When you step into a client's property, whether it is a private home or a commercial office, you take on a significant level of responsibility. It is not just about doing a good job; it is about understanding the legal implications of being on their premises.
Your duty of care
Under UK law, cleaners owe a duty of care to their clients. You must take reasonable steps to make sure your work does not cause harm to the client, their property, or anyone else on the premises, such as visitors or employees.
If you fail in that duty, for example by leaving a wet floor unmarked so that someone slips, or by using the wrong chemical and damaging a worktop, you can be found negligent. Negligence is a failure to take reasonable care that results in damage or injury.
Property damage risks
Accidents happen, even to careful professionals. Common liability risks include:
- Chemical damage: spilling bleach on a carpet or using an abrasive cleaner on a delicate surface.
- Breakages: knocking over an expensive vase or damaging electronic equipment while dusting.
- Water damage: a leaking bucket or hose damaging flooring or the ceiling below.
If you are found liable, you may have to put the client back in the financial position they were in before the incident. That can mean paying for professional repairs or full replacement.
The responsibility of keyholding
Holding keys for a client adds another layer of liability. If you lose a key, you may be responsible for more than the cost of cutting a new one:
- Lock replacement: changing the locks to restore the property's security.
- Security consequences: if a lost key can be linked to the property, the situation becomes far more serious.
Use a secure system for managing keys, with coded tags that do not identify the address, and check that your insurance includes loss of keys. Our guide to keyholding risks covers this in more detail.
Protecting yourself
The financial consequences of a liability claim can be devastating for a small business or sole trader. Public liability insurance covers compensation and legal costs if you are held responsible for property damage or injury. For cleaners, check that your policy includes:
- Damage to property worked upon: many standard policies exclude the item you are actually cleaning, such as the carpet itself.
- Treatment risks: damage caused by cleaning chemicals or processes.
- Loss of keys: protection if you lose a client's keys.
Being professional is not just about cleaning well; it is about protecting your client's property and your own livelihood.
If you want to check your cover is right for the work you do, get a quote from our cleaning insurance team.