domestic cleaners and insurance

We don't have a domestic cleaner but like any other trades person I certainly wouldn't consider one who wasn't covered by insurance.

Your household insurance would usually cover third party risks, including domestic cleaners, casual cleaners would not have insurance they are employees. A professional cleaning company would have their own insurance as well as other overheads and you would pay more, they are contractors.

Your house would not usually be a high risk place, but you may be liable for any injury caused, that includes any contractors you use. You should not rely on contractors insurance, many are cowboys using unskilled employees, don’t neglect household insurance.

I don’t have a cleaner but did when I was working full time. I paid a neighbour to come in and clean, never thought about insurance. I wonder if house insurance covers this, will check mine and something to think about should I need a cleaner going forward

I have a cleaner and although she is not insured I would not ask her to eg fit a pair of curtains because that would involve climbing onto something and even if it was a safe small ladder I am sure I would be liable if she fell.

I never buy bleach for the same reason, accidents happen and bleach on uncovered skin would be a disaster.

I guess she could trip over the hoover flex and break a leg, though. Would that be covered by one’s house insurance? She’d be unable to work for a while then.

I did house cleaning for a while when the kids were small. Then, later, when I had full time employment I engaged a cleaner. Never occurred to me about insurance. It was a different world then, probably it is worth considering now.

My cleaner is self employed and fully insured. Accidents do happen in the home.

Never occurred to me to ask my cleaner if she had insurance cover. Hmmm….thats something to think about. Thanks silvergrand

My mother-in-law has a cleaner who is insured.

It's not expensive for them to take it out. Maybe £5 a month?

Your household insurance is unlikely to cover anyone you are paying to come to your house, trades, cleaners, etc. Check your policy. The cleaner should have their own insurance, as should any other self employed person. Around £10 a month and they recoup that in their charges, it's generally set according to how much they earn yearly (also probably tax deductable but not certain about that).

OldFrill

Your household insurance is unlikely to cover anyone you are paying to come to your house, trades, cleaners, etc. Check your policy. The cleaner should have their own insurance, as should any other self employed person. Around £10 a month and they recoup that in their charges, it's generally set according to how much they earn yearly (also probably tax deductable but not certain about that).

The problem starts when you are providing equipment and supplies eg: steps, if they break, PPE that is inadequate, it’s your fault, a shelf falls on their head, you ask them to move something and they injure their back.

They will claim on your insurance, you have to defend that claim wether it’s your fault or not.

That's one reason home insurance covers visitors to your house (far less likely to have an accident /claim) and not trades/cleaners, they will have to sue you, generally a "no win no fee" scenario. If they have their own insurance it'll cover them.

OldFrill

That's one reason home insurance covers visitors to your house (far less likely to have an accident /claim) and not trades/cleaners, they will have to sue you, generally a "no win no fee" scenario. If they have their own insurance it'll cover them.

Sorry Oldfrill, the insurance a cleaner has covers them for damage to you or your property.
Your insurance covers you for injury to them, in fact anyone except your own family.

Goodness, something else that has never crossed my mind! I’m considering having a cleaner for the “heavy work” so I’d better look into it. Where are you Germanshepherdsmum?!

I haven't got a cleaner but I would think it sensible to employ one with insurance - same with gardeners or anyone that works around your property.

It could get very messy if they have an accident and there is no insurance cover.

I’ve no idea if my cleaner or gardener are insured. When we used a professional cleaning company they were insured.

I had to find a cleaner when I broke my shoulder earlier this year. She brings her own hoover, floor mops, cleaning products etc. I can use my arm again so can clean windows and mop floors. However I’ve decided the children’s inheritance can ensure she continues to do a couple of hours fortnightly. It makes my life much easier
I don’t know about her insurance but mine covers accidental damage so no probs

I am a cleaner, I am police checked and insured. I doubt any of my customers even thought about checking. They were all just more than happy to find a reliable cleaner.
BUT just think about the cost of replacing anything that may get broken. TVs can cost a fortune these
days, same with kitchen gadgets. I never use bleach (insurance doesn't cover use of bleach or cleaning of TV screens.
Lots to think about.
Personally I wouldn't employ a cleaner who isn't police checked, insured and I would want at least 2 references. Strangely I've never been asked for any.

I did actually ask my insurance broker this some years ago. I had the offer of work (before I went back full time) and a friend was going through a hard time. She really didn't want to set up a cleaning business, and I knew my contract was only temporary. But it seemd a good idea for us to help each other out.
I was told that in this case she would be seen as exactly that - a friend helping out (finances not really an issue) and covered by our usual household insurance.
You use the word 'employment' which seems to me to put it all on a different basis.
Since my arthritis has got worse, and we use a cleaner, I employ them formally and have checked their insurance (I have a copy saved on my computer)

29/06/2024 15:52David49

OldFrill

That's one reason home insurance covers visitors to your house (far less likely to have an accident /claim) and not trades/cleaners, they will have to sue you, generally a "no win no fee" scenario. If they have their own insurance it'll cover them.

*Sorry Oldfrill, the insurance a cleaner has covers them for damage to you or your property.
Your insurance covers you for injury to them, in fact anyone except your own family.*

No need to apologise David.
I did state if the cleaner has insurance it will cover them in my home, if not they would need to sue because...
My insurance does not cover anyone l am paying to work in my home, l believe that's usual.

I suppose you could write your own simple solicitor-approved contract for your workers to sign which has them agree to zero liability against you etc...

DamaskRose

Goodness, something else that has never crossed my mind! I’m considering having a cleaner for the “heavy work” so I’d better look into it. Where are you Germanshepherdsmum?!

I don't think GSM does other people's cleaning