Cleaners Insurance, matched properly
Covra connects Australian businesses with a broker who understands their industry and risk profile.
You’ll be matched with one suitable broker. No multiple calls.
Get matched with the right broker in a few simple steps
Tell us about your business and we’ll match you with a broker relevant to your enquiry. You’ll only be contacted by one relevant provider.
Step 1 of 3What insurance do cleaners need?
Most cleaners look at public liability, cover for clients’ property in their care, lost keys, equipment and vehicles, and workers’ compensation if they employ staff. No law requires public liability for cleaning, but many contracts do: Victorian government schools ask for at least $10 million.
What cleaners commonly insure.
The covers most cleaning businesses look at. What applies depends on your clients, your staff and your state.
- Public liability Injury to other people and damage to their property, such as a slip on a freshly mopped floor. No law requires it for cleaning, but most commercial clients, strata and property managers ask for a certificate of currency1.
- Clients’ property in your care A care, custody and control extension. Standard public liability often excludes damage to property in your care, which for a cleaner is most of the job1, 2.
- Keys and locks The cost of changing locks when a client’s key is lost or stolen. A standard policy doesn’t cover it automatically2.
- Equipment Theft of or damage to vacuums, polishers, pressure washers and steam cleaners, under tools or portable equipment cover2.
- Vans and cars A private car policy may not respond to a claim made while you were driving between jobs, if business use wasn’t declared2.
- Workers’ compensation Compulsory for most employers. It doesn’t cover sole traders, who can take out their own accident and illness cover3.
Contracts, panels and licences.
Most insurance requirements for cleaners come from the people who hire them. A few licences apply too.
- Victorian government schools Cleaning providers must hold at least $10 million public liability, WorkCover if they employ staff, and a labour hire licence if they employ cleaners at schools. The department arranges public liability through the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority for sole traders who struggle to get it and work only at government schools4.
- Council contracts Streaky Bay Council’s 2024 cleaning tender asked for $20 million public and products liability per occurrence, plus ReturnToWorkSA registration or, for sole traders, personal accident cover5.
- Commercial and strata work upcover says $10 million is commonly required by commercial clients, strata and property managers, and $20 million is common on government contracts, shopping centres and hospitals1.
- Victoria: labour hire Businesses that supply cleaners to commercial premises, such as offices, shops and schools, are likely to need a labour hire licence. Sole traders and partnerships that supply only themselves don’t6.
- NSW: licensed cleaning Residential “minor maintenance and cleaning” work worth more than $5,000, such as pressure washing, graffiti removal or brick cleaning, needs a contractor licence7.
Keys, chemicals and clients’ property.
Where a standard public liability policy can fall short for cleaners.
- Property in your care Morgan Insurance Brokers says the care, custody and control exclusion can apply to almost every damage claim a cleaner makes, such as a scratched timber floor or a stained carpet2. One published wording adds cover for property in your care, but not for the part of the property you’re working on when the work causes the loss8.
- Lost keys If a key is lost, the client may want every lock changed. Morgan puts the cost at several hundred to several thousand dollars, and says key and lock cover has to be added to the policy2.
- Chemicals Damage from cleaning products is sometimes treated as a products liability claim rather than public liability2. Most policies combine the two1.
- Sub-limits upcover says the care, custody and control sub-limit can matter more to a cleaner than the headline limit of the policy9.
- Work at height Some entry-level policies limit work at height, which matters for window and exterior cleaning1, 9.
- Subcontracting If you clean as a subcontractor, the larger company’s policy often doesn’t extend to you1. If you hire subbies, a policy may exclude or limit their work without an extension2.
How much does cleaners insurance cost?
Published figures for public liability, the cover most cleaners start with. A guide, not a quote.
Typical public liability instalment. upcover, policies from 2022 to 2026.9
A month for public liability, with most paying $38–$70. upcover, September 2026.1
Average business insurance premium. BizCover, 2024–25.10
Public liability premium a year, paid upfront, where most policies fall, by type of cleaning. upcover, policies arranged 2022 to 2026, published August 20269.
Workers’ compensation and contractors.
Who has to be covered, and when a contract cleaner counts as your worker. Rules for other states are on our tradie insurance page.
- Employers Most must hold workers’ compensation insurance. Sole traders aren’t covered by it3.
- SA: contract cleaners Cleaning is a prescribed class of work, so a contractor is treated as your worker if they clean for your business, do the work personally, employ no one to do any part of it, and supply materials worth no more than $165 (or $165 a month) in 2026, or $83 for window cleaning. Materials mean detergents and polish, not mops or machines11, 12.
- SA: example ReturnToWorkSA’s guide says a doctor who hires an office cleaner directly can be the cleaner’s employer, because the cleaning is for the practice’s business11.
- SA: unregistered contractors If a cleaning contractor who employs staff isn’t registered with ReturnToWorkSA, you’re taken to be the employer of their workers. The guide suggests asking contractors for their certificate of registration11.
- Victoria Sole traders and partnerships who don’t employ anyone are exempt from WorkCover, and companies without apprentices paying under $7,500 a year in wages can apply for an exemption4.
Real claims.
Published claims from brokers, and decisions from the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). Every claim depends on the policy wording.
- Domestic cleanerA client slipped on a wet bathroom floor that had no sign. Paid $9,300 in compensation and legal fees13.
- Commercial cleanerTheir back locked while cleaning, and they were diagnosed with nerve damage. Personal accident paid $9,238.9414.
- Domestic cleanerThe wrong product permanently damaged a marble benchtop. A liability claim of $6,20013.
- Domestic cleanerBurned by hot oil while cooking and off work for seven weeks. Personal accident paid $3,414.6715.
- Domestic cleanerA flat-screen TV was knocked off a low table while dusting. Paid $1,90013.
- Sole-trader cleanerClaimed on a sickness and accident policy when arthritis stopped them cleaning, but they kept doing the invoicing and scheduling for the business. AFCA upheld the decline, as the policy only paid if they weren’t working at all16.
- Pressure cleaning businessThe owner, who also worked as a road sweeper, claimed income protection when they couldn’t run the business. AFCA upheld the decline because they kept working, but ordered $1,000 for how the insurer had explained the policy17.
Common questions.
Is public liability insurance compulsory for cleaners?
No law requires it for cleaning work, but most commercial clients, strata and property managers ask for a certificate of currency. Victorian government schools require at least $10 million.
How much does cleaners insurance cost?
upcover says most domestic cleaners pay $455–$842 a year for public liability, or about $69 a month. BizCover’s cleaning customers paid an average of $78 a month for business insurance in 2024–25.
Does public liability cover damage to a client’s property?
Not always. Damage to property in your care, custody or control is often excluded or sub-limited unless the policy adds an extension for it.
What happens if I lose a client’s keys?
The client may want every lock changed. A standard policy doesn’t automatically cover that cost, but key and lock replacement cover can be added.
Do cleaners need workers’ compensation?
Most employers must hold it. Sole traders aren’t covered by it and can take out personal accident and illness cover instead.
Can a contract cleaner count as my worker in SA?
Yes. Cleaning is a prescribed class of work in SA, so a contractor who cleans for your business, does the work personally, employs no one else on it and supplies only a small value of materials is treated as your worker.
Do commercial cleaners need a labour hire licence in Victoria?
Generally yes, if the business supplies cleaners to commercial premises such as offices, shops or schools. Sole traders and partnerships who supply only themselves don’t.
Still have a question? A broker can talk it through with you.
Get matched with a brokerWhy businesses use Covra.
Eliminating the friction of cleaners insurance.
Not sure what cover you need
Get matched with a licensed or authorised insurance broker who can speak directly with you about your needs.
Don’t want to call multiple insurers
Avoid the spam. You will be matched with a broker relevant to your enquiry.
Want someone who understands your industry
We connect you with brokers experienced in your industry.
Need it sorted properly
Cleaners Insurance can be complex; discuss your insurance needs with a licensed or authorised broker.
Verified brokers on Covra.
Licensed or authorised
All brokers are required to hold a valid Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) or operate as an authorised representative.
Actively Engaged
Brokers operate in Australia and are actively servicing local businesses.
High Responsiveness
Brokers are required to be contactable and responsive to enquiries.
Established Reputation
Brokers are expected to maintain a professional public presence, including customer reviews and business listings.
COVRA does not recommend or compare brokers. We operate as a referral service only.
How it works.
Tell us about your business
Provide basic details about your profession and revenue through our secure, simple form.
We match you with a relevant broker
Our system connects your enquiry with a licensed or authorised broker aligned to your industry and business needs.
Your broker contacts you directly
Your dedicated broker will reach out to discuss your needs and help you secure the relevant cover without the hassle of multiple calls.
Who requires cover.
- Domestic cleaners Regular, spring and end-of-lease cleans in homes
- Commercial cleaners Offices, schools, shops and strata common areas
- Carpet and window cleaners Specialist equipment, chemicals and work at height
- Cleaning companies Teams, subcontractors and contract sites
Covers cleaners look at.
Our guides to the covers cleaning businesses most often ask about.
Sources.
- Public liability insurance for cleaners, upcover, 1 September 2026
- Insurance for cleaners and cleaning businesses, Morgan Insurance Brokers, 22 September 2026
- Types of business insurance, business.gov.au
- Cleaning policy, Victorian Department of Education, 13 March 2026
- Request for tender 24 004: cleaning services, District Council of Streaky Bay (SA), January 2024
- Do commercial cleaners need a labour hire licence?, Labour Hire Authority (Vic)
- Minor maintenance and cleaning work, Building Commission NSW, 23 June 2026
- Public and products liability policy wording v07.21, ProRisk
- Cleaner insurance cost Australia, upcover, 21 August 2026
- Insurance for cleaners, BizCover, 2026
- Cleaning work: a guide to deemed workers, ReturnToWorkSA, 2026
- Who is a worker?, ReturnToWorkSA, 2026
- Residential cleaning insurance, Ausure, 20 March 2026
- Personal accident claim: commercial cleaner, BizCover for Brokers
- Personal accident claim: domestic cleaner, BizCover for Brokers
- Determination 12-00-1058608, AFCA, 31 October 2024
- Determination 12-25-203661, AFCA, 20 March 2026