This can be a very tricky question, after all – things get broken and damaged around the house all the time in the course of day to day living. But what happen when something is broken or damaged by your cleaning service? Technically they will be liable for damages – but what is really likely to happen?

In any normal home, things get broken and damaged all the time, especially when kids or pets are involved!

But what happens when something is broken or damaged by your cleaning service? Who is at fault? And importantly, who pays?

It’s a good idea to do your research BEFORE an accident happens, so you know where you stand when it does.

Some companies will have an insurance scheme that should pay for breakages. Others will not be covered and, regardless of who did what, you may have to foot the bill.

So when it comes to questions of liability and insurance, using a professional cleaning service could make a big difference.

If you have very valuable or irreplaceable items in your home, alert your cleaning team – preferably in writing – before they start working for you, so they know to take extra care around those items.

You could ask them to steer clear of certain items to limit any chance of damage – after all, do you really need the cleaner to clean your 100-year-old crystal decanter? Possibly not.

And is a good idea to point out that the huge oriental rug in your lounge room is expensive and may be vacuumed but shouldn’t have any cleaning chemicals used on it.

In fact, if you’re really concerned, it’s okay to discuss the types of cleaning products and chemicals (or not) you want your cleaner to use in your home. (Especially as you’ll have to supply them anyway.)

Professional home cleaners pride themselves on doing the best job possible. But accidents do happen. So take the time to find out about your responsibilities and liabilities before an accident happens, and you can avoid any awkward conversations later on.

Read more about home cleaning services here.