Updated 22 October 2026 · Avenclear Cleaning
1. Do they survey before they quote?
A reliable price needs someone to walk the building. Be wary of quotes based only on floor area over the phone.
2. Will they give you a written specification?
The quote should come with a room-by-room schedule of tasks and frequencies. Without one there is nothing to hold the contractor to. See how to write a cleaning specification.
3. How many hours are they allowing?
Ask for the weekly labour hours. If one quote is much cheaper, it almost always allows fewer hours.
4. What do they pay their cleaners?
Contractors paying at or above the Real Living Wage usually keep staff longer, and a stable team cleans better. Ask directly.
5. Insurance
Employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement, with a minimum of £5 million cover. Most clients also ask for public liability of £5 million or £10 million. Ask for certificates. Our insurance guide explains what to look for.
6. Vetting and security
Ask how staff are vetted. BS 7858 is the British Standard for security screening of people working in secure environments. For schools and healthcare, check the right criminal record checks are in place for each nation of the UK.
7. Supervision and cover
Who checks the work, how often, and who cleans when your regular cleaner is off? A named supervisor and a cover plan are essential.
8. Quality audits
Ask to see a sample monthly audit. Scored audits against the specification are the best early warning that standards are slipping. See how to audit a cleaning contractor.
9. References
Ask for two or three clients with similar buildings, and call them.
10. Contract terms
Check the term, notice period, how prices change each April when the National Living Wage rises, and what happens if standards slip. See what to include in a cleaning contract.