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Cleaner insurance
Insurance for cleaners and cleaning businesses: public liability for the homes and offices you work in, cover for your equipment, and workers compensation once you employ staff. Tell us you’re a cleaner and a licensed broker compares quotes for you.
- Cleaner set as your occupation (ANZSIC 7311)
- Public liability and equipment in one request
What insurance do cleaners need?
Public liability is the core cover for cleaners, because the work happens on other people’s property: a client slips on a floor you’ve just mopped, or a product damages a benchtop. Commercial clients and cleaning contracts usually set a minimum limit, and employers need workers compensation.
Equipment cover protects the vacuums, machines and supplies you carry between jobs.
Common situations, and the cover that responds
| If… | Cover |
|---|---|
| A client or visitor slips on a wet floor | Public liability |
| You damage a client’s benchtop, carpet or fixtures | Public liability, subject to the policy’s terms for property in your care |
| Your carpet machine is stolen from the van | Tools and equipment |
| An employee hurts their back on the job | Workers compensation |
| You’re injured and can’t work | Income protection, arranged by a broker |
Employing cleaners
Fair Work explains that the Cleaning Services Award 2020 covers employers in the contract cleaning services industry, including office, shopping centre, house and apartment cleaners employed by a contract cleaning business.
Once you employ staff you’ll also need workers compensation. In NSW and Victoria the threshold is more than $7,500 in wages a year, or any apprentice or trainee. See workers compensation by state.
Online or through a broker
General and carpet cleaning can compare online. Window cleaning, which often involves work at height, is arranged through a licensed broker. The quote form tells you straight away.
What cleaner public liability won’t cover
These need other cover:
- Your own injury.Public liability covers claims by other people. Income protection covers you.
- Your equipment.Tools and equipment insurance
- Redoing a job a client isn’t happy with.That’s not an insured loss.
How to compare cleaner insurance
Cleaner insurance questions
Do cleaners need public liability insurance?
It isn’t compulsory for every cleaner, but commercial clients, strata managers and cleaning contracts usually require it, and it covers the most common claims cleaners face.
How much public liability do cleaners need?
Whatever your contracts require. Limits are commonly offered at $5 million, $10 million and $20 million.
Does public liability cover damage to a client’s property?
Usually, when the damage is accidental and caused by your work. Check how the policy treats property in your care, custody or control.
Do I need workers compensation for my cleaners?
Yes, once you employ staff above your state’s threshold. In NSW and Victoria that’s more than $7,500 in wages a year.
Can window cleaners compare online?
Window cleaning is arranged through a licensed broker, because of the work at height.
Does a sole trader cleaner need workers compensation?
No. Workers compensation covers employees, and a sole trader isn’t covered by it. If an injury stops you cleaning, personal accident cover is the policy that replaces your income. Once you take on staff, workers compensation becomes compulsory through your state scheme.
Is WorkCover the same as workers compensation?
Yes. WorkCover is the name some state schemes use, such as WorkCover Queensland and WorkSafe Victoria’s WorkCover insurance. In NSW the scheme is run by icare, which says you need a policy once you pay more than $7,500 in wages a year or take on an apprentice or trainee.
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