Do Cleaners Need Insurance or a DBS Check?

Public liability insurance covers a business if it accidentally causes damage to your property or injures someone while working. For a cleaner, that might be a broken ornament, a damaged floor or a flood from a knocked tap. It isn't a legal requirement for self-employed cleaners, but reputable cleaners and companies usually have it.

Ask whether a cleaner is insured, and for what level of cover. It's reasonable to ask to see the certificate.

Depending on the business, you might also see:

Your own home insurance may or may not cover accidental damage caused by someone you've hired. Check your policy, especially if you have valuable or fragile items. It's also worth knowing whether theft without forced entry is covered.

A DBS check is a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own systems – Disclosure Scotland and AccessNI.

There are different levels. A basic check shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions, and anyone can apply for one about themselves. Standard and enhanced checks are only available for specific roles, such as working with children or vulnerable adults in certain settings – domestic cleaning in a private home generally isn't eligible.

There's no legal requirement for domestic cleaners to have a DBS check. Many choose to get a basic check to reassure clients, and some cleaning companies require one for their staff. A check only reflects the record at the time it was issued, so it isn't a guarantee – but it's a reasonable thing to ask about.

Before the first visit, it's perfectly reasonable to ask:

If a cleaner shows you a public liability certificate, check the business or person's name matches, the policy dates are current and the activity covered includes cleaning. Cover levels are often stated as a maximum amount per claim.

Insurance doesn't mean every breakage will be paid for – policies have excesses and exclusions – but it does mean a serious accident, like water damage or an injury, is far less likely to become a dispute.

With a cleaning company, ask how it vets its cleaners: identity and right-to-work checks (which employers must do), references and whether it requests basic DBS checks. Ask whether cleaners are employees or self-employed contractors, as it may affect what the company's insurance covers.

Insurance and checks matter, but so does how a cleaner behaves. Clear communication, consistent arrivals, sensible key handling and honesty when something goes wrong are good signs. See how to find a reliable cleaner and giving a cleaner keys safely.