Last updated February 2, 2024
Written by
Cindy Pereira Cindy Pereira, BA, MFA
Cindy Pereira joined the LawDepot team as a Marketing Writer in 2023. She has over five years of experience through her previous time spent in the print and publication industry and by ...
Reviewed by
Alan Collins Alan Collins, BCL
Alan Collins is a Legal Writer and Custodian of Records for LawDepot and a member of the Alberta Law Society. Interests in literature, language and history are what prompted him to stud...
|
Fact checked by
Kyle Adam Kyle Adam, BComm
Kyle Adam is a seasoned content creator, editor, and SEO specialist with over four years of experience. Presently, he serves as Senior Marketing Writer and Editor at LawDepot. Holding a...
What is a Cleaning Services Agreement?
A Cleaning Services Agreement is a written contract between a cleaning contractor and a client. It outlines essential terms and conditions, such as the timeframe and compensation for the provided services.
Our template is useful for cleaners providing services in residential and commercial spaces.
When should I use a Cleaning Services Agreement?
LawDepot’s Cleaning Services Agreement template is useful for single once-off cleaning jobs, fixed-term contracts, or regularly scheduled cleaning services. Cleaners and their clients can use this document to contract for the following services:
- Commercial and janitorial cleaning for office buildings, retail spaces, and warehouses
- Housekeeping for a homeowner’s or renter’s house or apartment (e.g., maid services)
- Rental property and cleaning after a tenant or guest has left a rental or Airbnb
- Event clean up after large social events such as weddings, parties, and conferences
- Car cleaning, such as vacuuming the interior and washing the exterior
Why should I use a Cleaning Services Agreement?
A Cleaning Services Agreement helps clarify the terms and conditions of the agreement to both the contractor and the client. Both parties can consult the agreement to potentially prevent disputes. If you need to make changes to the service terms in the future, it can be beneficial to have a written document to amend.
Are verbal Cleaning Services Agreements legally binding?
Verbal contracts are legally valid in Canada. The problem is that without evidence in writing, it can be difficult to establish the terms of such a contract in the event of a dispute. If you can’t prove the terms of the contract, you will not be able to enforce it in court.
What details are included in a Cleaning Services Agreement?
When you use our template, we will ask you to provide the following details for your Cleaning Services Agreement:
- Service term: Specify whether the service is a single job or on a fixed-term or indefinite basis.
- Location: State the province or territory where the cleaning services will take place. This will also establish the governing law for the contract.
- Cleaning contractor details: List if the cleaner works as an individual contractor or as part of a group of contractors as well as their names and addresses.
- Client details: List if the client is an individual or if they are an organization or corporation along with their name and address.
- Billing information: Include the deposit amount (if applicable), rate of pay, payment type, and any details that regard invoices or late payments.
- Cancellation policy: Provide a notice period for either party to cancel a cleaning job.
- Expenses and reimbursements: State if the cleaning service provider will be reimbursed for any items or tools necessary to complete their work.
- Confidentiality clause: Ensure that the contractor will not disclose any personal information about the client unless authorized by the client or required by law.
LawDepot’s step-by-step questionnaire helps you to organize the important details of your Cleaning Services Agreement. You can edit our template to include additional clauses as well.
How do I price a Cleaning Services Agreement?
Factors that may influence the cost of a cleaning job include the following:
- Property type
- Size of the property
- Type of cleaning job
- Number of hours required to do the cleaning job
- Amount of cleaning required or the difficulty of the job
- Extra materials or supplies needed to complete the job
The contract’s length often affects payment terms. For example, a flat fee or lump sum payment is a simple choice for a once-off cleaning job. Regularly scheduled cleaning, however, will typically involve a set rate of pay, invoiced at regular intervals.
Hourly or weekly rate
Clients may choose to pay cleaners hourly or weekly, particularly if the work is to be ongoing or long-term.
What is the difference between an Employment Contract and a Cleaning Services Agreement?
Employment Contracts are only for employees — not independent contractors. Employees work for one employer, usually have a set schedule, and are often paid hourly or weekly. Typically, an employer provides the tools or equipment an employee needs to do their job.
An employee is obligated to sign an Employment Contract, which outlines their rights and responsibilities while at work.
An independent contractor is self-employed. They can work for many different clients, set their own work hours, use their own tools and equipment and invoice clients for work done. They are not employed by their clients, so they do not have the same legal protection as an employee.
Instead of an Employment Contract, cleaning contractors may sign a Cleaning Services Agreement to protect their financial interests.
The Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) provides further details on the difference between employees and self-employed contractors.