Office cleaning contracts: what to include and what to check before you sign
Updated 6 November 2026 · By the Commercial Office Cleaners team
Short answer: A good office cleaning contract sets out a written specification of tasks and frequencies, visit times, what is included in the price, how consumables are charged, key and alarm procedures, how quality issues are handled and the notice period. If you are switching from another provider, check whether TUPE could apply to the existing cleaners before you agree a start date.
What the contract should cover
- A cleaning specification listing each task and how often it is done
- Visit days, times and the hours allowed per visit
- What the price includes, such as chemicals, equipment and consumables
- How extra work like deep cleans is priced
- Key holding, alarm codes and building access procedures
- Who to contact about problems and how quickly they are dealt with
- Contract length, notice period and how price changes are handled
Questions to ask a cleaning company
- Who will be cleaning the site and how are they supervised?
- How are quality checks carried out?
- What happens if a cleaner is off sick or on holiday?
- How are cleaning chemicals stored and used under COSHH?
- Can the scope be changed easily if our hours or headcount change?
Switching providers and TUPE
When an organised cleaning team is mainly assigned to your site and the work moves to a new contractor, the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations can mean those cleaners transfer to the new provider on their existing terms. Raise this early so the change-over is planned properly.
Related guides
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- How often should an office be cleaned? A practical UK schedule
- How to choose an office cleaning company: questions to ask and red flags
- Office deep clean vs regular cleaning: what is the difference and which do you need?
- Office cleaning and the law: what UK employers and landlords must do
- In-house office cleaner vs a cleaning contractor: which is better value?
- Office carpet cleaning: methods, how often and how to make carpets last
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