Insurance for Cleaners
Cleaning Insurance Quotes
Public liability cover for cleaners and cleaning businesses.
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What Is Cleaning Insurance?
Cleaning insurance is a package of cover designed for professional cleaners, typically built around public liability to protect against accidental damage and injury claims that arise while working in a client’s home or business premises.
Most policies include public liability insurance as standard, covering you if a client or member of the public is injured or their property is damaged during your work. This applies whether you clean domestic homes, offices, or commercial sites.
If you employ staff, you are legally required to add employers’ liability cover. Optional extras such as tools and equipment cover, key holding cover, and legal expenses can be added depending on the type of cleaning work you carry out.
How To Compare Cleaning Insurance Quotes
Comparing quotes takes a few minutes and helps you find the right balance between cost and cover for the type of cleaning work you do.
Enter Your Business Details
Provide your cleaning type (domestic, commercial, or both), whether you work alone or employ staff, and the services you offer.
Choose Your Cover Level
Select a public liability limit (£1 million, £2 million, or £5 million) and add any extras you need. Check whether you need public liability insurance at a specific level for the contracts you take on.
Compare Prices and Cover
Review quotes from multiple UK insurers side by side. Check excesses, cover limits, and what each policy includes as standard.
Buy Your Policy
Select the policy that fits your business and complete the purchase online. Cover usually starts the same day.
What Does Cleaning Insurance Cover?
Cleaning insurance covers injury to clients or the public, accidental damage to property you are working on, and liability claims arising from your cleaning services.
Public Liability
Covers compensation and legal costs if someone is injured or their property is damaged because of your work. A client slipping on a freshly mopped floor or a chemical stain on an expensive carpet are both typical claims.
Accidental Damage and Treatment Risk
Covers damage caused by the cleaning process itself. This includes discolouration from cleaning products, scratches from equipment, or water damage from an overflowing bucket.
Treatment risk is particularly relevant for carpet cleaners, oven cleaners, and anyone using chemical products that could react with surfaces or fabrics.
Employers’ Liability
A legal requirement if you employ anyone, including part-time or casual workers. Employers’ liability insurance covers claims from staff who are injured or become ill because of their work.
Tools and Equipment
Covers repair or replacement of your cleaning equipment if it is stolen, lost, or damaged. This includes vacuum cleaners, steam cleaners, pressure washers, and chemical supplies.
Key Holding Cover
Covers the cost of replacing locks and keys if you lose a client’s keys or they are stolen. This is particularly relevant for domestic cleaners who hold keys to let themselves in.
Lock replacement costs can run to £200–£500 per property depending on the number of locks. Without this cover, you would have to pay out of pocket.
Legal Expenses
Covers solicitor fees and court costs if you need to defend a claim or handle a contract dispute. Most policies include this as standard or as a low-cost add-on.
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What Is Not Covered By Cleaning Insurance?
Cleaning insurance will not cover deliberate damage, undeclared work, or incidents that fall outside the scope of normal cleaning services.
Deliberate or Reckless Damage
Any damage caused intentionally or through gross negligence is excluded. This applies to both you and any employees working under your policy.
Undeclared Services
If you carry out work you did not declare when taking out your policy, claims related to that work will not be covered. Always update your insurer if you add new services such as carpet cleaning, oven cleaning, or biohazard removal.
Vehicle-Related Incidents
Damage to your van or car, or to items while being transported, is not covered under a standard cleaning policy. You would need separate van insurance or goods-in-transit cover.
Faulty Workmanship
If a client is unhappy with the quality of your cleaning rather than damage caused by it, this is a contractual dispute, not an insurance claim.
Wear and Tear
Gradual deterioration of surfaces or items through normal use is not covered. Insurance applies to sudden, accidental events, not long-term wear.
Working at Height Without Declaration
Window cleaning above ground level or cleaning in areas that require ladders or access equipment may need a specific declaration. Failing to declare this can void a claim.
How Much Does Cleaning Insurance Cost?
Cleaning insurance typically costs between £50 and £300 per year, depending on the type of cleaning work you do and the cover you choose.
Sole traders offering domestic cleaning usually pay the least. How much public liability costs depends on your cover limit, turnover, and the number of staff you employ.
| Cleaning Type | Typical Annual Cost | Cover Included |
| Domestic cleaner (sole trader) | £50–£80 | Public liability only |
| Domestic + key holding | £70–£110 | Public liability + key cover |
| Mixed domestic and commercial | £90–£160 | Public liability + accidental damage |
| Commercial cleaning business | £150–£300+ | Public liability + employers’ liability + tools |
| End-of-tenancy specialist | £100–£200 | Public liability + treatment risk |
Adding employers’ liability for one to five employees typically adds £60–£150 per year. Tools and equipment cover for items worth up to £5,000 usually costs £20–£40 extra.
Monthly payment plans are available but typically add 8–11% in interest. A policy costing £120 per year would cost around £130–£133 if paid monthly.
Prices vary between providers, so comparing quotes from multiple insurers is the best way to find the cheapest cover for your cleaning business.
What Affects Your Cleaning Insurance Premium?
Your cleaning insurance premium is shaped by the type of work you do, how many people you employ, and the level of cover you choose.
Type of Cleaning Work
Domestic cleaning is the lowest-risk category. Commercial contracts, deep cleaning, and specialist services like carpet or oven cleaning attract higher premiums because the risk of damage claims increases.
Number of Employees
Each additional employee adds to your employers’ liability cost. Sole traders pay the least because they only need to cover their own work.
Public Liability Limit
£1 million cover is the cheapest option. Many commercial contracts require £2 million or £5 million, which increases your premium.
Claims History
A clean claims record keeps your premium low. Previous claims, especially for accidental damage, can push renewal prices higher.
Equipment Value
The more expensive your equipment, the more it costs to insure. A sole trader with a £200 vacuum pays less for tools cover than a business with £5,000 of commercial machinery.
Chemicals and COSHH Compliance
Using industrial chemicals or working with substances covered by the COSHH regulations can increase your premium. Insurers view businesses that handle hazardous substances as a higher risk than those using standard domestic products.
What Types Of Cleaning Work Does Insurance Cover?
Most cleaning insurance policies cover a range of cleaning services under a single policy, provided you declare the work when getting your quote.
| Cleaning Type | Key Risks | Typical Cover Needed |
| Domestic cleaning | Accidental damage to furnishings, slips | Public liability |
| Commercial office cleaning | Equipment damage, employee injury | Public liability + employers’ liability |
| End-of-tenancy cleaning | Damage to fixtures, chemical staining | Public liability + treatment risk |
| Carpet and upholstery cleaning | Discolouration, shrinkage, water damage | Treatment risk + accidental damage |
| Window cleaning | Falls, broken glass, water ingress | Public liability + personal accident |
| Oven cleaning | Chemical burns to surfaces, fume damage | Treatment risk + COSHH compliance |
| Deep cleaning / specialist | Industrial chemicals, high-value surfaces | Extended public liability + COSHH |
If you also offer window cleaning or handyman services alongside your cleaning work, you may need to declare these separately as they carry different risks.
The Health and Safety Executive requires all cleaning businesses to carry out risk assessments for the tasks they perform. Keeping these records up to date can help support any insurance claim.
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How To Save Money On Cleaning Insurance
You can reduce your cleaning insurance premium by choosing only the cover you need, comparing quotes annually, and keeping a clean claims record.
Compare Quotes Every Year
Insurers price cleaning risks differently. Comparing business insurance quotes each year shows which provider offers the best deal for your type of work.
Choose the Right Liability Limit
£1 million is enough for most domestic cleaners. Only increase to £2 million or £5 million if your contracts specifically require it.
Pay Annually
Monthly instalments add 8–11% in interest. Paying the full amount upfront saves you money over the policy year.
Bundle Your Cover
Buying public liability, employers’ liability, and tools cover as a single package is usually cheaper than purchasing each policy separately.
Keep Accurate Records
Declaring only the services you actually provide avoids paying for cover you do not need. Update your policy if your work changes rather than over-declaring at the start.
Reduce Your Risk Profile
Using appropriate cleaning products, following COSHH guidelines, and training staff properly can all help keep your premium down. Insurers reward businesses that demonstrate good working practices.
Cleaners who also offer services like gardening or general maintenance should check whether a combined tradesman policy offers better value than separate cover for each activity.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, accidental damage and public liability risks still apply in domestic settings. Most clients expect cleaners to hold insurance before giving access to their property.
Yes, if you employ anyone, including part-time or casual workers. The minimum legal cover is £5 million, and failing to hold it can result in a fine of up to £2,500 per day.
Yes, provided you declare end-of-tenancy cleaning when setting up your policy. Treatment risk cover is recommended because of the stronger chemicals often used.
Yes, under treatment risk or accidental damage cover. This protects you if a cleaning product stains, bleaches, or damages a surface.
£1 million is usually enough for domestic cleaners. Commercial contracts often require £2 million or £5 million.
Yes, if you add key holding cover to your policy. This pays the cost of replacing locks and cutting new keys if a client’s keys are lost or stolen while in your care.
Yes, most cleaning insurance policies are designed for self-employed cleaners and sole traders. You can start with public liability only and add extras as your business grows.
Yes, provided you declare these services. Treatment risk cover is recommended because of the risk of shrinkage, discolouration, or water damage.
All employers must display their employers’ liability certificate and comply with workplace health and safety law. Failing to hold the correct cover is a criminal offence.
Most policies can be arranged within minutes and cover can start the same day. Comparing quotes online is the fastest way to find a policy.
Understanding what public liability insurance is helps you choose the right level of cover for your cleaning business.
No. Most policies cover multiple cleaning types under a single policy, provided you declare all the services you offer when getting your quote.
Public Liability Insurance Guides
