Cleaner Insurance
Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Canberra

Cleaning businesses should describe the premises and surfaces they work on, as well as the cleaning methods used. Domestic homes, offices, medical premises, industrial sites and end of lease work can create different exposures. Include carpet extraction, high pressure cleaning, window work, polishing, chemical treatment and any specialist services. Work at height or in sensitive areas should be identified explicitly. Damage to a surface being cleaned can be treated differently from damage to other property, so the insurer needs to understand the actual task rather than a general description such as commercial cleaning services.

Explain access and custody arrangements. Cleaners may hold keys, alarm codes or access cards and work when the customer is absent. They may also enter areas containing expensive equipment, confidential records or stock. Describe how staff and subcontractors are assigned, how access is recorded and what happens when a key is lost. Theft allegations, accidental damage and cyber exposure are different issues even if the same cleaner had access to the premises. Portable equipment, chemicals and vehicles need their own review, including storage overnight and transport between multiple customer locations during a working day.

A written scope should identify areas, frequency, methods and any exclusions agreed with the customer. Note delicate surfaces, existing damage and instructions about moving furniture or operating equipment. If a customer requests a stronger product or an additional task, record the approval and any relevant limitations before proceeding. Product instructions and staff training should match the methods actually used. Photographs can help establish condition where appropriate and agreed. A complaint that a stain remains is not necessarily the same as a claim that a chemical damaged flooring, and the insurance response may differ accordingly.

Review customer contracts for indemnities, security obligations and requirements to replace locks or access systems after lost keys. Ask how the policy treats property being worked on, property in your care and employee or subcontractor dishonesty. A liability certificate may not reveal an exclusion relevant to treatment damage. For larger contracts, check whether the insured entity and declared activities match the agreement. Equipment cover should reflect the replacement value of extractors, polishers and specialist machines, along with any theft conditions. Business interruption should be considered against its stated trigger rather than assuming it covers every cancelled cleaning appointment.

If damage is discovered, stop the relevant process and prevent further exposure where practical. Record the surface, product, dilution, equipment and sequence of work. Retain the customer’s instructions and photographs of the condition before and after cleaning where available. Preserve packaging and product details if a chemical may be involved. Tell the broker about allegations that may lead to a claim and ask before undertaking substantial restoration or agreeing to a replacement. Further cleaning intended to fix the problem can sometimes make the damage harder to assess, so suitable technical advice may be useful.

At renewal, review new sites, specialist services and subcontractor use. A move into high rise windows, industrial work or infection sensitive settings can be a material change from ordinary office cleaning. Update equipment values and access responsibilities, including the number of customer keys or cards held. Review recurring complaints for unclear scopes, surface identification problems or inconsistent staff instructions. Consider how customer schedules and access information could be recovered if the main system or phone is unavailable. A current service description and reliable job records support an insurance program that follows the cleaner’s actual work across different premises.