Independent Cleaner Agreement

Effective Date: 1 September 2026
Last Updated: 1 September 2026

This Agreement sets out the terms on which an independent sofa or upholstery cleaner may use SofaCleaner to receive customer opportunities, arrange bookings and receive payments.

It is between:

1. SofaCleaner, trading as SofaCleaner, of 85 Great Portland Street, London W1W 7LT, United Kingdom. (“SofaCleaner”, “we”, “us” or “our”); and
2. the sole trader, partnership or company identified in the cleaner application and approved by SofaCleaner (“Cleaner”, “you” or “your”).

If you accept this Agreement for an organisation, you confirm that you have authority to bind it.

This Agreement is for business use. Customers booking cleaning services are covered by the Customer Terms of Service.

The Agreement is presented during onboarding. It begins when your acceptance is recorded and SofaCleaner approves your cleaner account. You cannot accept customer jobs until then.

1. Key terms

In this Agreement:

• Accepted Job means a customer job that you agree to undertake and SofaCleaner confirms in writing.
• Booking Confirmation means the written summary of the Customer, Cleaner, service, price and appointment details.
• Completed Job Value means the final amount payable for cleaning work actually completed, including agreed extras and any VAT charged by you, after any cancellation, refund or price reduction.
• Customer means a customer introduced to you through SofaCleaner.
• Customer Contract means the contract under which you supply cleaning services to the Customer.
• Job Price means your total quoted price, including all mandatory charges and any applicable VAT.
• Platform means SofaCleaner.org and the related booking, payment and support processes operated by SofaCleaner.
• Working Day means Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays in England and Wales.

2. SofaCleaner’s role and your role

SofaCleaner provides a matching, booking, payment and support service. We may collect job details, identify potentially suitable cleaners, communicate your approved quote, coordinate the booking and collect the Customer’s payment.

You supply the cleaning service. Unless the Booking Confirmation expressly states otherwise, the Customer Contract is between you and the Customer. You are responsible for assessing the job, setting the Job Price, choosing an appropriate cleaning method and performing the service with reasonable care and skill.

You appoint SofaCleaner as your limited, disclosed commercial agent to:

• communicate quotes and availability that you have approved;
• conclude the Customer Contract on your behalf when the Customer accepts the final details and any required payment is received;
• receive booking communications and cancellation notices; and
• collect Customer payments on your behalf and account to you under this Agreement.

For these purposes, SofaCleaner acts for you and is not the supplier of the cleaning service. A payment received by SofaCleaner through the approved payment process satisfies the Customer’s obligation to pay you for that amount.

SofaCleaner does not guarantee that a Customer will accept your quote or that you will receive any minimum number or value of jobs.

3. Cleaner approval and ongoing requirements

You must be at least 18 and legally entitled to operate the cleaning business described in your application. You must provide accurate information reasonably required to verify your identity, business, experience, service area, bank account and suitability.

You must maintain:

• suitable professional experience, equipment, products and transport;
• employers’ liability insurance where required by law;
• motor insurance covering business use where you use a vehicle for jobs; and
• criminal-record documentation that is lawfully available and appropriate for the work and the UK jurisdiction in which it is carried out.

A Standard or Enhanced DBS check may only be requested where the particular role is legally eligible for that level. SofaCleaner may instead require a Basic DBS check or the appropriate lawful equivalent from Disclosure Scotland or AccessNI.

You must provide evidence of required insurance, checks or registrations when requested. Tell us promptly if relevant information becomes inaccurate, required cover expires or is cancelled, or anything occurs that could materially affect customer safety or your ability to perform the service.

Approval remains at SofaCleaner’s reasonable discretion and does not guarantee access to work.

4. Independent business status

You operate as an independent business. Nothing in this Agreement creates employment, worker status, a partnership or a joint venture between you and SofaCleaner.

Subject to an Accepted Job and applicable law, you decide:

• which opportunities to accept or decline;
• the prices you quote;
• your services, working area and availability; and
• how to perform the cleaning safely and professionally.

You provide your own equipment, products and transport, pay your own expenses and bear the opportunity for profit and the risk of loss. You may work for other platforms, businesses and customers. You are not required to accept a minimum amount of work, and SofaCleaner is not required to offer it.

You may use suitably skilled employees or subcontractors, provided that you tell SofaCleaner before the appointment, identify who will attend and ensure they meet the relevant legal, verification and insurance requirements. You remain responsible for their work and conduct. SofaCleaner or the Customer may refuse a replacement on reasonable safety, identity, insurance or suitability grounds.

Employment and tax status depend on how the relationship operates in practice, not only on the wording of this Agreement. Nothing here removes a status or right that applies by law.

5. Opportunities, quotes and confirmed bookings

Customer information and photographs may be incomplete. Review the available details and request any clarification needed before quoting. You may decline any opportunity without penalty and should only accept work you are trained, insured and equipped to perform.

You set the Job Price. Your quote must:

• clearly describe what is included;
• state the total amount the Customer must pay;
• include VAT if you are VAT registered;
• include every mandatory charge that can reasonably be calculated before booking; and
• identify optional treatments separately.

Do not make a false or misleading claim about your price, experience, services or likely results. Do not guarantee stain, odour or damage removal where the result depends on the material, condition or previous treatment.

A request or initial estimate is not a booking. An Accepted Job is confirmed only when you approve the final scope, price and appointment, the Customer accepts the details and Customer Terms, any required payment is processed, and SofaCleaner issues the Booking Confirmation.

The Customer Contract consists of the Booking Confirmation, the Customer Terms in force when the booking is confirmed and any additional written terms lawfully agreed with the Customer. Mandatory consumer rights take priority over any conflicting term.

If the job is materially different when you arrive, explain the difference before doing additional work. Any revised scope or price must be agreed by the Customer in writing and recorded with SofaCleaner before that work begins. The Customer may decline the change.

6. Service standards

You must perform every Accepted Job with reasonable care and skill, in accordance with the Customer Contract, applicable law and any material representation you made before booking.

You must:

• attend as agreed or promptly report a delay;
• inspect the furniture and available care information before treatment;
• explain foreseeable limitations, material risks and visible pre-existing damage;
• use products, equipment and methods suitable for the material and condition;
• follow applicable health and safety, chemical-handling and electrical-safety requirements;
• protect the Customer’s property and leave the work area reasonably safe; and
• give clear drying and aftercare instructions; and
• communicate professionally and without unlawful discrimination or harassment.

You must not use a treatment outside your competence or continue where there is a material risk of injury or avoidable damage.

You may refuse to start or may stop if the conditions are unsafe, the upholstery cannot reasonably be treated or the job is materially different from the Booking Confirmation. Explain the reason to the Customer, record it in the booking conversation and contact SofaCleaner promptly so any payment adjustment can be handled.

7. Booking fee, payments and payouts

7.1 The 15% Booking Fee

The Customer pays the Job Price through SofaCleaner’s approved payment process. You authorise SofaCleaner and its payment provider to receive, refund and transfer those funds as needed to administer the booking.

For each completed job, SofaCleaner deducts a Booking Fee equal to 15% of the Completed Job Value. The remaining 85% is your Cleaner payout before your own tax, insurance and business costs.

For a Completed Job Value of £100, the Booking Fee is £15 and your Cleaner payout is £85.

The Booking Fee is inclusive of any VAT SofaCleaner must charge on that fee, unless different treatment is clearly notified and agreed before you accept the relevant job. SofaCleaner will provide a suitable fee statement or VAT invoice where required.

There is no monthly subscription or setup fee under this version of the Agreement. No Booking Fee is due merely because you apply, remain approved, receive an opportunity or provide a quote that is not accepted.

7.2 Cleaner payouts

Confirm through the booking channel when a job has been completed and disclose any change to its final value.

Subject to cleared Customer payment and no unresolved cancellation, complaint, refund, fraud or chargeback issue, SofaCleaner will initiate your payout instantly after confirmation of job completion.

Payment-provider and banking processing times are outside SofaCleaner’s direct control. We will provide a statement showing the Completed Job Value, Booking Fee and any adjustment.

We may temporarily hold the amount reasonably connected with a genuine dispute or verification issue. We will not withhold an undisputed payout without reasonable grounds and will explain a material hold where the law permits.

7.3 Deductions and corrections

SofaCleaner may deduct or set off only amounts properly due under this Agreement, including the Booking Fee, a Customer refund or price reduction, a chargeback, an overpayment, or direct third-party costs caused by your proven breach or fraud.

We will explain any material adjustment. If recovery is required after payout, you must repay the amount within seven days of receiving a written calculation, unless you raise a genuine dispute within that period.

7.4 No direct payment for SofaCleaner bookings

Do not ask or encourage a Customer to pay you directly for an Accepted Job or related extra. All agreed changes and payments for that job must be recorded and processed through SofaCleaner.

If you receive a direct payment accidentally, tell SofaCleaner promptly. The Booking Fee remains due and may be invoiced or deducted from a future payout. This does not restrict work for customers you obtained independently without using a SofaCleaner introduction or information.

7.5 Tax and reporting

You are the supplier of the cleaning service and are responsible for all tax, National Insurance, VAT, accounting and reporting obligations relating to the full Job Price.

Keep your tax and business details accurate. Where digital-platform reporting rules apply, SofaCleaner may collect, verify and report required seller, transaction, bank-account, fee and payout information to HM Revenue & Customs or another competent authority. We will provide you with reported information where legally required.

8. Cancellations and rescheduling

You must honour the Customer’s cancellation, refund and service rights under applicable consumer law.

Where a Customer books at a distance, the Customer will normally have a 14-day cancellation period. Do not begin work during that period unless the booking record confirms the Customer’s express request for early performance and any legally required acknowledgement. SofaCleaner may collect these as your agent.

The contractual cancellation policy is:

• At least 24 hours before the appointment: no cancellation charge applies.
• Less than 24 hours before the appointment: the Customer may be charged only for your reasonable, direct and unavoidable loss, taking account of costs avoided and work you could reasonably rebook.
• No access or Customer no-show: this may be treated as a late cancellation if you attended as agreed and could not obtain access or contact an authorised person.

Provide a short explanation and reasonable evidence for a late-cancellation claim within three Working Days. You are not automatically entitled to the Job Price. No 15% Booking Fee applies to work that was not completed.

A rescheduled date requires your agreement and availability. A late request may be treated as a cancellation if the original appointment cannot reasonably be filled.

If you cannot attend, tell SofaCleaner immediately. We may offer the Customer another cleaner or a full refund. You receive no payout for work you did not complete. Repeated late cancellations or no-shows may lead to suspension or termination.

9. Complaints, refunds and damage

Tell SofaCleaner promptly about a complaint, alleged damage, refund request or threatened payment dispute. Respond to reasonable information requests within two Working Days, or sooner where urgent action is needed to prevent further loss.

Provide relevant booking messages, inspection notes, photographs and other evidence you lawfully hold. Where appropriate, you should have a reasonable opportunity to inspect the issue and offer repeat performance, subject to the Customer’s legal rights.

SofaCleaner may hold the disputed part of a payout while reviewing the evidence and may administer a remedy required by law or reasonably agreed with you and the Customer. Before making a discretionary payout decision against you, we will act reasonably and give you an opportunity to respond where practicable. This does not prevent either party to the Customer Contract from exercising its legal rights.

An agreed refund or price reduction reduces the Completed Job Value, and the Booking Fee will be recalculated on the revised amount. If you have already received too much, SofaCleaner may recover the difference under Section 7.3.

You are responsible for a refund, chargeback or direct cost to the extent it was reasonably caused by your breach, negligence, misleading information or failure to provide the service. You are not responsible for loss caused by SofaCleaner, a payment-provider error outside your control or a claim you did not cause.

For alleged injury or property damage, take reasonable steps to prevent further loss, notify your insurer where required and cooperate with the Customer, SofaCleaner and the insurer. You remain primarily responsible for claims arising from your service or anyone working on your behalf.

10. Customer information and confidentiality

SofaCleaner and the Cleaner will generally act as separate controllers of the personal information each uses for its own booking, payment, service and legal purposes. Each party must comply with applicable data-protection law and the SofaCleaner Privacy Policy.

Use Customer information only to assess, quote for, arrange, perform, document or resolve the relevant job, or to meet a legal obligation. Do not use it for unrelated marketing without a separate lawful basis, disclose it to an unauthorised person or keep it longer than reasonably necessary.

Keep Customer information reasonably secure. Do not use job photographs publicly or for marketing without the Customer’s specific permission. Report any actual or suspected loss, unauthorised disclosure or security breach involving SofaCleaner or Customer information without undue delay and, where possible, within 24 hours.

Keep non-public information about SofaCleaner’s customers, operations and security confidential. These duties continue after the Agreement ends.

11. Suspension and termination

Either party may end this Agreement on 14 days’ written notice. You may stop receiving new opportunities sooner, but you remain responsible for Accepted Jobs unless they are properly reassigned or cancelled.

SofaCleaner may suspend your access or end the Agreement immediately where reasonably necessary because of fraud, a serious safety or data-security concern, loss of required insurance or legal eligibility, a serious or repeated breach, repeated avoidable cancellations, unlawful conduct, or a legal or payment-provider requirement.

Except where urgent action or law prevents it, we will explain the reason and give you a reasonable opportunity to provide relevant information.

Ending the Agreement does not affect existing rights or amounts. SofaCleaner will pay any undisputed payout due after permitted deductions. Payment adjustments, tax, complaints, data, confidentiality, liability and disputes continue where needed after termination.

12. Changes to this Agreement

SofaCleaner may update this Agreement to reflect changes to the Platform, business model or law.

We will give at least 30 days’ written notice of a material change to the Booking Fee or payout structure, unless a shorter period is required by law or an urgent security or regulatory issue. A change applies only to jobs accepted on or after its effective date.

If you do not agree, you may stop accepting opportunities and end the Agreement before the change takes effect. Accepting a new job after that date confirms acceptance of the updated Agreement.

13. Responsibility and liability

SofaCleaner will provide its matching, booking, payment and support services with reasonable care and skill. We are responsible for direct loss that was reasonably foreseeable and caused by our breach.

SofaCleaner is not responsible for a Customer’s inaccurate information or conduct, the availability or value of opportunities, your business expenses or tax position, or cleaning results, damage or injury caused by you or anyone working for you.

Neither party is liable to the other for indirect or consequential loss, or for loss of anticipated profit, business, goodwill or opportunity that was not reasonably foreseeable when this Agreement was made.

Except for amounts collected on your behalf but not paid, SofaCleaner’s total liability under this Agreement will not exceed the greater of £1,000 and the Booking Fees deducted from your payouts during the 12 months before the event giving rise to the claim.

These restrictions do not apply to death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, deliberate breach, an obligation to pay an amount properly due, or liability that cannot lawfully be limited.

Neither party is responsible for delay or failure caused by an event outside its reasonable control, provided it gives notice where practicable and takes reasonable steps to reduce the effect. This does not excuse an obligation to pay money that is already due.

You are responsible for your cleaning services and anyone working on your behalf. You will reimburse SofaCleaner for reasonable, direct loss and third-party costs to the extent caused by your negligence, unlawful conduct or material breach. This does not apply to loss caused by SofaCleaner or to loss SofaCleaner could reasonably have avoided.

14. General terms and disputes

This Agreement, your approved application, each Booking Confirmation and the policies expressly referred to here form the agreement between you and SofaCleaner about the Platform. If a Booking Confirmation conflicts with this Agreement, it controls only for that job and only where the change is lawful and clearly agreed.

You may not transfer this Agreement or your cleaner account. This does not prevent the permitted use of employees or subcontractors under Section 4. SofaCleaner may transfer the Agreement to a successor operating the Platform, provided this does not materially reduce your accrued rights.

If a provision is unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue to apply. A delay in enforcing a right does not waive it.

This Agreement is governed by the law of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction, except where mandatory law requires otherwise.

Before bringing a court claim, each party should give the other written details and allow at least 14 days to try to resolve the dispute. This does not prevent urgent action or restrict a right that cannot lawfully be limited.

15. Contact and acceptance record

SofaCleaner is operated by:

• Trading name: SofaCleaner
• Business address: 85 Great Portland Street, London W1W 7LT, United Kingdom
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: +44 7337 157003
• Website: https://sofacleaner.org/

Send notices about this Agreement to [email protected]. For a live booking, also use the existing WhatsApp conversation so the relevant information remains together.