Trash problems can lead to bad reviews, HOA complaints, and city fines. Monopoly’s Trash Valet handles pickup, recycling, and exterior cleanup, so your STR stays clean, compliant, and guest-ready.
Howdy Houstonians!
One of the most overlooked challenges in short-term rental operations is trash. Overflowing bins, bags left out too long, missed collection days; these are issues that we see far too often. In a business where first impressions matter, these small problems can quickly turn into big ones. When trash is handled properly, no one notices. When it’s not? Well, then it starts to impact everything, from your guest reviews to legal compliance.
Common Trash Solutions (and Why They Often Don’t Work)
Here’s why waste management is trickier than most hosts expect, and how you can avoid the most common mistakes.
- “I’ll Have My Cleaner Take Care of It”
Cleaners often agree to handle bins, but trash management isn’t their priority. Trash day might not align with cleaning day, recycling weeks alternate, and holiday pickup schedules are rarely tracked. Cleaners are there to turn over a property, not coordinate waste logistics, and when trash is mishandled, it shows. - “I Can Ask the Guest to Do It”
This one feels efficient but often backfires. Guests are there to relax, not manage bins.
Reviews sometimes reflect frustration: “I paid a cleaning fee and still had to take out the trash?” - “I Have a Neighborhood Kid Help”
Simple, but unreliable. Kids may forget, mix up bins, or miss holiday adjustments, and there’s no accountability if they do. - “My Neighbor Handles It”
Even helpful neighbors aren’t a consistent system. Travel, forgetfulness, or unclear schedules lead to mistakes without a backup plan.
There’s Even a Compliance Issue
“The owner, operator, and occupants shall comply with all provisions of this article and
applicable provisions of this Code, including, but not limited to… all applicable solid waste
and litter control requirements pursuant to Chapter 39 of this Code.”
— City of Houston Ordinance No. 2025-__________, Sec. 28-741(a)(3)
Trash isn’t just a guest issue, but a legal one. Missed pickups can lead to code violations and fines if left untouched for too long.
How Monopoly Property Services Solves the Problem
Our Trash Valet service was one of the first services we launched back in 2022, and for good reason. We take full responsibility for trash, recycling, and return while coordinating with public and private collection schedules. We also account for holidays, so your property stays in rhythm with local pickup. After every visit, we snap a timestamped photo using Monopoly Cam, giving you proof that everything’s been handled.
We don’t just stop at the bins. Property Protector also performs a Property Pickup, scanning the exterior for anything guests may have left behind, such as fast food bags in the yard, bottles on the porch, or loose trash near the curb. We remove it before the next check-in so your guests will always arrive to a property that looks clean and well cared for.
With a reliable trash valet system in place, you are able to avoid issues such as:
- City fines for code violations
- Frustrated guests and bad reviews
- HOA complaints
- A poor check-in experience from the jump
We built this service so that short-term rental owners don’t have to think about trash at all. No guessing. No coordinating with neighbors or guests. No scrambling to check security cameras or drive by before check-in. Just a clean, documented solution that keeps your listing guest-ready and legally compliant every time.
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