AIBU to ask who's responsible if a window cleaner falls off his ladder on your property?

[todayandnottomorrow]

We have a new window cleaner starting that many people in the area seem to use. He uses ladders. I suddenly thought, what if he falls on my property and hurts himself? It got me panicked. Would I be accountable?

I haven't seen a window cleaner with ladders for YEARS!! Most now use those long extendable pole things, attached to a tank in their car/van. The 'clean' isn't as great though...and your windows are left wet/dripping with water...which later streaks 🤷‍♀️ No chamois leather dry down now 😢 And they get through the 'clean' SO fast!

H&S might be the reason for this, which is fair enough...but I do miss a 'proper' window cleaner!

Make the most of your cleaner OP, they are a dying breed (hopefully not literally 🫢)

If you kicked the ladder from under him you'd be responsible.

If you didn't, you won't be.

🙄

How some people function every day I have no idea.

Well, he's here and he has no insurance. I asked. He said I have considered it but...

Now I'm in a dilemma as to whether to use him again.

You'd only be liable if you were somehow to blame, either because of something you did or because your property was unsafe. But you should have third party liability cover through your home insurance.

If asking yourself this question got you panicking I think you need to address your anxiety issues.

You may not recognise how unreasonable a thing this is to worry about if your anxiety hasn't been diagnosed. I realised my anxiety wasn't normal when I found myself in tears worrying about (amongst other things) the possible issues that might arise when my neighbour put a 12 inch high border between our front gardens.

When you get down the path of dealing with your anxiety you'll be able to look back and realise this wasn't anything that 'normal' people would worry about. (And I use the phrase 'normal' very loosely! 🤣). I think that's people are not understanding why you're asking about something that to them is so obvious and would never raise a question.

To me, having anxiety is like being an alcoholic where people say "I've not drank for 20 years but I'm still an alcoholic. Every day is a battle not to have a drink". I know I would still be panicking about things like foot high garden fences and window cleaners ladders if I didn't have the mental tools to dampen down my anxiety.

I could of course be way off the mark, but until you can see it you won't realise how ridiculous a question this is to get you panicking.

What in particular is it you want him to have insurance to cover?

Honestly, you are so off the mark, it's almost offensive

I no longer understand this forum. I posted a question because it popped into my head and it concerned me - there was a window cleaner who died falling off his ladder around here, and therefore it's something that might occur.

I'm sorry if the question bothered people, or seemed outside of the realm of possible concern for them; but why does it have to indicate anxiety, or a mental health issue, or stupidity?

Why can't we just ask questions without judgment? Isn't that the point of having Mumsnet, a hive of minds etc?

Op. Look you are not responsible unless you cause the accident or something on your property that you should have known about caused the accident.

this sort of anxiety is common on here, you see it when someone says should I let kids play on my swings and folks say what about your insurance or some other crap.

my window cleaner uses a ladder. It’s his job to position it safely and risk assess. If he falls he is responsible. Unless as a pp said I go out and kick it from under him, or I know the ground is unstable or something.

the same question could apply to anything. What if my cleaner falls down my stairs, what if the decorator falls off his ladder, anything, unless you or something in your home caused it there is no chance of you being responsible.

I like how the worry about him hurting himself was a PS...

Him hurting himself is not something that is in the OP's control. It goes without saying that it would be tragic if anyone seriously hurt themselves at work.

It's understandable that her question was "how would this unfortunate situation impact me". The "poor guy" doesn't need to be said, as it's so obvious.

The 'clean' isn't as great though...and your windows are left wet/dripping with water...which later streaks

They should be using deionised water, that won't leave any marks when it dries.

You've asked a daft question and understandably you're getting flack for it. But I think you're enjoying choosing to get offended by peoples comments.

Maybe you still don't see how ridiculous a question this is. Stop being outraged and stomping off from Mumsnet like a sulky child and consider your original question. I can understand this thought 'crossing your mind' but if the next thought through your head wasn't "of course it wouldn't be my fault" and instead was "I must ask others" then you need to think about employing someone to make decisions for you. 🙄

The nasty comments on this thread are bizarre.

Some people take their responsibilities seriously and want to know what those responsibilities are. It's a reasonable question in a world of increasingly opportunistic litigation.

That's really sad.

Some people spend their free time sneering at people on mumsnet. It's sad really.

Is this seriously a thing now in the UK to not allow window cleaners to use ladders!?

‘there's been a lot of push to stop window cleaners using ladders because of H&S element.’

@DaughterOfEvening

Apologies, I have only being in and out of the thread, my mistake. That’s very heartbreaking for all concerned.

You could be but that's why buildings insurance usually has home owners liability insurance with it and contents insurance has personal liability insurance. If you have buildings and contents insurance with these covers then there is nothing to worry about.

Yes. It has been the case since 2015, as my previous post explains. Unless there is no other alternative, window cleaners should not use ladders. It also explains the reasoning behind this - 10 deaths a years and countless injuries.

As for insurance - even if the window cleaner had insured themselves against injury, if the injury was caused by falling off a ladder (despite the H&S rules stating that they shouldn't be using a ladder) then their insurance may well decline to pay out.

😂You're an idiot. But thank you for making me laugh so much.

We are having our roof replaced. The builders booked the scaffolding company they wanted to use. If the scaffolding fails, the scaffolders are liable, not me. If the builders somehow fall off, their own personal accident insurance would have to cover them. Improper use of ladders (eg. Not secured) would be the liability of the ladder user. Failure of ladder would be liability of either manufacturer or if you supplied the ladder, you, if there was proof you had contributed to the failure by improper storage or use. But basically you don't employ the window cleaner, and have not supplied equipment, so you are not liable.

Thanks to everyone who has been really helpful. I appreciate it.

I won't be back to this thread again - too many idiots with nasty, unnecessary comments. I don't understand why people can't just walk on by if a thread doesn't appeal to them, why they feel the need to say something so judgmental. It's kinda sad. But says more about them than me.

I had a boring question about drains recently, I should have asked it on here to give snarky fuckers an orgasm.

If he doesn't have insurance then don't use him again. He should have Public Liability Insurance to cover himself and you. I see this so many times as an accountant, where a small business doesn't realise that they should have PLI. hairdressers, builders, all sorts of trades don't cover themselves should something go wrong.

As long as you have the correct house insurance yourself, then you would be covered if it was anything to do with your property that caused the accident.