, someone has to make the property safe for habitation again. That’s us.

Drug manufacturing leaves chemical residues on every surface. Cannabis cultivation causes extreme humidity damage, mould growth, and electrical hazards. Methamphetamine production contaminates surfaces with toxic residues that can affect future occupants’ health.

Our drug lab cleanup includes:

• Chemical residue testing and surface sampling
• Removal of all contaminated soft furnishings and porous materials
• Deep cleaning and decontamination of hard surfaces
• HEPA air filtration
• Post-decontamination testing to confirm safe residue levels
• Full documentation for your property file

We coordinate with police and environmental health teams. We’ve handled sites across Bristol, from tower blocks in Hartcliffe to terraced houses in St Pauls and suburban semis in Kingswood.

Hoarding Support

Hoarding situations need care, not just cleaning. We work alongside social workers, mental health teams, and tenancy support officers. We don’t just turn up with skip bags and start throwing things away.

Our approach:

• Pre-visit meeting with the tenant’s support worker to understand the situation and any safeguarding concerns
• Phased clearing that respects the tenant’s pace where possible
• Sorting and categorisation of items so the tenant retains what matters to them
• Deep cleaning once items are removed
• Pest treatment coordination if needed (we work with local pest control firms)
• Waste disposal through licensed carriers, with duty of care documentation

A housing officer from a Bristol housing association once referred a hoarding case to us that three other cleaning companies had turned down. The tenant hadn’t used her kitchen in two years. We worked with her support worker over three days. By the end, she cooked a meal in her own kitchen for the first time since 2024. That’s why we do this work.

Sharps and Needle Sweeps

Discarded needles in communal areas, stairwells, bin stores, and green spaces are a persistent problem in parts of Bristol. We carry out professional sharps removal and disposal, using proper sharps containers and licensed clinical waste disposal.

We can set up regular sweep schedules for problem areas. Weekly, fortnightly, whatever frequency keeps your residents and staff safe. All removals are logged with location, quantity, and disposal records.

Void Property Turnaround

Social housing voids cost money every day they sit empty. We provide fast, thorough void cleaning that gets properties tenant-ready. Standard void cleans completed within 24-48 hours depending on property size and condition.

For properties that need more intensive work (post-hoarding, post-drug-lab, heavily soiled), we’ll give you a realistic timescale upfront. No surprises.

What We Provide

• £2M public liability insurance (AXA). Certificate provided for your approved contractor records.
• IICRC certified technicians. Internationally recognised cleaning and restoration credentials.
• DBS-checked staff. Every team member, every job.
• Full documentation. Photographs, reports, waste transfer notes, and itemised invoices.
• Purchase order and invoice processing. We work with your accounts system, not against it.

We’re based at 290-294 Southmead Road, Bristol BS10 5EN. We cover all Bristol postcodes, Bath, and the surrounding local authority areas.

Procurement

We understand that council and housing association procurement works differently from private sector work. We can provide:

• Insurance certificates and risk assessments
• Method statements for specialist work
• References from existing public sector clients
• Competitive quotes against your framework rates
• Compliance with your safeguarding and data protection requirements

We’re happy to go through a formal onboarding process. We’ve done it before and we know what’s involved.

Get in touch. Call 07985 505061 or email hello@bristolcleaningheroes.co.uk. We’ll arrange a meeting with your housing or facilities team to discuss your requirements.