Is Your Cleaner Self Employed or Are You Their Employer?

You are usually considered the employer of anyone who works in your home if you hire them and they are not self-employed or paid through an agency. This applies whether you hire a housekeeper, a gardener or a domestic cleaner. Understanding if your cleaner is self-employed or your employee is the first step to getting the arrangement right.

Why this question matters

Many households do not realise how a cleaner hired directly can be treated by the tax system. It is easy to assume that paying someone a few hours a week for regular cleaning is just a casual arrangement. Regular or domestic cleaning is a repeat visit, usually weekly or fortnightly, charged by the hour, covering the routine clean of kitchens, bathrooms, floors and surfaces. Nobody has done anything wrong by asking, and GOV.UK sets out how to check.

Getting the status wrong can lead to unpaid tax and penalties for both individuals and employers. HMRC may regard someone as self-employed for tax purposes even if they have a different status in employment law. Employers should check both sets of rules to avoid unexpected bills later on.

Employment status brings specific duties for you and rights for the person doing the work. Employer duties include holding employers' liability insurance, as the list further down shows. Employment status decides which duties and rights apply, as the sections below explain.

What GOV.UK says about hiring someone to work in your home

The rules depend on how you hire and pay the person doing the work. GOV.UK states that you are usually considered the employer of a nanny, housekeeper, gardener or anyone else who works in your home if you hire them and they are not self-employed or paid through an agency. This is GOV.UK's general description and it does not say what any individual household must do.

The table below compares the three options for hiring help at home and what the official rules dictate.

The self-employed tests and the employer duties are set out in the sections below.

Employed or self-employed and the tests

A person is self-employed if they run their business for themselves and take responsibility for its success or failure. According to GOV.UK, someone is probably self-employed if they are self-employed for tax purposes and most of the following tests apply.

• They put in bids or give quotes for the work.
• They are not under direct supervision when they clean.
• They submit invoices for their time and services.
• They pay their own National Insurance and tax.
• They do not get holiday or sick pay.

GOV.UK says most of these tests need to apply, and that the person must also be self-employed for tax purposes. No single test settles the question.

Understanding what a regular domestic cleaner will and will not do helps you describe the work when you check the tests above.

Agency or company cleaners

Using an agency can change your responsibilities. GOV.UK says you are usually considered the employer of someone you hire if they are not self-employed or paid through an agency.

GOV.UK lists being paid through an agency as one of the cases where you are not usually considered the employer. Arrangements differ in how the cleaner is hired and paid, so check with the agency or booking service how your booking and payment are arranged, and use the official tool if you are unsure.

Deciding between an agency cleaner or self-employed cleaner often comes down to how much paperwork you are willing to manage. That guide compares the two routes in more detail.

Why a cleaner calling themselves self-employed is not the end of it

A verbal agreement that someone is self-employed does not settle the question. You cannot ask your employee to become self-employed. GOV.UK says someone is probably self-employed only if they are self-employed for tax purposes and most of the tests apply.

As the rules state, HMRC may regard someone as self-employed for tax purposes even if they have a different status in employment law. Employers should check both, so use the official tool described below for your own case.

This is why GOV.UK says employers should check both. If status is wrong, individuals and employers may have to pay unpaid tax and penalties.

What being an employer involves

If you are the employer of someone working in your home, GOV.UK says you must do the following. This is a formal legal role with strict administrative and financial obligations.

• Check if the person can legally work in the UK.
• Have employers' liability insurance in place before they start.
• Register as an employer with HMRC.
• Set up and run a payroll system.
• Deduct and pay the employee's Income Tax and National Insurance contributions.

An employee is someone who works under an employment contract, and only employees get statutory pay and leave such as Statutory Sick Pay and Statutory Maternity Pay and Leave.

GOV.UK also says almost all workers, including agency workers and irregular hours workers, are legally entitled to 5.6 weeks' paid holiday a year.

Where to check your own situation

Every household is different, and this guide cannot give tax or legal advice on your specific setup. The best way to check your own situation is to use the official Check Employment Status for Tax tool on GOV.UK. The tool was last updated on 30 April 2025.

It gives HMRC's view of a worker's employment status based on the information you provide. Anyone including hirers can use it to test their working arrangements. Use it for the specific arrangement you have rather than a general guess.

HMRC will stand by the results as long as the information you give remains accurate and is in accordance with its guidance. If you are still unsure after using the tool, you should consult GOV.UK directly, speak to Citizens Advice or consult an accountant to get a clear answer for your home.

Does the type of clean change the answer

The tests above apply to the working arrangement. A one off clean is a single visit at a higher hourly rate, and GOV.UK does not give a separate rule for it, so use the same tests and the official tool if you are unsure.

A deep clean goes further than a routine visit. It tackles inside appliances, limescale, grease behind the hob, skirting boards, door frames, tops of cupboards and behind furniture. It is priced by property size or by the hour and takes much longer. Deep cleans range from around £180 for a one-bed to £400 to £600 or more for a four-bed, or about £25 to £45 per hour. These are typical 2026 ranges, not quotes.

An end of tenancy clean is a whole-property clean to a check-out checklist, priced by property size rather than by the hour, often with a re-clean guarantee. End of tenancy cleans sit roughly at £120 to £170 for a studio up to £550 to £700 for a five-bed outside London, with London about 25 to 40 per cent higher. These are typical 2026 ranges, not quotes.

Questions to ask before you hire

Setting expectations early helps define the working relationship. Ask potential cleaners if they put in bids or give quotes for their work. Ask if they submit invoices for payment, as this is one of the tests GOV.UK lists. These questions do not settle anyone's status, so use the official tool for that.

Checking what insurance a domestic cleaner should have protects your property. Ask for proof of public liability insurance as a sensible check, without calling it a legal requirement. A basic DBS check costs £20 and covers England and Wales, and an individual applies for it themselves, so you can ask a cleaner to show one for vetting purposes.

You should also discuss practical details. Ask whether the same cleaner comes each time and what happens for holiday cover. Agree on how keys are stored if you are handing them over, and check their cancellation terms. Getting like-for-like quotes from different providers gives you a clear picture of the local market.

Scams and mistakes to avoid

Choosing on the lowest hourly rate alone is a common mistake. A very low rate can be a false economy, so compare what each quote includes. Handing over keys with no agreement on how they are stored is another risk that leaves your home vulnerable.

Paying in full up front to an unknown trader is highly risky. You should only pay for work once it is completed to a satisfactory standard. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 a service must be done with reasonable care and skill, and the customer can ask for it to be put right if it falls short. Services booked online or by phone normally carry a 14-day cooling-off period, but if you ask for the clean to happen inside it you pay for what was done.

For end of tenancy cleans, beware of claims that a clean guarantees the deposit back. The honest version is a time-limited re-clean if the inventory clerk finds missed spots. For rented homes in England, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 bans landlords and agents from making tenants pay for professional cleaning. The tenant's duty is to return the home as clean as it was at the start, as recorded on the inventory or check-in report. Landlords cannot deduct for fair wear and tear. Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Common questions

Can I tell my cleaner what products to use?

Who supplies products and equipment varies and affects the price. You can agree this with your cleaner. Who supplies products is not one of the GOV.UK tests, but direct supervision is, so use the official tool if you are unsure about your arrangement.

What happens if my cleaner breaks something?

If a self-employed cleaner damages something, you can ask for it to be put right under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. This is why you should always check they have public liability insurance before they start work. If you are an employer, GOV.UK lists employers' liability insurance among your duties.

Do I pay my cleaner if they go on holiday?

If the cleaner is self-employed, they do not get holiday or sick pay from you. If they are your employee, they are legally entitled to 5.6 weeks paid holiday a year.

Can I pay my cleaner in cash?

This guide cannot advise on how to pay a cleaner, because the answer depends on whether they are self-employed or your employee. If you are an employer, GOV.UK says you must set up and run payroll and deduct Income Tax and National Insurance. Submitting invoices is one of the self-employment tests GOV.UK lists. Check GOV.UK or ask an accountant about your own case.

Does hiring an oven or carpet cleaner make me an employer?

The same GOV.UK tests apply. Oven cleaning, carpet cleaning, upholstery and inside windows are commonly add-ons or separate bookings. A specialist who puts in a quote and invoices you for a job is showing two of the tests GOV.UK lists. Use the official Check Employment Status for Tax tool if you are unsure.

Next steps for hiring a cleaner

• Decide the tasks, frequency and budget first.
• Ask if they operate as a self-employed business and submit invoices.
• Use the Check Employment Status for Tax tool to confirm the setup.
• Ask for proof of public liability insurance and a basic DBS check.
• Agree on key handling, holiday cover and cancellation terms.
• Start with a trial clean and a written checklist.
• Check the working arrangement against the GOV.UK tests.

GOV.UK says that if status is wrong, individuals and employers may have to pay unpaid tax and penalties. When you are ready to compare prices and check availability, you can find a house cleaner near you to discuss your routine.