Cleaners’ insurance

• Liability protection: Accidental damage to clients’ property or injuries sustained by third parties can lead to expensive legal claims.
• Work requirements: Clients, like real estate agencies, offices and construction sites, may require proof of insurance requirements such as a certificate of currency before hiring a cleaning business.
• Personal and business protection: Insurance may help cover the costs if you’re injured while working or your equipment is damaged.
• Legal compliance: Workers’ Compensation insurance is mandatory in Australia if you employ staff.

Public liability cover can protect cleaners against claims of third-party injury or property damage resulting from their cleaning activities. Typically, this is one of the most essential types of insurance for cleaners, as accidents can happen anytime, even with precautions. Public liability insurance costs depend on the type of business and what the insurance covers, so it’s a good idea to get a few insurance quotes.

Examples of what public liability insurance can cover include:

• A cleaner in a public space forgot to put a wet floor warning sign while mopping, causing people to slip and fall.
• A vacuum cleaner cord causes a customer in a shopping centre to trip and fall, leading to medical costs and legal claims.
• Cleaning chemicals that stain or damage a client’s furniture or carpet.

Personal accident and illness insurance is typically important for sole traders and self-employed cleaners as this insurance can provide financial support if you can’t work due to an accident or illness.

Examples:

• A self-employed cleaner suffers a back injury from lifting heavy equipment and cannot work for several weeks.
• A cleaner contracts an illness that prevents them from working, leading to lost income.

Portable equipment insurance can cover the loss, theft or accidental damage of essential cleaning tools and machinery cleaners take with them for their job. Since cleaners rely on portable equipment like vacuum cleaners, pressure washers and steam cleaners, this coverage can ensure business continuity if these items are stolen from a vehicle or job site, damaged in transit, or lost due to fire or extreme weather.

For example:

• A cleaner’s high-powered carpet cleaning machine is stolen from their van while parked at a client’s property.
• A cleaner accidentally dropped and damages a portable generator while unloading it from their vehicle.

With this insurance cover, your insurance company may cover the cost of repairs or replacement if your work vehicle is involved in an accident, stolen or damaged. Depending on the terms outlined in your policy documents, this insurance may cover third-party property damage in an accident or provide comprehensive cover for the vehicle, including damage to both your own and others’ vehicles and theft or vandalism.

Some examples of cover can include:

• A cleaning van is rear-ended in traffic, causing damage that needs repairs.
• A cleaner’s van is stolen.

Workers’ compensation insurance is mandatory for employers in all Australian states and territories, with coverage varying by state. It provides financial support for employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses, covering medical expenses, lost wages and rehabilitation costs. If you employ staff at your cleaning business, you will need to have this insurance to cover them.

Examples of cover:

• A cleaner falls from a ladder while cleaning windows and breaks a leg, requiring months of rehabilitation.
• An employee suffers a respiratory condition due to prolonged exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals.

The type of insurance you choose will depend on the needs of your cleaning business. Consider the type of cleaning services you provide, your clients and the risks you face. For example, domestic cleaners may need only Public Liability insurance, while commercial or industrial cleaners may require multiple types of cover.

Look at policy inclusions, exclusions, limits, and premiums from different insurers to determine the product that’s right for your needs. You may also find that some business insurance providers offer tailored insurance packages to cleaners and cleaning companies with the cover you need.

If you plan to work with corporate or government clients, you should verify whether they have specific insurance requirements before signing a contract.

Product liability insurance can protect businesses against claims of injury or damage caused by the products they supply, manufacture, or sell. For cleaners, this applies if they provide or use cleaning products that cause harm to clients, property or third parties.

Professional indemnity insurance can protect against claims of negligence, incorrect advice or inadequate service leading to a client’s financial loss. While less common for general cleaners, it may be helpful for cleaning contractors providing specialised cleaning or consulting services.

Business interruption insurance can help cover lost income and operating expenses if a cleaning business is unable to operate due to an insured event, such as fire, storm damage or theft. This insurance can help cover ongoing costs like rent, wages and loan repayments are while the business recovers.