Three common models
In the UK, domestic cleaning is commonly arranged in one of three ways:
Cleaning company (managed service)
The company employs or contracts the cleaners, sets the standards, supplies products and equipment, and invoices you. You pay the company. If your usual cleaner is ill or on holiday, the company usually sends cover. If you're unhappy, you complain to the company.
Introductory agency
The agency finds and vets self-employed cleaners and introduces them to you. After that, the cleaner works for you directly – you agree the arrangements and often pay the cleaner, while the agency charges you a fee (an upfront introduction fee, a weekly or monthly fee, or a commission). The agency may help find a replacement if things don't work out, but the cleaner isn't its employee.
Independent cleaner
You find a self-employed cleaner yourself, through recommendation or a local listing, and agree everything directly. There's no middleman fee, but also no one else to arrange cover or handle problems.
How they compare
The main differences:
| Cleaning company | Introductory agency | Independent cleaner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who the cleaner works for | The company | You (self-employed) | You (self-employed) |
| Who you pay | The company | Often the cleaner, plus agency fee | The cleaner |
| Holiday and sickness cover | Usually provided | Sometimes, as a replacement | Rarely |
| Insurance | Company's policy | Cleaner's own, if they have it | Cleaner's own, if they have it |
| Complaints | To the company | To the cleaner, agency may mediate | To the cleaner |
| Typical cost | Highest hourly rate | Middle, plus fees | Often lowest |
General comparison. Individual businesses vary – always check the terms.
Why the difference matters
The model affects insurance and responsibility. With a cleaning company, its public liability insurance usually covers accidental damage. With an introductory agency, the cleaner is responsible for their own insurance – some agencies require it, some don't. If a self-employed cleaner breaks something and has no insurance, you may have to claim from them personally or from your own home insurance. See cleaner insurance and DBS checks and what to do if a cleaner breaks something.
It can also affect employment status. Agencies usually structure arrangements so the cleaner is self-employed, but if you direct their work closely and they work regular long hours for you alone, the relationship could look more like employment. Our guide to employing a cleaner directly explains the signs.
Get quotes from local cleaners
Questions to ask any provider
Before you sign up, ask clearly:
- Who employs the cleaner, and who do I pay?
- What fees are there – upfront, ongoing, cancellation?
- What vetting is done – references, right to work, DBS checks?
- What insurance covers my home, and whose policy is it?
- What happens when my cleaner is on holiday or ill?
- How do I raise a complaint, and what is the process?
Which suits you?
If you want minimal admin, guaranteed cover and one point of contact, a cleaning company suits. If you want the personal relationship of an independent cleaner without the effort of finding and vetting one, an introductory agency is a middle path. If you have a trusted recommendation, an independent cleaner is usually the best value. Our comparison of self-employed cleaners and cleaning companies goes into the trade-offs in more depth.
Whichever route, our guide to finding a reliable cleaner covers references and trial cleans, and our domestic cleaning page lets you request quotes from local cleaners and companies.
