Legal Liability for Cleaners Entering Client Premises

When you step into a client's property—whether it's a private home or a commercial office—you are taking on a significant level of responsibility. It's not just about doing a good job; it's about understanding the legal implications of your presence on their premises.

Your Duty of Care

Under UK law, all cleaners owe a "Duty of Care" to their clients. This means you must take reasonable steps to ensure that your work does not cause harm to the client, their property, or anyone else on the premises (like visitors or employees).

If you fail in this duty—for example, by leaving a wet floor unmarked which causes someone to slip, or by using the wrong chemical which damages a worktop—you can be considered negligent. In legal terms, negligence is the failure to take proper care, resulting in damage or injury.

Property Damage Risks

Accidents happen, even to the most careful professionals. Common liability risks include:

• Chemical Damage: Spilling bleach on a carpet or using an abrasive cleaner on delicate surfaces.
• Breakages: Knocking over an expensive vase or damaging electronic equipment while dusting.
• Water Damage: Leaking buckets or hoses causing damage to flooring or ceilings below.

If you are found liable for such damage, you are legally required to put the client back in the financial position they were in before the incident. This could mean paying for professional repairs or full replacement costs.

The Responsibility of Keyholding

holding keys for a client adds an extra layer of liability. If you lose a key, you're not just liable for the cost of the key element itself; you could be liable for:

• Lock Replacement: Changing the locks on the entire property to restore security.
• Security Breaches: If a lost key leads to a burglary, the situation becomes significantly more serious.

It is crucial to have a secure system for managing keys (coding them so they aren't identifiable to the address) and to ensure your insurance specifically covers Loss of Keys.

Protecting Yourself

The financial consequences of a liability claim can be devastating for a small business or sole trader. This is why Public Liability Insurance is essential. It covers the legal costs and compensation payments if you are sued for property damage or injury.

At Polished Insurance, our policies are designed specifically for these risks, including:

• Damage to Property Worked Upon: Many standard policies exclude the item you are actually cleaning (e.g., the carpet itself). We cover it.
• Treatment Risks: Cover for damage caused by cleaning chemicals or processes.
• Keyholder Cover: Protection if you lose your client's keys.

"Being professional isn't just about cleaning well; it's about protecting your client's assets and your own business livelihood."

Ensure you have the right cleaning insurance to protect your business against these liability risks and provide peace of mind to your clients.