Whether you manage a commercial office block, residential estate, or provide cleaning and maintenance services across London, your janitorial operations carry inherent risks. From slips and falls during cleaning, accidental damage in prime property units to contractor negligence, the exposure can affect both your business and the property owner/landlord.
At Fraser Bond, we advise clients in the property and service-contractor sectors on how janitorial (cleaning/maintenance) insurance supports business continuity, liability protection and property-asset preservation.
Janitorial insurance covers businesses or contractors engaged in cleaning, maintenance, groundskeeping or similar services against claims and losses arising from their operations. For example, it typically includes:
Public Liability Insurance – Protection against claims from third parties who are injured or whose property is damaged during your cleaning/maintenance work.
Employers’ Liability Insurance – Required by law in the UK if you employ staff, covering injuries or illness which your employees suffer while working.
Tools & Equipment Cover – Covering loss, theft or damage of cleaning/maintenance equipment.
Business Interruption or Contract Works Add-Ons – Especially if servicing commercial properties, estates or letting buildings.
Professional Indemnity / Negligence Cover – If you provide planned maintenance advice, cleaning specification or contract oversight beyond pure manual cleaning.
In London’s high-value property market — be it premium residential blocks, commercial office premises or estate-managed developments — the contractor you engage (janitorial, cleaning, maintenance) is part of the risk ecosystem. Here’s how janitorial insurance links back to property value and liability:
A contractor accidentally spills cleaning chemicals in a designer lobby, causing damage to marble flooring: property owner may seek recovery from the contractor.
A window cleaner working on a multi-storey property leaves a ladder unsecured; a resident or visitor is injured. The public liability claim may affect the landlord’s insurance or reputation.
A cleaning firm managing communal parts in a block fails to secure equipment and theft/damage occurs—this may impact service charge liabilities and landlord risk.
By insisting on proper janitorial insurance, property-owners and managers reduce exposure, maintain compliance and preserve asset value.
For janitorial/cleaning contractors in the UK (including London), a few benchmarks and considerations:
Public Liability Cover – Many policies start at £1 million limit, with upgrades to £2 m or £5 m depending on scale and risk.
Cost – Some online quotes show very modest premiums for small operations (from as low as ~£5-6/month for very basic cover) though larger contracts will cost more.
Scope of Work – Domestic cleaning carries lower risk; commercial cleaning, high-rise or window-access operations carry higher risk and higher premiums.
Exclusions – Height work, certain hazardous environments, use of specialist chemicals may require endorsements.
Contractor vs. Property Owner Relationship – If you are a landlord contracting janitorial services, you should check that the contractor’s insurance meets minimum levels and indemnifies your asset accordingly.
Fraser Bond recommends the following steps for contractors or property-owners engaging janitorial services:
Identify the scope of services – cleaning, maintenance, window-washing at height, communal area servicing, estates cleaning?
Check the insurer’s experience – insurers who understand cleaning/contractor risk will offer appropriate terms.
Verify insurance documentation – ask for policy schedule, proof of current cover, levels of indemnity, expiry date.
Ensure adequate cover for your property context – for London blocks or commercial space, higher cover may be needed.
Review contract clauses – landlords may require indemnity in favour of themselves or have minimum cover levels in the service contract.
Monitor renewal and changes – if business growth, additional staff, new trades (e.g., external façade cleaning) occurs, update cover.
As a leading London property consultancy, Fraser Bond brings an integrated perspective:
We understand both property asset risk and service-contractor risk, so we can advise landlords and tenants alike.
We bridge sales, lettings, compliance, and risk/advisory services, enabling clients to navigate property-service insurance within the wider real-estate context.
We collaborate with insurance brokers experienced in contractor/maintenance sectors, ensuring our clients secure policies aligned with both property and service-business risk.
If you provide janitorial, cleaning or maintenance services in London — or you are a landlord/property manager engaging those services — ensure your insurance and contractual arrangements are robust. Visit FraserBond.com or contact our London advisory team for tailored advice on janitorial insurance, contractor compliance and property-risk mitigation.
