A Cleaning Contract is a legally binding agreement between a client and a cleaning service provider setting out the terms on which cleaning services will be performed. In England and Wales, cleaning contracts are governed primarily by the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 and, where the client is a consumer, the Consumer Rights Act 2015. A properly drafted cleaning contract clearly identifies the parties, describes the scope of work to be performed, sets out the agreed schedule and frequency of visits, establishes the fee payable and the payment terms, and provides a mechanism for terminating the arrangement.

Cleaning services in the United Kingdom span a broad range of contexts, from regular domestic cleaning in private homes to contract cleaning of commercial office buildings, retail premises, industrial units, and healthcare facilities. Whether the cleaning service is provided by a sole trader operating locally, a small cleaning company, or a large national contractor, a written contract ensures that both the client and the cleaner have a clear and enforceable record of what has been agreed.

Under section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, where a trader provides a service to a consumer, there is an implied term that the service will be performed with reasonable care and skill. This mirrors the older implied term in section 13 of the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982. A cleaner who fails to meet this standard may be required to repeat the relevant service at no extra charge or, if repetition is not possible, to provide a price reduction. These statutory rights cannot be excluded by contract.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 impose additional obligations on professional cleaners. COSHH requires any person using hazardous cleaning substances in the course of their work to carry out a risk assessment and take appropriate precautions to protect themselves and others. These obligations apply to self-employed cleaners as well as to employees, making COSHH compliance an important consideration for any professional cleaning business operating in England and Wales.

A Cleaning Contract is distinct from an employment contract. A self-employed cleaner engaged on the basis of a cleaning contract is not an employee of the client and is not entitled to employment rights such as the National Minimum Wage from the client, holiday pay, or sick pay (though IR35 tax rules may apply in certain commercial contexts). The cleaning contract should be drafted in a way that reflects the genuine self-employed status of the cleaner, to avoid creating an unintended employment relationship.

A written Cleaning Contract should be put in place before cleaning services begin, whether for a one-off clean or an ongoing arrangement. There are many situations in which a formal cleaning contract is particularly important.

For regular domestic cleaning, a cleaning contract gives the homeowner and the cleaner a clear record of what tasks are included in each visit, how much the cleaner will charge, and how much notice is required if either party wishes to end the arrangement. Without a written agreement, disputes frequently arise about whether certain tasks (such as oven cleaning, window cleaning, or laundry) are included in the agreed fee. A written cleaning contract eliminates this ambiguity.

For commercial cleaning, including office cleaning, retail cleaning, and industrial cleaning, a written contract is essential. Commercial clients need assurance that the cleaning service will be performed consistently, at agreed times, to a specified standard. The contract should also address access arrangements, security obligations, and what happens if the cleaner damages equipment or property.

A cleaning contract is also important when key-holding arrangements are put in place. If the cleaner is given a set of keys or an access code for the client’s property, the contract should address key security, what happens if keys are lost, and the return of keys upon termination of the contract.

Where the client is a consumer and the contract is concluded at a distance — for example, by email, telephone, or through a website — the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 require the cleaner to provide certain pre-contract information and to inform the consumer of their right to cancel within 14 days. A written contract is the most straightforward way to provide this information and comply with these obligations.

Finally, for a cleaner who holds public liability insurance, having a written contract demonstrates professionalism and may assist in any insurance claim arising from accidental damage to the client’s property.

A well-drafted Cleaning Contract for use in England and Wales should include several key provisions to protect both the client and the cleaning service provider.

The scope of services clause is the most important element of any cleaning contract. It should clearly list every task to be performed during each visit, specifying which areas of the premises are to be cleaned and to what standard. Vague descriptions such as “general cleaning” frequently lead to disputes. The more specific the scope of services, the more enforceable the contract becomes.

The cleaning schedule should specify the frequency of visits (weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or one-off), the agreed day(s) and time window for each visit, and what happens if the cleaner is unavailable on a scheduled day due to illness or other circumstances. The contract should also address whether the client can request additional visits and at what cost.

The fee and payment terms clause should state the agreed fee per visit or per hour, the payment method, and the invoice payment period. Where the client is a commercial entity, the contract should reference the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, which entitles the cleaner to statutory interest on overdue invoices. The contract should also specify whether the fee includes VAT and how the fee may be reviewed over time.

The COSHH and health and safety clause should confirm that the Cleaner will comply with the COSHH Regulations 2002 and use products that are appropriate for the surfaces to be cleaned. Where the client is responsible for providing cleaning materials, the contract should specify this clearly.

The liability and insurance clause should specify the cleaner’s liability for accidental damage, any applicable limitation on that liability, and confirm whether the cleaner holds public liability insurance. The termination clause should specify the notice period required by each party and the circumstances in which immediate termination is permitted.

Finally, the governing law clause should confirm that the contract is governed by the laws of England and Wales and that disputes will be resolved in the courts of England and Wales.