Insurance for house cleaning and maid services.

General liability, bonding, and workers’ comp for maid services and independent house cleaners, so a broken heirloom, a theft accusation, or a hurt cleaner does not come out of your own pocket.

What house cleaners usually carry

General liability, $1M / $2M
Janitorial bond
Workers’ comp
Hired and non-owned auto
Supplies and equipment
Commercial auto, for company cars

Watch for these in a house cleaning policy

Things you pick up to cleanThe standard general liability form excludes personal property in your care, and a vase you lift to dust can count. Cleaning programs often add a small limit back. Check it before you clean high-end homes.
Theft accusationsA bond pays a homeowner for theft by your cleaner, but many pay only after a conviction. Many accusations never reach court, so ask how yours handles a claim without one.
Supplies kept at homeA homeowners policy usually caps business property at a small amount and excludes business liability. The vacuums, supplies, and claims from your cleaning business need their own policy.
Floors and countertopsBleach on carpet, acid cleaner on marble, and scratched hardwood are the everyday claims in this trade. Damage to the surface you were cleaning can be excluded, so read that part of your policy.

What homeowners and property managers ask house cleaners for

Proof of bondingMany homeowners hire only bonded cleaners and ask to see the bond.
Additional insuredProperty managers and vacation rental hosts ask to be named for cleans in their units.
Workers’ compSome property managers want a certificate even for a two-person crew, so an injured cleaner is not their claim.

Questions house cleaners ask

Straight answers.

The questions we hear most, answered plainly.

What does bonded and insured mean for a cleaning business?

Insured means you carry general liability for injury and damage you cause. Bonded means a bond pays your client if one of your cleaners steals. Most homeowners expect both.

Am I covered if I break something in a client’s home?

Often, as property damage, but an item in your hands can fall under the exclusion for property in your care. A cleaning policy that adds that back is worth asking for.

Do I need workers’ comp for part-time cleaners?

In most states, yes, once you have employees, and part-time staff count. Cleaners paid as contractors can be charged to you at audit if they carry no coverage of their own.