TLDR: Before hiring a builders cleaning contractor, check three things: public liability insurance (minimum $10 million, ideally $20 million), workers compensation coverage for every operator on site, and that all operators carry White Card, EWP, and Working at Heights certifications. Cheap operators often skip all three, leaving the builder legally exposed. Build Clean carries $20 million in public liability insurance with full workers compensation on every job.
Why does insurance matter for a builders clean?
A builders clean happens on a site that contains thousands of dollars of finished work. Polished concrete floors, natural stone benchtops, anodised aluminium glazing, custom joinery, bespoke tapware. One careless step, one wrong chemical, one drop of bleach on a marble vanity, and the cost runs into thousands.
When the cleaning contractor has no insurance or inadequate insurance, that cost falls on the builder. When the cleaning contractor has a $20 million public liability policy, the cost is covered.
This is why insurance is the first question a builder should ask before signing any builders cleaning contractor.
The three insurance questions to ask
1. What public liability insurance do you carry?
The right answer is $10 million minimum, $20 million ideal.
Public liability insurance covers damage to the site, the building, the finishes, or anything else on the job. If a cleaner scratches a stone benchtop, drops a piece of equipment on a polished concrete floor, or uses the wrong chemical on a high-gloss timber surface, the PL policy pays for the remediation.
Minimum-tier policies are the most low-cost operators carry. That’s enough for a small scratch on a project home. It’s not enough for a damaged stone benchtop in a custom Mosman waterfront home (replacement cost often $15,000 to $30,000).
A $20 million policy covers the full range of damage that can happen on a high-end residential or commercial project. Build Clean carries $20 million in public liability on every job.
Always ask to see the certificate of currency. A real PL certificate names the insurer, the policy number, the cover amount, and the expiry date. Get a copy and file it with the project.
2. Do you have workers compensation for every operator on site?
The right answer is yes, every single operator on site is on a workers compensation policy.
When a cleaner is injured on site without workers comp coverage, the builder can be legally and financially exposed. This is especially true when “subcontractors” are presented as employees but are actually individual contractors with no coverage of their own.
The distinction matters. A subcontractor with no workers comp who is injured at heights on a building site can result in a serious legal claim against the builder.
Build Clean directly employs every operator on every site. Every operator is covered under Build Clean’s workers compensation policy. There are no subcontractors on Build Clean sites. 
3. What certifications does each operator carry?
The right answer is White Card, EWP, Working at Heights, and police clearance for every operator on every site.
- White Card. Mandatory for any person working on a construction site in Australia. Without it, the operator is legally not permitted on site. Builders are exposed if uncertified people work on their site.
- EWP (Elevated Work Platform). Required for operating scissor lifts, boom lifts, and similar equipment. Without it, multi-storey window cleaning and access work cannot be done legally.
- Working at Heights. Required for any work above 2 metres. Window cleaning, balcony work, and pool-edge work all require this.
- Police clearance. Best practice for any operator entering a private residential site, especially handover cleans where the home is unoccupied.
Build Clean issues all four to every operator before they step on any site.
Red flags that signal an uninsured operator
Five red flags that a builders cleaning contractor lacks proper insurance:
- No certificate of currency provided when requested. Reputable contractors provide it within an hour.
- Inadequate public liability coverage. Common for individual operators and small subcontractors carrying minimum policies.
- “My workers are subbies” or “they have their own insurance”. This is often a cover for inadequate coverage. Verify each operator’s certificates individually.
- Cash-in-hand pricing. A contractor offering cash-only or significantly cheaper prices is usually skipping insurance, super, and tax obligations. Builder exposure is real.
- No company structure. Individual operators trading under their own name are often uninsured or under-insured. Ask for the company name, ABN, and certificate of currency.
What’s the financial difference?
A typical insured contractor quote on a 250m² project home: $2,000 to $2,400 with $20 million public liability, workers comp, and certified operators. Cheaper quotes from uninsured operators sit below this, with no insurance details provided.
The cost of one damaged stone benchtop in a custom home is $15,000 to $30,000 plus the delay to remediation. The cost of a workers comp claim from an injured uninsured subcontractor is open-ended, potentially six figures.
The maths is clear. Insurance is not the cheapest option. It is the cheapest option once something goes wrong.
What does Build Clean’s insurance cover?
Build Clean’s standard insurance package on every job:
- $20 million in public liability insurance
- Full workers compensation for all directly employed operators
- Professional indemnity coverage
- All operators White Card, EWP, Working at Heights certified
- All operators police-cleared before site access
Every Build Clean quote includes the insurance certificate of currency on request. No additional fee.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see your insurance certificate? Yes. Build Clean provides the certificate of currency on request, usually within one business hour.
What if a cleaner damages a finish on my site? Build Clean’s $20 million public liability policy covers damage to site finishes. Notify the site supervisor immediately and Build Clean will document and process the claim.
Are subcontractors covered under your insurance? There are no subcontractors on Build Clean sites. Every operator is a direct Build Clean employee covered under our policies.
What’s the minimum public liability I should accept? For project homes, $10 million is acceptable. For custom homes with premium finishes or any commercial work, $20 million is the right minimum. Build Clean carries $20 million as standard.
Do you carry insurance interstate? Yes. Build Clean’s insurance covers all operators on every site across SA, VIC, NSW, and QLD.
What happens if the certificate has lapsed mid-project? Build Clean’s insurance is renewed annually well in advance. Builders never see a lapse. If you’ve been provided with a certificate by another contractor that’s about to expire, request the renewed version before they return to site.