In short
Choose a cleaner who has public liability insurance and a DBS check, has reviews from real customers, gives you a clear price before the job and lets you pay safely with a record. Agree what is included, access and supplies before the first visit.
1. Insurance
A professional cleaner should have public liability insurance. It covers accidental damage to your home or belongings, or injury to someone, while they work. Without it, a broken item or a flooded floor can become an argument instead of a claim.
Ask to see the certificate and check it is in date. Specialist services — carpet and window cleaning at height — are where insurance matters most.
2. A DBS check
A basic DBS check shows a person’s unspent criminal convictions. Self-employed cleaners can request their own basic check on gov.uk. It is not a legal requirement for domestic cleaning, but it is a reasonable thing to ask for when someone has keys to your home.
On Holler, cleaners who have uploaded their insurance and DBS certificate in the app show a verified badge on their profile, so you can see at a glance who has done it.
3. Reviews from real customers
Reviews are only useful if they come from people who actually booked. Look for:
- Reviews tied to real jobs, not just star ratings on a social media page
- Comments about reliability — turning up on time, every time — as well as cleaning
- Recent reviews, not only old ones
- How the cleaner handled the occasional problem
On Holler, ratings come only from real, completed bookings, so nobody can review a cleaner they have not used.
4. A clear price before the job
You should know what you will pay before anyone arrives. Be wary of vague quotes, hourly rates with no estimate of hours, or extras that appear afterwards. See how much a cleaner costs for what a fair price depends on.
5. Paying safely
Paying cash or by bank transfer to someone you have just met leaves no record and no easy way to sort out a problem. Card payment through a platform gives you a receipt and a record of what was agreed.
On Holler, the price is shown up front, includes everything, and you pay in the app — you never need to hand over cash or your bank details.
6. What to agree before the first clean
- What is included — and what is not, such as the inside of the oven or ironing
- Supplies — whether they bring products and equipment or use yours
- Access — whether you will be in, and how keys or entry codes are handled
- Priorities — which rooms matter most if time is short
- Anything delicate — natural stone, wooden floors, valuables, pets
- Changes and cancellations — what happens if either of you needs to rearrange
Warning signs
- Cash only, with no receipt
- Will not show insurance or a DBS certificate when asked
- No reviews, or reviews you cannot link to real customers
- Price changes after the job is done
- Pressure to pay a large amount up front by bank transfer
Questions people ask
Should a cleaner have insurance?
Yes. A professional cleaner should have public liability insurance to cover accidental damage or injury while they work. Ask to see the certificate.
Do cleaners need a DBS check?
It is not a legal requirement for domestic cleaning, but it is sensible to ask for one. Self-employed cleaners can get a basic DBS check themselves on gov.uk.
How do I know if a cleaner is trustworthy?
Check insurance, a DBS check and reviews from real bookings, and pay with a method that leaves a record. On Holler, ratings come only from completed bookings.
Is it safe to give a cleaner a key?
Many people do once they know a cleaner. Start with a visit when you are home, agree how keys are handled, and only hand one over when you are comfortable.
What should I ask a cleaner before hiring?
What is included, whether they bring supplies, whether they are insured and DBS checked, how long it will take, and what happens if a visit needs to be rearranged.
Keep reading
How much does a cleaner cost?
What decides the price of a cleaner in the UK: size, type of clean, how often, supplies and where you live, with worked examples and how Holler shows prices.
Regular house cleaning
What a regular home clean includes, weekly vs fortnightly visits, and how to book a local cleaner on Holler with the price shown up front and paid in the app.
What is Holler?
Holler (HollerApp) is a UK app to book local cleaners and for self-employed pros to get customers. 8% commission, no subscription or lead fees.