Before you book a cleaner, confirm six things: a valid DBS certificate, proof of right to work, public liability insurance, contactable references, a clear scope and price, and written confirmation of what you're getting. Providers like Book My Cleaning build some of these checks into their service. The sections below walk through each one in detail.
TL;DR:
- For unsupervised access, inspect the original DBS certificate, match its name and workforce wording, check its issue date, and verify status through the Update Service.
- For larger homes or specialist cleans, require a home visit or detailed photos before accepting a fixed quote; phone estimates alone are not commitments.
- Confirm whether oven, fridge, carpet, upholstery, or key collection costs extra, and get the task list, price, cancellation terms, and guarantee deadline in writing.
- Directly employing a cleaner makes you responsible for right to work checks, while household employers are usually exempt from compulsory employers’ liability insurance.
Table of Contents
- Quick hire-a-cleaner checklist you can use on the phone or in a booking form
- DBS checks and how to verify a certificate
- Insurance and liability: what to check and what household employers should know
- Scope of work, pricing and getting a written agreement
- Health and safety and when HSWA responsibilities can apply
- How to use the checklist when you contact and book a cleaner
- Publisher perspective: how Book My Cleaning meets these checks
- Book a vetted cleaner without running the checklist yourself
- FAQ
- Sources
Quick hire-a-cleaner checklist you can use on the phone or in a booking form
Keep this list next to you when you call a cleaner or fill in a booking form. Tick off each item before you commit to a date.
- Ask to see an original DBS certificate, not a photocopy or a photo on a phone.
- Confirm the certificate type (basic or enhanced) matches the access the cleaner will have to your home.
- Ask whether they're registered with the DBS Update Service so you can check status online.
- Request the insurer's name and a policy number for public liability cover.
- Ask for two recent references you can actually contact.
- Get a written list of included tasks and anything charged as an extra.
- Ask whether pricing is hourly or fixed, and whether a visit is needed for an accurate quote.
- Check what cleaning products and equipment they bring, including eco-friendly options if that matters to you.
- Ask about cancellation notice and any re-clean guarantee if you're unhappy with a visit.
- Confirm accepted payment methods and whether a deposit is required.
- Ask about minimum contract length if it's a recurring booking, not a one-off.
For larger properties or specialist jobs such as end of tenancy or after-builders cleaning, insist on a home visit or detailed photos before accepting a fixed price. A quote given over the phone without seeing the property is a guess, not a commitment.
DBS checks and how to verify a certificate
A DBS check matters most when a cleaner will be in your home unsupervised, often with access to keys, valuables and other household members. As a private individual, you can't apply for a DBS check on someone else's behalf, so you're relying on the certificate the cleaner already holds. Always ask to see the original certificate, never a scan or a copy, because a certificate is only accurate on the date it was issued.
Check three fields: the name matches the person in front of you, the workforce wording matches domestic or adult-facing work, and the issue date isn't years out of date. If the cleaner is registered with the DBS Update Service, you can check the certificate's current status online with their permission. Higher-risk roles involving personal care or managing someone's finances may justify an enhanced check with barred-list screening; if anything on the certificate flags a barred-list match, do not proceed with the booking.
Insurance and liability: what to check and what household employers should know
Public liability insurance covers accidental damage to your property or injury caused during the clean, and it's worth asking for the insurer's name and a policy number before booking, not after something breaks. A legitimate cleaning business should hand this over without hesitation.
If you're directly employing a cleaner as a personal employee rather than booking through an agency, you're usually exempt from compulsory employers' liability insurance, though voluntary cover is sensible given the access they'll have to your home, according to domestic employer guidance. If damage does occur, report it immediately, take photos, and raise it directly with the provider rather than assuming your home insurance will cover a third party's mistake: insurance is a backstop, not a substitute for a clear agreement about who's responsible for what.
Scope of work, pricing and getting a written agreement
Cleaners typically charge by the hour for regular domestic visits or a fixed price for one-off jobs like end of tenancy or deep cleans. Hourly rates vary by region and property size, so treat any number quoted over the phone as a starting point rather than a promise, and ask for a home visit or detailed photos before accepting a fixed figure for anything beyond a standard visit, a caution raised in house cleaner hiring guidance.
Common extras that catch people out include the inside of the oven, fridge, carpets, upholstery and key pick-up from a letting agent. Our professional cleaning checklist breaks down what's typically standard versus what's billed separately, which is worth checking before you assume something is included.
Get the final scope, price, payment method and cancellation terms in writing, whether that's an email, a text confirmation or a booking summary. If a re-clean guarantee is offered, ask exactly what triggers it and what deadline applies, so there's no ambiguity if you're unhappy with the result.
Health and safety and when HSWA responsibilities can apply
For routine domestic cleaning, the Health and Safety at Work Act generally doesn't apply to private households, but that changes once tasks go beyond ordinary cleaning, according to HSE guidance on care provided in people's own homes. Manual handling, working at height on windows or ceilings, and using strong cleaning chemicals all carry some risk, so it's reasonable to ask whether a cleaner has training or the right equipment for these tasks.
If your home has specific hazards, a frail resident, medical equipment or a pet that's wary of strangers, mention it before the first visit. Sharing that information upfront lets the cleaner plan sensibly rather than discovering a problem halfway through the job.
How to use the checklist when you contact and book a cleaner
Turn the checks above into a short sequence rather than tackling them all at once.
- On first contact, run through DBS status, right to work, insurance and a rough price range.
- Arrange a visit, or request a written quote listing every task and the price for each.
- Confirm ID and checks in person before the first visit, and note down what you saw.
- Confirm payment method, cancellation notice and any re-clean guarantee before the job starts.
Our five-step booking checklist walks through this same sequence in more detail if you want a step-by-step reference while you're arranging a fixed-price clean for the first time.
Publisher perspective: how Book My Cleaning meets these checks
We built our booking process around this checklist. Every cleaner we send out is DBS-checked and vetted before they're uniformed and sent to a first job, our pricing is fixed and shown before you book, and we back every visit with a 72-hour re-clean guarantee. Ask us about the terms. Our customer feedback reflects that consistency. Readers who want a printable version of this checklist can adapt our booking checklist for their own vetting, whoever they end up booking with.
— Book
Book a vetted cleaner without running the checklist yourself
We've already done the vetting this checklist asks for: every cleaner is DBS-checked and vetted, pricing is fixed before you book, and a 72-hour re-clean guarantee covers you if a visit falls short. Ask us about the terms.
Booking is quick and easy online, no card or deposit needed, and slots may be available at short notice. You'll see the tasks and price before booking. Start with domestic cleaning from £17.5 an hour or check full pricing across all services to see what fits your home.
FAQ
What checks should I do before hiring a cleaner?
Confirm a valid, original DBS certificate, ask for public liability insurance details, contact at least one reference, and get the scope of work and price in writing before you book. These checks apply whether you're hiring through an agency or taking on someone directly.
Do I need to see the original DBS certificate or is a copy enough?
You should always ask to see the original certificate, since a photocopy or photo can be altered and a certificate is only accurate as of its issue date, as explained in GOV.UK guidance. If the cleaner is on the Update Service, you can also check its current status online.
Is public liability insurance essential for a cleaner?
It isn't a legal requirement for every cleaner, but it's a reasonable thing to ask for, since it covers accidental damage or injury during the visit. Request the insurer's name and policy number rather than taking a verbal assurance.
Do household employers have right-to-work obligations?
Yes, if you employ a cleaner directly as a personal employee rather than through an agency, you carry a right-to-work check obligation, and penalties apply if you hire someone without the right to work in the UK.
How much does it cost to hire a cleaner?
Costs depend on the service and property size. Current prices for domestic cleaning and one-off jobs like deep cleaning or end of tenancy cleaning are on our pricing page.
Sources
Recent references tell you more than a star rating ever will. Ask referees specifically about punctuality, whether the cleaner finished agreed tasks without being chased, and whether they'd book again, a point echoed in general hiring guidance for finding a reliable house cleaner.
Checking identity matters just as much. If you're employing someone directly rather than through an agency, you carry a right-to-work check obligation, and hiring someone without the right to work in the UK carries penalties for the employer, not just the worker.
Pro Tip: Keep a short note of what you checked, ID seen, DBS certificate seen, reference contacted, dated before the first visit. It takes little time and may help avoid an argument later.