Employer's liability coverage for domestic cleaner

The_Globetrotter

Hi,
I'm looking for a cleaner but:

• agencies charge a lot, pay the cleaners too little and pocket the rest indefinitely
• I can't find a self-employed cleaner

So my only option seems to be to find someone and pay them cash. This would be 2-4 hours per week or couple of weeks so obviously I wouldn't be their sole employer and I wouldn't have to formally hire them. At the same time, I want to make sure I'm covered should the cleaner injure themselves while working at my house.

My insurance (Tesco) has a specific "Employer's liability" clause but it mentions a "contract of service", which of course I wouldn't have. So my question is: what are my options? The helpline hasn't been very helpful, a guy just read out the policy booklet to me. I've asked around and people seem to just not care: they employ someone, pay cash and hope for the best. However, since sh*t does happen in life, I don't want to get in trouble hence I'm asking for help.

Any ideas please? What do people do (I've never had an individual cleaner before, just an agency). Are there specific policies that you can take out for this?

Many thanks in advance
Andy

dacouch

Do everything above board and then she will be covered

rs65

The_Globetrotter wrote: »

[*]I can't find a self-employed cleaner

So my only option seems to be to find someone and pay them cash. This would be 2-4 hours per week or couple of weeks so obviously I wouldn't be their sole employer and I wouldn't have to formally hire them.

Surely you have described a self employed cleaner. Therefore not an employee?

forgotmyname

Shouldn't be difficult to find a self employed cleaner, cash in hand or with proper receipts.

Your insurance may ask about their insurance if they damage something that you wish to claim for though.

The_Globetrotter

forgotmyname wrote: »

Shouldn't be difficult to find a self employed cleaner, cash in hand or with proper receipts.

Your insurance may ask about their insurance if they damage something that you wish to claim for though.

Well, in my experience they literally refuse to become self-employed! And they won't issue a receipt.

Problem is not about breaking something in the house, but them getting hurt. Say the cleaner falls off a ladder, breaks a leg and can't work for three months. Who's going to pay? Will the insurer ask to see a contract or receipts before paying out? I haven't found anyone around who can answer that question... (or is it just me being paranoid?)

Robin9

The_Globetrotter wrote: »

Problem is not about breaking something in the house, but them getting hurt. Say the cleaner falls off a ladder, breaks a leg and can't work for three months. Who's going to pay? Will the insurer ask to see a contract or receipts before paying out? I haven't found anyone around who can answer that question... (or is it just me being paranoid?)

This is why Agency cleaners do not permit them to do high level tasks - much to the frustration of my MIL.

forgotmyname

This is where H&S goes too far.

Have you trained them in the use of the ladder? If your supplying the cleaning products have you gone through H&S with them and supplying them with appropriate safety equipment and what hazard and risk is associated with each product?

Its a minefield.

Being stupid can make you rich very quickly it seems.

pinkteapot

Surely Employer's Liability insurance is no use to you if you're not an employer (which you wouldn't be)?

If you pay a self-employed cleaner it's the same as you paying any tradesperson to come and do work at your house. If they injured themselves due to your negligence, wouldn't it just be a public liability claim on your home insurance?

stokesley

I always check this with my house insurer and renewed yesterday. According to them (Sainsbury's), as pinkteapot says, I'm covered for my cleaner under the public liability clause.