To choose a commercial cleaning contractor, check four things before price: that they’re properly insured, that their staff are vetted and trained, that they handle cleaning chemicals safely under COSHH, and that they’ll work to a written specification with a clear way of putting problems right. A contractor who gets those basics right usually costs less in the long run than one who quotes low and misses visits.
The process is much the same for offices, shops, surgeries and shared buildings in Hull and East Yorkshire. This guide covers what to ask, what paperwork to request, what the contract should say and the warning signs that tell you to keep looking.
Key takeaways
- Ask for proof of public liability insurance and, if they employ staff, employers’ liability insurance.
- Make sure cleaners are vetted and DBS-checked, especially if they’ll hold keys or work out of hours.
- Agree a written cleaning specification and a fixed quote before any work starts.
- Ask how quality is checked and exactly what happens if something is missed.
Choosing a Commercial Cleaning Contractor: 2026 Guide: What does a commercial cleaning contractor do?
A commercial cleaning contractor provides regular or one-off cleaning for business premises: offices, shops, surgeries, gyms, schools, warehouses and the common parts of shared buildings. The work is usually done to an agreed schedule, often outside opening hours.
Good commercial cleaning is built around your premises rather than a standard package. For a typical workplace that means a mix of daily tasks, weekly jobs and periodic deep cleans, and our office cleaning follows the same principle. Residential blocks and HMOs with shared hallways and stairs may need communal area cleaning instead.
Check insurance, vetting and paperwork first
This is the part people skip, and it’s the part that matters most if something goes wrong.
Insurance
- Public liability insurance covers damage to your property or injury to other people caused by the cleaners’ work.
- Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement for most businesses that employ staff. Ask to see the certificate.
Staff vetting
Cleaners often work alone in your building, out of hours, with access to IT equipment and confidential paperwork. Ask whether staff are DBS-checked, how references are taken and whether right-to-work checks are carried out. Ask who will actually be cleaning, and whether it will be the same people each visit.
Health and safety documents
A professional contractor should be able to show risk assessments, COSHH assessments for the products they use, and safety data sheets. The HSE’s COSHH guidance sets out what employers must do, and our guide to workplace cleaning and the law explains where your own responsibilities sit when you bring in a contractor.
Agree a written cleaning specification
The specification is the backbone of any commercial cleaning contract. It lists every area, every task and how often it’s done, so both sides know exactly what’s being paid for.
A good specification covers:
- Each room or zone, including toilets, kitchens, stairs, lifts and bin stores.
- Daily, weekly, monthly and periodic tasks for each area.
- Visit days and times, and how access works.
- Who supplies consumables such as soap, toilet roll and bin liners.
- What’s excluded, such as external windows or work at height.
If you’re starting from scratch, our office cleaning checklist is a useful template to adapt to your own premises.
How will you know the cleaning is being done?
Quality usually slips gradually: a missed bin here, an empty soap dispenser there. Ask any contractor how they prevent that.
- Is there a named contact you can call or message directly?
- Do cleaners sign a log or checklist at each visit?
- Does a supervisor carry out spot checks or site inspections?
- How quickly are complaints dealt with, and is there a re-clean if something isn’t right?
We offer a re-clean guarantee: if something isn’t right, tell us and we’ll come back and put it right. You can read how it works on our guarantee page.
Security, keys and out-of-hours access
Most commercial cleaning happens when the building is empty, so security matters. Ask how keys, fobs and alarm codes are stored, who has access to them, and what happens if a cleaner leaves the company.
A reputable contractor will keep keys coded rather than labelled with your address, limit access to the cleaners who need it, and have a clear routine for locking up and setting alarms. Our guide to key holding and security for cleaners explains how this should work.
Tip: Before the first visit, walk round with the contractor and agree which doors, rooms and cupboards are in scope, which are off limits, and how the alarm should be set when they leave.
Understanding commercial cleaning quotes and contracts
A proper quote should come after a site visit or a detailed conversation about your premises, not from a quick guess over the phone. It should be fixed, written down and tied to the specification so you know what’s included.
When comparing quotes, check:
- Whether the hours or visits allowed are realistic for the size of the building.
- Whether equipment, products and consumables are included.
- The notice period and any minimum contract term.
- How changes are handled if your needs grow or shrink.
Cost depends on size, frequency, layout and specification. Our guide to what affects the cost of office cleaning explains each factor, so you can compare like with like.
Questions to ask and red flags to watch for
Before signing, it’s worth asking:
- Can you show me your insurance certificates?
- Are your cleaners vetted and DBS-checked?
- Will the same cleaners attend each visit?
- What products do you use, and do you have eco-friendly options?
- How do you check quality, and what happens if something is missed?
- Who covers when a cleaner is off sick or on holiday?
- Can you provide references from similar premises?
Warning signs include no written specification, reluctance to show insurance, vague answers about who will be cleaning, and quotes that look far too low for the work involved. For a broader checklist, see our guide to choosing a cleaner you can trust. Small businesses weighing up a sole trader against a firm may also find our comparison of cleaning companies and self-employed cleaners useful.
Finding a commercial cleaning contractor in Hull and East Yorkshire
We provide commercial cleaning across Hull and East Yorkshire, from city centre offices to premises in Goole and Driffield. Our cleaners are insured, vetted and DBS-checked, bring their own equipment and products, and work out of hours to suit your business.
Every contract starts with a fixed quote agreed before work begins. To talk through your premises, see our commercial cleaning service or contact our team.
