Bat houses require minimal maintenance. However, an annual check is recommended to ensure the house is secure and has not been invaded by pests or damaged. Cleaning is not generally required, and disturbing the house less is often best for its inhabitants. We do recommend that the bat house is refinished/painted every 3-5 years to continue to protect it from the direct sunlight. All of this should be done in the springtime before the bats would move in, or in the fall once the bats have left for the winter.