What does bonded and insured mean for cleaners?
Bonded and insured means a cleaning service has insurance for accidental property damage or injury during the work, plus a bond for covered losses such as worker theft. In Los Angeles, ask for proof before letting a crew into your home, especially if a building manager needs to review it.
Insurance and a bond cover different problems
General liability insurance pays for accidental damage to your property or injury caused during the work. Think of a cleaner accidentally damaging a surface. Ask how the policy would handle that damage.
A bond is issued through a surety company. It pays you back for a covered loss, such as theft by the company’s workers. Bonds usually have conditions, so ask what must happen before a claim can be paid.
Neither replaces checking who will enter your home. Ask about background checks separately from the insurance and bond paperwork.
What to ask for before work starts
Ask the cleaning company for written proof before the visit. A claim on a website is a starting point, but the paperwork lets you check the details.
- Request a certificate of insurance showing the company name and coverage dates.
- Request the bond details in writing, including the surety company and covered losses.
- Ask whether the cleaners assigned to your home have been background-checked.
- Ask who to contact about a loss and what the claim process requires.
Red flags when you are hiring
A cash-only demand deserves a closer look, especially if the company also refuses to provide paperwork. Cash payment alone does not tell you whether a cleaner has coverage. Ask for proof before agreeing to the job.
Be wary of a company that says it is insured but will not share a certificate, or says it is bonded but cannot explain the bond. If the answers stay vague, choose a company whose documents you can review before work starts.
Proof for high-end condos and homes
For a high-end condo or home in Beverly Hills, Century City, Bel Air or Santa Monica, handle the paperwork before the crew arrives. Owners want to know what covers accidental damage inside the home. A building manager may also want to review proof before work starts in the building.
Ask your owner or building manager which documents they need, then share that request with the cleaning company. Requirements depend on the property; do not assume a company’s website badge meets them.
What Ready Rental Cleaning states
Ready Rental Cleaning is $2,000,000 insured, with bonded, background-checked, fully vetted cleaners. Only 1 in 60 applicants make it through.
Ask us for the certificate of insurance and bond details before work starts. If your building manager has document requirements, include them when you request your quote so you can review the proof before the visit.
Common Questions
Should a cleaning company be bonded and insured?
Look for both before hiring a cleaning company. General liability insurance covers accidental property damage or injury caused during the work, while a bond covers losses such as worker theft under its terms. Ask for written proof rather than relying on a badge on a website.
What does it mean if a cleaning service is bonded?
A surety company has issued a bond that pays the customer back for a covered loss, such as theft by the cleaning company's workers. Bonds usually have conditions, so a loss is not automatically covered. Ask what triggers a claim and how to file one.
Do cleaning businesses need to be bonded?
For your hiring decision, a bond is worth asking for because it addresses covered losses such as worker theft. It serves a different purpose from general liability insurance. Ask for the bond details in writing before work starts.
What does general liability insurance cover during a cleaning?
General liability insurance is the policy that pays for accidental damage to your property or injury caused during the work. Ask the company for its certificate of insurance before the visit. Ask how the policy applies to your job and how to report damage.
What paperwork should I ask a cleaning company for?
Ask for a certificate of insurance and written bond details before work starts. Also ask whether the cleaners coming to your home have been background-checked. Read the bond conditions and ask what triggers a claim.
Are background checks the same as being bonded?
No. Background checks are part of screening workers, while a bond pays for a covered loss under its terms. Ask about screening separately, even when a company says it is bonded and insured.
Can I find bonded and insured cleaners for a Los Angeles luxury condo?
Ready Rental Cleaning has bonded cleaners who are background-checked and fully vetted. For a condo in Beverly Hills or Century City, ask your building manager what proof they want before work starts. Share those requirements with the cleaning company before arranging the visit.
Check the proof before your clean
Tell us about your Los Angeles property and any building document requirements when you request a free quote.