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Having a car as a requirement for agency cleaning work?

36 replies

stephdaviduk · 22/11/2025 13:57

Hi all, I am not a mum, but have a lovely woman who cleans my house with two boys in primary school.
She has been looking for work as a cleaner with companies, but is being told that she requires a car to get to clients. How can this be a requirement for cleaning job? She is very willing to use public transportation to get to her assignments.
I’ve suggested that she raise this issue with her Jobs Plus advisor, as it’s ridiculous in my view.
What do you mums do? Any ideas?

OP posts:
ChocHotolate · 22/11/2025 14:03

Very area dependent I assume. Central ish London with good and reliable public transport and difficult parking it’s easy, countryside with 1 bus per day not so good. Also will she expect to be reimbursed travel costs - public transport can be more per mile than claiming milage

Namechange29383929383 · 22/11/2025 14:04

Time is money unfortunately. A 7 minute car journey can easily take 30 minutes by public transport, or even more depending on what area you live in. That very quickly reduces the amount of clients someone can take in a day which is ultimately all the agency care about.

MossAndLeaves · 22/11/2025 14:05

Usually they're expected to take cleaning supplies with them I think? My SIL has a cleaner and they bring their own equipment including mop and bucket.

Theunamedcat · 22/11/2025 14:07

I used to take a henry hoover mop and bucket and a huge bag full of cleaning cloths and supplies that's really hard to do on a bus

Ineedanewsofa · 22/11/2025 14:09

Every cleaning company I’ve used (not a self employed sole trader) has insisted they bring their own equipment and supplies rather than use ours which would be impossible on public transport. Plus not having a car does limit what jobs they can assign her, not everywhere can be accessed from public transport/walking.

Nofuckingziti · 22/11/2025 14:13

She’ll be required to use the agency cleaning equipment - ours always had their mops, Hoover, all cleaning supplies. How would she cart all that about on a bus?

stephdaviduk · 22/11/2025 15:08

ChocHotolate · 22/11/2025 14:03

Very area dependent I assume. Central ish London with good and reliable public transport and difficult parking it’s easy, countryside with 1 bus per day not so good. Also will she expect to be reimbursed travel costs - public transport can be more per mile than claiming milage

It's outer London with good public transportation. The Superloop buses are great. If my friend can get work, she'd be able to purchase a monthly bus pass, which may or may not be claimable.

OP posts:
stephdaviduk · 22/11/2025 15:11

Thanks everybody. Some great points. As a client, I provide my own cleaning materials and vacuum cleaner, and had done so when using an agency. I just feel that it's rather a lot to require a car.

OP posts:
Sausagescanfly · 22/11/2025 15:17

What is the demand like for cleaners in your area? Is there enough benefit for her in working for an agency, rather than taking on her own private clients?

Where we are, the agencies seem to advertise for "self-employed" cleaners, which seems really dodgy. They also keep a hefty chunk of the hourly rate. They seem to struggle to hire enough staff to meet demand.

TartanMammy · 22/11/2025 15:20

How could she lug a hoover, mop, bucket, cloths and products around on public transport between jobs. You can't use the same cloths across different properties so would need multiple sets.

Someone who drives could probably clean double the number of properties per day compared to someone who doesn't so it's a far better hire for the company.

Coconutter24 · 22/11/2025 15:27

stephdaviduk · 22/11/2025 15:11

Thanks everybody. Some great points. As a client, I provide my own cleaning materials and vacuum cleaner, and had done so when using an agency. I just feel that it's rather a lot to require a car.

As an employer would you hire option A who has a car which means she can complete 5 jobs a day or option B who has to rely on public transport so can’t get round to people as quick or easily and due to time can only complete 3 jobs a day?

stephdaviduk · 22/11/2025 15:32

Sausagescanfly · 22/11/2025 15:17

What is the demand like for cleaners in your area? Is there enough benefit for her in working for an agency, rather than taking on her own private clients?

Where we are, the agencies seem to advertise for "self-employed" cleaners, which seems really dodgy. They also keep a hefty chunk of the hourly rate. They seem to struggle to hire enough staff to meet demand.

I don't know I'm sorry to say. I've suggested that my friend raise the matter with her job coach who she has been seeing for over a year! Not helpful at all!

OP posts:
Gottabeehonest · 27/11/2025 00:27

stephdaviduk · 22/11/2025 13:57

Hi all, I am not a mum, but have a lovely woman who cleans my house with two boys in primary school.
She has been looking for work as a cleaner with companies, but is being told that she requires a car to get to clients. How can this be a requirement for cleaning job? She is very willing to use public transportation to get to her assignments.
I’ve suggested that she raise this issue with her Jobs Plus advisor, as it’s ridiculous in my view.
What do you mums do? Any ideas?

You have used the term "agency" and "company" interchangeably throughout this thread, and yet they are very different things, so it's hard to know which of the two you are talking about, though I suspect based on the need for a car that it's not in fact an agency.

A cleaning "agency" does not employ staff. They are exactly as the name tells us - an agency. The client pays a monthly fee to the agency in exchange for an introduction to a self-employed cleaner, who the client pays directly. The client also provides all the cleaning equipment and materials, and it's up to the client to mostly manage the cleaner & work with the cleaner to arrange times to clean etc. It's irrelevant to the agency how the cleaner gets to the client, and when.

A cleaning "company" does all of the above. And yes, it very much DOES matter to them as to when the cleaner gets to the client and how they get there, as the cleaning company is providing a fully managed service, usually with equipment and supplies included. The cleaners may or may not be on a payroll, though the more successful companies will have them on the payroll. In this case it is essential a member of staff has a car - you can't say it's wrong, because it's what is needed for the job! Payroll staff have to be paid for all their travel time, at least they have to be paid enough each day so that their rate of pay does not fall below minimum wage, when hours worked and travel time is added together (as do self-employed staff but don't get me started on that point as I will never stop, because sadly they frequently aren't). To that end, transportation is essential.

However, in all of this, I don't understand why your cleaner is wanting to do anything but work for herself, as clearly if she has you as a client then she's more than capable of finding and managing her own...similarly, if she's that good, aren't you worried that she will leave you if she gets more than enough work from a cleaning company?

stephdaviduk · 27/11/2025 08:46

Gottabeehonest · 27/11/2025 00:27

You have used the term "agency" and "company" interchangeably throughout this thread, and yet they are very different things, so it's hard to know which of the two you are talking about, though I suspect based on the need for a car that it's not in fact an agency.

A cleaning "agency" does not employ staff. They are exactly as the name tells us - an agency. The client pays a monthly fee to the agency in exchange for an introduction to a self-employed cleaner, who the client pays directly. The client also provides all the cleaning equipment and materials, and it's up to the client to mostly manage the cleaner & work with the cleaner to arrange times to clean etc. It's irrelevant to the agency how the cleaner gets to the client, and when.

A cleaning "company" does all of the above. And yes, it very much DOES matter to them as to when the cleaner gets to the client and how they get there, as the cleaning company is providing a fully managed service, usually with equipment and supplies included. The cleaners may or may not be on a payroll, though the more successful companies will have them on the payroll. In this case it is essential a member of staff has a car - you can't say it's wrong, because it's what is needed for the job! Payroll staff have to be paid for all their travel time, at least they have to be paid enough each day so that their rate of pay does not fall below minimum wage, when hours worked and travel time is added together (as do self-employed staff but don't get me started on that point as I will never stop, because sadly they frequently aren't). To that end, transportation is essential.

However, in all of this, I don't understand why your cleaner is wanting to do anything but work for herself, as clearly if she has you as a client then she's more than capable of finding and managing her own...similarly, if she's that good, aren't you worried that she will leave you if she gets more than enough work from a cleaning company?

Thanks for the clarification. However, it is ridiculous to require a car for cleaning jobs. But that's me. She only has me as a client because the crowd that hired her and took me on as a client ceased as a business.

OP posts:
pottylolly · 27/11/2025 08:55

This is area and agency dependant. Most professional set ups need cleaners to come with equipment / products & to see a specific amount of clients per day. You absolutely can’t do that by bus.

Gottabeehonest · 27/11/2025 09:14

stephdaviduk · 27/11/2025 08:46

Thanks for the clarification. However, it is ridiculous to require a car for cleaning jobs. But that's me. She only has me as a client because the crowd that hired her and took me on as a client ceased as a business.

Why ridiculous if that's the business model?

Gottabeehonest · 27/11/2025 09:18

pottylolly · 27/11/2025 08:55

This is area and agency dependant. Most professional set ups need cleaners to come with equipment / products & to see a specific amount of clients per day. You absolutely can’t do that by bus.

But as I have explained already, an agency will not care about transport or equipment - agency is only providing a cleaner they have listed on their books. It is not a fully managed service. It is the cleaning companies who require more from their staff in terms of a car and following a schedule etc.

HereAreYourOptions · 27/11/2025 09:23

Are we surprised that companies are able to make more demands on their employees even for low paid jobs like cleaners and carers? As unemployment and underemployment rises, this is only going to get worse.

I can't imagine many people here will care, as long as they get their cheap servants cleaners though.

A true Labour government would do something about this, rather then being more pre-occupied with looking after people on benefits.

Gottabeehonest · 27/11/2025 09:28

HereAreYourOptions · 27/11/2025 09:23

Are we surprised that companies are able to make more demands on their employees even for low paid jobs like cleaners and carers? As unemployment and underemployment rises, this is only going to get worse.

I can't imagine many people here will care, as long as they get their cheap servants cleaners though.

A true Labour government would do something about this, rather then being more pre-occupied with looking after people on benefits.

The alternative for domestic cleaning would be to not have a business at all. You can't employ people and not pay travel time, and you can't run a successful business by giving staff unlimited travel time. It isn't about making demands, it's about a business model.

user1471538275 · 27/11/2025 09:31

If your business model relies on exploiting your workers and imposing costs on them, then it's not a great model.

Owning and running a car in London costs a fortune. It is beyond the reach of many many people.

Once upon a time if you were required to drive to see clients then a car was provided for you, with, at most, a portion taken directly from salary - and this was usually a choice.

Does this not happen any more?

Blondeshavemorefun · 27/11/2025 09:34

She would be better advertising herself and then didn’t matter how she gets to the job as long as does and at the time discussed

Littletreefrog · 27/11/2025 09:35

Unfortunately it will be a requirement for most cleaning jobs where there is a distance between clients. They don't want to pay for her to be sat on a bus and also will want her to transport the equipment. She would probably be best setting up as a sole trader, it really isn't as difficult as people think.

HereAreYourOptions · 27/11/2025 09:36

Gottabeehonest · 27/11/2025 09:28

The alternative for domestic cleaning would be to not have a business at all. You can't employ people and not pay travel time, and you can't run a successful business by giving staff unlimited travel time. It isn't about making demands, it's about a business model.

The alternative is to provide the car as part of the job, as many other, better-paid jobs would do, and then raise the cost of the service to reflect that.

Gottabeehonest · 27/11/2025 09:39

user1471538275 · 27/11/2025 09:31

If your business model relies on exploiting your workers and imposing costs on them, then it's not a great model.

Owning and running a car in London costs a fortune. It is beyond the reach of many many people.

Once upon a time if you were required to drive to see clients then a car was provided for you, with, at most, a portion taken directly from salary - and this was usually a choice.

Does this not happen any more?

Owning and running a car in London costs a fortune. It is beyond the reach of many many people.

Which is why you won't find many cleaning companies in inner London, only agencies.

Once upon a time if you were required to drive to see clients then a car was provided for you, with, at most, a portion taken directly from salary - and this was usually a choice.

These days people are reimbursed for using their own cars. You may think this is exploitation, so will be pleased to know that it's one of a great many reasons why people don't want these jobs, or won't stick at it if they do.

Gottabeehonest · 27/11/2025 09:40

Littletreefrog · 27/11/2025 09:35

Unfortunately it will be a requirement for most cleaning jobs where there is a distance between clients. They don't want to pay for her to be sat on a bus and also will want her to transport the equipment. She would probably be best setting up as a sole trader, it really isn't as difficult as people think.

All of this.

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