Insurance- cleaning flats' common parts (cleaner insurance)

[andymilli]

Hi,

I'm not sure whether this is the right place to post this, my apologies if it's not appropriate.

I live in a leasehold flat but I am also one of a number of residents who have a share in the freehold, and we manage the buildings through a limited company of which we are shareholders.

As we have no communal water, we have had trouble getting a cleaner for the communal areas. A tenant of one of the flats has offered to do the cleaning for a fee, but one of my fellow shareholders has told me that we cannot allow this as the "cleaner" would not be insured.

Is this really true or would he be covered by our public liability insurance?

Thanks for any advice

[Mrs Jones]

is this PC gone mad????????????? (PC as in political correctness.....)

[jeffrey]

I live in a leasehold flat but I am also one of a number of residents who have a share in the freehold, and we manage the buildings through a limited company of which we are shareholders.

As we have no communal water, we have had trouble getting a cleaner for the communal areas. A tenant of one of the flats has offered to do the cleaning for a fee, but one of my fellow shareholders has told me that we cannot allow this as the "cleaner" would not be insured.

Is this really true or would he be covered by our public liability insurance?
Surely the block policy's public liability insurance cover will apply? Read the policy conditions.

[mind the gap]

This is surely nonsense. If the communal areas are never cleaned, the residents could go down with a disease and die. (Like in Victorian days before they discovered germs and disinfectant).

If no provision for cleaning the communal area is made in the lease, why should the residents not jointly employ a cleaner themselves (it is irrelevant who this is) and pay their wage and any associated employers' PL insurance costs themselves?

Failing that, the one with the neatest handwriting will just have to come up with a cleaning rota involving all residents or they will all have to mop and polish the bit of floor outside their own flat. You could turn this into a bit of a competition : Best Mopping Action.

[jeffrey]

Wipe the floor with them.

[mind the gap]

I must say that this thread title is very misleading. Who was responsible for it? The implication is that someone has either dirty, or environmentally unfriendly insurance and is seeking a more hygienic or 'green' option.

Which isn't what they are on about at all.

Suggestions for better titles :


Has the World Gone Mad? (a bit vague, would fit lots of threads on this forum)
How Can We Clean Our Communal Areas? (sounds dodgy, I agree)
PLI for Communal Area Cleaning - Shock Revelation!

Yes, definitely the last one, I reckon.

[jeffrey]

Or "Faulty Towels: The Germs". Don't mention the floor- I did but I think I got away with it...

[jeffrey]

I must say that this thread title is very misleading. Who was responsible for it? The implication is that someone has either dirty, or environmentally unfriendly insurance and is seeking a more hygienic or 'green' option.
Don't all insurers take people to the cleaners?

[thevaliant]

Had the same issue raised in our block (of seven flats).

I believe there are two insurance issues:
1. Firstly, the cleaner themselves causing an accident to another (eg - hoover wire causing someone to trip for instance)
2. The cleaner themselves suffering an accident in the communal area for which they can sue the management company.

I personally view BOTH situations as highly unlikely, but you never know what some people will sue over.

The second event should be covered by Employers liability on the block policy. The first event, technically, should be covered by the cleaner themselves taking out PI insurance.

There is NO legal requirement for either.... you just need to weigh up the realistic risk of legal action in either case against the cost of this insurance.

[Gordon999]

So the block insurance policy should have cover for both public liability and employer's liability.

[thevaliant]

So the block insurance policy should have cover for both public liability and employer's liability.

Yes, but that will not be sufficient. Public liability covers injury to members of the public who come onsite, perhaps caused by no specific other person (eg, they fall down the stairs). Employers liability will cover your tradesperson if they are involved in an injury (eg, cleaner falls down the stairs).

PII (Professional Indemnity Insurance) will cover the cleaner for when they wrap their hoover cord around someones leg and they trip and break their neck.

Personally, for small blocks, I just view the above as a jolly wheeze for the insurance company as the realistic likelihood of any I view as low.