Doorstep offers
Cold callers offering to pressure wash a driveway, clean a roof, clear gutters or 'seal' block paving are one of the most common sources of complaints to Trading Standards. Typical tactics include a cheap starting price that rises sharply once work begins, claims that your roof is dangerous and needs urgent work, and pressure to pay in cash on the day.
If you agree to work in your home following a doorstep visit, consumer contract law generally gives you a 14-day cancellation period, and the trader must give you written cancellation information. Rogue traders often don't. The safest approach is not to agree to anything on the doorstep – take a name and number, and get other quotes. See our driveway cleaning and roof moss removal guides for what legitimate work involves.
Online booking scams
Some fake listings and social media adverts take a deposit for a cleaning booking and never turn up. Others use stolen photos and reviews. Warning signs include no physical address or company details, prices far below everyone else, payment only by bank transfer to a personal account, and pressure to pay upfront in full for a one-off clean.
Check that a company's details match across its website, Companies House listing (if it's a limited company) and reviews on independent platforms. Paying by credit card gives you extra protection for purchases over £100 under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
Bait-and-switch quotes
A very low price on a website that turns into a much larger bill on the day is a known problem, particularly with end of tenancy and carpet cleaning. The extras might include 'heavily soiled' surcharges, products, parking, stairs, or an oven that wasn't in the base price.
A detailed written quote, based on accurate information and photos, prevents most of this. Ask exactly what's included and what would change the price. Our guides to comparing cleaning quotes and what to include in a quote explain what to look for.
Get quotes from local cleaners
Red flags before you book
Be cautious if you see several of these:
- No written quote, or a vague one with no task list
- Refusal to share insurance details
- Pressure to decide immediately or pay cash only
- No business address or landline, and a name that changes
- Reviews that are all very recent, very similar or only on the company's own site
- Requests for full payment upfront for regular cleaning
- Reluctance to agree cancellation terms or a complaints process
Keys, access and personal information
Only give keys and alarm codes once you've checked references and are comfortable. Use a keysafe or a separate key, label nothing with your address, and change codes if a cleaner leaves. Our guide to giving a cleaner keys safely covers this. Never share bank login details or let someone you don't know use your computer.
If something goes wrong
If you've been scammed or pressured, report it to Citizens Advice consumer service, which passes information to Trading Standards. Report fraud to Action Fraud (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or Police Scotland. Contact your bank immediately if you've paid. For problems with a genuine cleaner, see what to do if you're unhappy with a clean.
For a safer way to find cleaners, our how to find a reliable cleaner guide covers references, insurance and trial cleans, and you can request quotes from local cleaners through our cleaning services page.
