House cleaning insurance in 2024. What is house cleaning insurance?
House cleaning insurance
Mistakes and accidents can be an unpleasant surprise in a haze of dusting, sweeping, and cleaning products. But these mishaps don’t have to derail your work schedule and business.
Whether you work independently or as part of a team, cleaning insurance protects you against unexpected costs.
This guide to insurance for house cleaners will examine all you need to know about house cleaning insurance.
Table of contents
- What is house cleaning insurance?
- Who needs house cleaners' insurance?
- Why do I need house cleaning insurance?
- What does house cleaning insurance cover?
- What types of insurance do cleaners need?
- Benefits and disadvantages of cleaning insurance
- Insurance for house cleaners FAQ
- House cleaning insurance cost
What is house cleaning insurance?
House cleaning insurance (also known as housekeeping insurance) is insurance for the cleaning industry that can help cover costs for cases of injury, theft, and damages.
Suppose a client slips on a freshly mopped floor and suffers an injury, or if an employee steals belongings from a client’s home, house cleaning insurance will protect against costly claims.
In addition to those benefits, your clients may require proof of insurance before working with you.
Who needs house cleaners' insurance?
Your customer’s property is under your care when you work in the cleaning business. With that comes the risks of the trade. A lot can go wrong with the mix of electrical equipment, slippery surfaces, and chemical substances.
It may be worth considering insurance to keep your cleaning job as risk-free as possible.
Cleaning professions that commonly need house cleaners' insurance include:
- Dry cleaning
- Office cleaning
- House cleaning
- Carpet cleaning
- Laundry services
- Commercial cleaning
House cleaners' insurance usually covers small and residential commercial cleaning businesses, such as maids, cleaners, and housekeepers.
Why do I need house cleaning insurance?
The answer to this question is clear: insurance for house cleaners is essential to your company’s risk mitigation strategy. With the help of house cleaning insurance, you can safeguard your company if you face a third-party claim.
As a cleaner, accommodating your client’s needs is part of the job. For a professional finish, you need insurance coverage.
Whether you need to make a last-minute booking or foresee working months in advance, house cleaning insurance will be ready to work when you are.
You’re probably covered if you work for a cleaning firm, but it’s worth checking with your employer. Including workers’ compensation insurance, you want to check if your employer has covered you for other cases.
Do you use your own equipment and cleaning products on the job? If so, you should find out if your employer’s policy covers them. If not, you must get your own business personal property (BPP) policy.
Business personal property (BPP) insurance offers financial protection for repairing or replacing lost, damaged, or stolen business property. It covers things such as equipment, computers, furniture, and inventories.
What does house cleaning insurance cover?
House cleaning insurance typically covers a range of incidents involving third-party bodily injury and property damage.
In general, house cleaners’ insurance covers common risks known to occur during cleaning work, which could lead to a company being held financially liable.
Whether you’re self-employed or own a small business, cleaning insurance has enough options to meet the needs of almost every cleaner.
In summary, here are the coverages that are commonly part of house cleaning insurance.
- Tools insurance
- Public liability insurance
- Legal expenses insurance
- Employers liability insurance
- Personal accident insurance
- Business and office equipment insurance
To decide what type of cleaning insurance you need and the amount of coverage to get, take an inventory of your risk exposure.
Your insurance provider will also assess your risks in an “underwriting process.” They will consider what a claim might cost you in medical expenses, reimbursement, and lawsuits.
Limiting coverage could bankrupt you in the case of a large claim, but buying more coverage than you need can hurt your bottom line. Your insurance provider can make sure you’re neither underinsured nor overinsured.
What types of insurance do cleaners need?
Most domestic cleaners and small cleaning companies typically need the following types of insurance:
- General liability insurance
- Business personal property (BPP)
- Workers’ compensation insurance (if you employ anyone)
These policies provide coverage for common house cleaning risks. Then, depending on the business, additional coverage, such as cyber insurance, can be added on.
In greater detail, the following insurance coverages can be part of a customized cleaning insurance package.
General liability insurance
This policy protects you against everyday risks, such as damage to client property and client injuries. You can also add lost key coverage for further protection.
Covers
- Slip-and-fall injuries
- Libel and slander lawsuits
- Accidental property damage
Workers' compensation insurance
Most places require workers’ compensation (or workers’ comp) for cleaning businesses with employees. This policy also protects sole proprietors from work injury costs that might be denied by health insurance.
Covers
- Partial lost wages
- Employee medical expenses
- Lawsuits over employee injuries
Business owner’s policy
A business owner’s policy (BOP) is an affordable method to combine the costs of general liability coverage and commercial property insurance.
Covers
- Third-party bodily injury
- Damaged client property
- Theft of cleaning equipment
Commercial auto insurance
This insurance is typically required for business vehicles. It covers third-party medical bills, vehicle damage, and property damage in an accident.
Covers
- Injuries caused to another person
- Physical damage and collision coverage
- Theft and repairs due to vandalism or weather
Janitorial bonds
This insurance is a type of surety bond that protect your clients if one of your employees images in theft and steals their belongings or cash.
Covers
- Stolen money
- Theft of property
- Securing contracts
Commercial umbrella insurance
This coverage boosts the policy limits of a house cleaning service’s general liability, employer’s liability insurance, and commercial auto.
Covers
- Auto accidents
- Employee injury lawsuits
- Customer lawsuits over accidents
Business and office equipment insurance
This policy covers the cost of damaged or stolen business and office equipment.
Covers
- Stolen equipment
- Damaged equipment
- Covers business materials
Tools insurance
This policy covers your essential cleaning equipment, tools, and general equipment used for work.
Covers
- Stolen tools
- Damaged tools
- Covers business equipment
Benefits and disadvantages of cleaning insurance
For most, insurance is not a legal requirement to become a cleaner. However, if you own a cleaning business and hire employees, it is required by law to have workers’ compensation insurance (or employer liability insurance).
Advantages
- Help you pay for expensive legal fees
- Protects your essential business equipment
- Covers damages and injuries caused by your business
Disadvantages
- Not all insurance products will be relevant to your business
- You aren’t covered for intentionally caused damages or injuries
- It can be expensive for some companies or self-employed workers
Key takeaways
House cleaning insurance is also known as housekeeping insurance.
Cleaning insurance can help cover costs for cases of injury, theft, and damages and typically covers a range of incidents involving third-party bodily injury and property damage.
Many cleaning professionals can benefit from house cleaners' insurance, from office cleaners and maids to laundry services.
Cleaning insurance has enough coverage options to meet the needs of all cleaning professionals, whether you’re self-employed or own a small business. Most small cleaning companies benefit from general liability insurance, business personal property (BPP), and workers’ compensation insurance.
Insurance for house cleaners FAQ
Is cleaning insurance required by law?
Depending on your company and location, you may be required by law to have cleaning insurance.
Insurance for cleaners is still a wise choice if coverage isn’t required for your location, as it can safeguard your business from financial difficulties.
Your company faces risks daily, and your jobs may extend to several locations. Coverage can protect your assets if you get caught in a legal bind.
Does house cleaner insurance coverage include any employees?
General liability cleaning insurance covers accidents that result in property damage to a third party or bodily injury, such as a client.
In addition to standard house cleaning insurance, you can add your employees to a policy to cover their actions. Whether the cleaning insurance package already contains employee coverage depends on the insurance provider.
Do I need to get insurance for my house cleaner?
No, if you hire a house cleaner, you are not obliged to buy insurance for them.
However, if you are concerned about the safety of your belongings and home, you may want your cleaner to verify that they are covered by public liability insurance.
Their public liability insurance type will cover the cost of any damages or injuries they may cause in your home. For cases where the issue isn’t the cleaner’s fault, you may want to consider insurance.
How much is public liability insurance for a cleaner?
Prices for public liability insurance are relatively inexpensive for basic cover. However, if you are looking for comprehensive coverage, you may require a more expensive one.
Generally, the cost of public liability insurance for cleaners will depend on
- The excess
- The level of cover
- The size of your business
- Your health and safety record
The fastest way to find out how much it will cost is to obtain a free quote. This quote will provide you with an accurate calculation.
Do cleaners need professional indemnity?
Professional indemnity insurance will cover your business if a client claims negligence or inadequate work, but it’s not a legal requirement for cleaners.
This type of insurance can apply to professionals across many industries, although the cost might be disadvantageous and unnecessary for a cleaner.
Instead, to protect your business from issues on the job, public liability insurance may be more relevant for your company’s needs.
House cleaning insurance cost
Various factors determine the cost of cleaning insurance. For example, a small cleaning business that hires a few maids will pay less than a large cleaning company hiring hundreds of cleaners.
The factors that affect the cost of house cleaning insurance include the following:
- Business size and revenue
- Value of business personal property
- The business type, such as maid service
- Types of insurance purchased
- Policy limits and deductibles
House cleaning insurance quote
We offer a quick, easy, and reliable service to provide you with insurance coverage as a house cleaner or cleaning business. All you need to have is your business information on hand.
Our insurance application will ask for basic details about your business, such as the business type, revenue, and the number of employees you hire (if applicable).
We understand that building a thriving business requires investing a significant amount of time and expenses, so keeping it secure is a priority for any owner.
Pitsas Insurances can help you compare insurance options and identify what level of commercial business coverage you need.
We understand your trade’s risks and identify your specific needs to provide you with the right policy.
Why insure your business with us?
- Competitive prices
- Quick settlement of claims
- Contracts for small businesses
- Flexible pricing to suit your budget
- Transparent terms and simple language
- Special packages for foreign businesses
- Comprehensive contracts with few exceptions
- 40 years of dynamic presence in the insurance industry of Cyprus.
To find out more about what we can offer you, see here.
For a hassle-free quote, please see here.