Updated 22 October 2026 · Avenclear Cleaning
What employing a cleaner really costs
- Wages, at least the National Living Wage of £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over
- Holiday pay for 5.6 weeks a year
- Employer National Insurance on earnings above the secondary threshold
- Workplace pension contributions of at least 3% of qualifying earnings for eligible staff
- Sick pay and the cost of covering absence
- Recruitment, vetting and training, including COSHH training
- Equipment, chemicals and consumables
- Employers' liability insurance, which is a legal requirement
- Management time spent supervising, checking and dealing with issues
The cover problem
The biggest practical difference is cover. When an employed cleaner is ill or on holiday, the cleaning stops unless you find someone else. A contractor is responsible for providing cover, so the building is cleaned every day regardless.
When in-house can work
A large organisation with a facilities team, several cleaners and the ability to cover internally can run cleaning in-house well. It gives direct control over people and standards.
When a contractor is usually better
- Small and medium offices with one or two cleaners
- Buildings that need specialist work such as clinical cleaning or floor care
- Multi-site businesses wanting one standard everywhere
- Organisations without facilities staff to manage cleaning
How to compare fairly
Cost every item above for the in-house option, then compare it with a contractor's price for the same written specification. Our cost guide explains what goes into a contractor's rate.