A housekeeping agreement defines a room-by-room cleaning checklist, the visit schedule, and the rate — typically $30–$60/hour or $100–$250 per visit flat for recurring residential service, with deep cleans at 1.5–2× the standard visit. The dispute-prevention clauses are the task checklist (what 'clean' means per room), supplies responsibility, key/alarm access terms, a 24–48 hour cancellation policy with a lockout fee, and whether the cleaner is an independent contractor or a household employee — which changes tax obligations.
Housekeeping Agreement Template
Reviewed by the Agiled editorial teamUpdated June 2026
The word 'clean' means something different in every household, and that gap is where housekeeping relationships break down. A housekeeping agreement replaces...
Part of our free contract template library — 75+ agreements in Word and PDF, ready to customize and sign.
Full template text
HOUSEKEEPING SERVICE AGREEMENT
Date: _______________
Property Address: _______________
PARTIES
This Housekeeping Service Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into by and between:
Homeowner: _____________ ("Owner"), residing at _____________
Housekeeper: _____________ ("Housekeeper"), doing business as _____________ (if applicable), with a mailing address of _____________, Phone: _____________, Email: _____________, insured under Policy No. _____________ (if applicable)
CLAUSE 1 — PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
The services under this Agreement shall be performed at the Property Address described above. The home consists of:
- Bedrooms: _____
- Bathrooms: _____
- Kitchen(s): _____
- Living/common areas: _____
- Other areas included: _____________
- Approximate square footage: _____
- Pets: [ ] Yes (type/number: ___) [ ] No
- Occupants: _____ adults, _____ children
CLAUSE 2 — SCOPE OF SERVICES
Standard Cleaning (each visit):
Kitchen:
- Wipe and sanitize countertops and backsplash
- Clean sink and faucet
- Wipe appliance exteriors (stove, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher)
- Clean stovetop
- Mop floor
- Empty trash and replace liner
- Wipe cabinet fronts (as needed)
Bathrooms: - Clean and sanitize toilet, tub/shower, sink, and countertops
- Clean mirrors
- Mop floor
- Empty trash and replace liner
- Replenish towels (if available)
Bedrooms: - Make beds (change linens: [ ] every visit [ ] every _____ visits [ ] Owner changes)
- Dust surfaces (nightstands, dressers, shelves)
- Vacuum or mop floors
Living/Common Areas: - Dust all surfaces (tables, shelves, entertainment center, decor)
- Vacuum carpeted areas and rugs
- Mop hard floors
- Spot-clean mirrors and glass
- Fluff and arrange cushions
General (all areas): - Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures (reachable height)
- Vacuum/mop stairs
- Empty all trash bins
- Spot-clean doors and light switches
Deep Cleaning (performed every _____ visits or upon request — additional fee of $_____/visit): - Interior window cleaning
- Oven and refrigerator interior cleaning
- Baseboard wiping
- Blind and shutter cleaning
- Cabinet interior organization
- Carpet deep clean (if equipment available)
Excluded Services: - Exterior window cleaning
- Heavy lifting or furniture moving (over 25 lbs)
- Laundry service (unless agreed: [ ] included [ ] additional $_____)
- Pet care
- Organizing/decluttering (unless agreed separately)
- Hazardous cleaning (mold remediation, biohazard)
CLAUSE 3 — CLEANING SCHEDULE
Cleaning shall be performed [ ] weekly [ ] bi-weekly [ ] monthly, on _____________ (day of week) at approximately _____________ (time). The Housekeeper shall notify the Owner at least 24 hours in advance of any schedule change. Rescheduled visits shall occur within the same week when possible.
CLAUSE 4 — SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT
Cleaning supplies and equipment shall be provided by: [ ] Owner [ ] Housekeeper [ ] Housekeeper (with cost included in service fee) [ ] Housekeeper (billed separately at cost plus ___%).
If the Owner has preferences for specific products (eco-friendly, fragrance-free, pet-safe), the following products shall be used: _____________
CLAUSE 5 — PRICING AND PAYMENT
[ ] Per-Visit Rate: $_____________ for standard cleaning
[ ] Hourly Rate: $_____________ per hour (estimated _____ hours per visit)
[ ] Monthly Rate: $_____________ for _____ visits per month
Deep cleaning: additional $_____________ per session.
Payment is due: [ ] At each visit [ ] Weekly [ ] Bi-weekly [ ] Monthly, on the _____ of the month.
Accepted methods: ________. Late payments accrue a fee of $ per week.
CLAUSE 6 — PROPERTY ACCESS
Access method: [ ] Key provided [ ] Lockbox (code: ___) [ ] Smart lock (code: ___) [ ] Owner present [ ] Other: _____________
Security system: [ ] Yes (disarm code: ___; rearm upon leaving: [ ] Yes [ ] No) [ ] No
The Housekeeper shall lock all doors, close all windows, and secure the property upon departure. The Housekeeper shall not allow unauthorized persons into the property.
CLAUSE 7 — BREAKAGE AND DAMAGE
The Housekeeper shall promptly notify the Owner of any breakage or damage that occurs during the cleaning visit, whether caused by the Housekeeper or discovered as pre-existing. For items damaged by the Housekeeper's negligence, the Housekeeper shall reimburse the Owner for the reasonable replacement cost or submit a claim under the Housekeeper's liability insurance.
The Owner shall inform the Housekeeper of any fragile, valuable, or irreplaceable items that require special care.
CLAUSE 8 — INSURANCE AND LIABILITY
The Housekeeper shall maintain: [ ] General liability insurance ($_____ minimum) [ ] Bonding [ ] Both [ ] None (Owner assumes risk).
The Housekeeper shall exercise reasonable care while performing services. The Housekeeper shall not be liable for damage resulting from normal wear and tear, pre-existing conditions, or the Owner's failure to disclose fragile items.
CLAUSE 9 — CONFIDENTIALITY
The Housekeeper shall keep all information about the Owner's household, personal affairs, daily routines, security arrangements, and possessions strictly confidential. This obligation survives termination of this Agreement.
CLAUSE 10 — WORKER CLASSIFICATION
The Housekeeper is engaged as: [ ] Independent Contractor [ ] Employee.
If engaged as an independent contractor, the Housekeeper is solely responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and compliance with applicable laws. The Owner shall issue IRS Form 1099-NEC if annual payments exceed the applicable threshold.
If engaged as an employee, the Owner shall comply with applicable employment laws, including wage, hour, and tax withholding requirements.
CLAUSE 11 — PET PROTOCOL
If pets are present during cleaning visits, the Owner shall: [ ] Confine pets to a designated area [ ] Allow pets to roam freely [ ] Other: _____________
The Housekeeper shall: [ ] Clean pet areas (food bowls, litter box, pet beds) [ ] Not clean pet areas.
CLAUSE 12 — CANCELLATION POLICY
The Owner must provide at least _____________ hours' notice to cancel a scheduled visit. Visits cancelled with less than the required notice will be billed at ___% of the regular rate.
The Housekeeper must provide at least _____________ hours' notice if unable to perform a scheduled visit. The Housekeeper shall offer a makeup visit within the same week when possible.
CLAUSE 13 — TERMINATION
Either Party may terminate this Agreement with _____________ days'/weeks' written notice. The Owner shall pay for all services performed through the termination date. The Housekeeper shall return all keys and access devices upon termination.
CLAUSE 14 — DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Any dispute arising under this Agreement shall be resolved through mediation. If mediation is unsuccessful, either Party may pursue legal remedies in the courts of the state where the Property Address is located.
CLAUSE 15 — GOVERNING LAW AND ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of _____________. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the Parties. Amendments must be in writing and signed by both Parties.
SIGNATURES
Owner: ___________________________ Date: _______________
Printed Name: ___________________________
Housekeeper: ___________________________ Date: _______________
Printed Name: ___________________________
- Hourly rate
- $30 – $60 per cleaner
- Recurring visit (flat)
- $100 – $250 per visit
- Deep clean
- 1.5× – 2× standard visit
- Cancellation window
- 24 – 48 hours, then a fee
What your housekeeping agreement should cover
Room-by-room task checklist
Kitchen: counters, sink, exterior of appliances, floors. Bathrooms: full sanitization. Bedrooms: dust, vacuum, beds with provided linens. The checklist is the contract's core — it defines done.
Excluded tasks and priced extras
Interior windows, inside the oven/fridge, laundry, dishes, and organizing are extras with stated prices ($20–$75 each), not silent additions. Biohazards, mold, and pest cleanup are excluded entirely.
Schedule and frequency
Weekly, biweekly, or monthly, with an agreed arrival window rather than an exact minute. State whether the same cleaner is guaranteed or the company may rotate staff.
Rates, payment timing, and rate-change notice
Flat per-visit pricing for recurring service (hourly invites clock disputes), payment due at service or weekly/monthly in arrears, and 30 days' written notice for rate changes.
Supplies and equipment
Cleaner-provided is the professional norm (priced into the rate); client-provided suits chemical-sensitive households. Name any product restrictions — no bleach on stone counters belongs in writing, not in memory.
Keys, codes, and access
How the cleaner enters, how keys are stored (coded, no address attached), alarm procedure, and a lockout fee — commonly 50% of the visit price — when the cleaner can't get in at the scheduled time.
Cancellation and skip policy
24–48 hours' notice to cancel or move a visit without charge; inside the window, 50–100% of the visit fee. Skipped visits on biweekly schedules often re-price the next visit, since double the buildup is double the work.
Worker classification and taxes
A cleaning company sends contractors or employees it manages; a directly hired housekeeper working your schedule with your supplies is likely a household employee — triggering 'nanny tax' withholding above the IRS annual threshold ($2,800 in 2026). The agreement should say which arrangement this is.
Breakage and liability
The cleaner's insurance covers damage caused by negligence; irreplaceable or fragile items the client wants untouched get listed. Report-and-resolve beats deduct-and-dispute.
Typical housekeeping rates and terms (U.S., 2026)
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $30 – $60 | Per cleaner; metro markets higher |
| Recurring visit (2–3 BR home) | $100 – $250 flat | Weekly/biweekly schedule |
| One-time deep clean | $200 – $500 | 1.5–2× a standard visit |
| Move-out clean | $250 – $600 | Empty-home checklist |
| Add-ons (oven, fridge, windows) | $20 – $75 each | Priced per task |
| Late cancellation fee | 50% – 100% of visit | Inside 24–48 hr window |
| Lockout fee | ~50% of visit | Cleaner arrives, can't enter |
Rates vary by region, home size, condition, and pets. First visits to a new client commonly price as deep cleans, with the recurring rate applying thereafter.
How housekeeping agreements work in practice
Recurring residential service
The standard arrangement: an initial deep clean to bring the home to baseline (priced at 1.5–2× a normal visit), then weekly or biweekly visits at a flat rate against the checklist. Flat pricing keeps incentives clean — the cleaner isn't punished for being efficient, and the client isn't watching the clock. The agreement runs month to month, either side can end with two weeks' to 30 days' notice, and rate increases need 30 days in writing.
Directly hired housekeeper
When a household hires a housekeeper directly — setting the schedule, providing supplies, directing the work — the IRS generally treats that person as a household employee, not a contractor. Above the annual cash-wage threshold ($2,800 in 2026), the household owes Social Security and Medicare withholding, and possibly federal and state unemployment tax. The agreement should state the employment relationship, the hourly wage, the weekly schedule, and paid-time-off terms, because misclassifying a household employee as a 1099 contractor is one of the most common household tax errors.
Move-out and turnover cleans
One-time move-out cleans price from an empty-home checklist — inside cabinets, inside appliances, baseboards, windows tracks — usually as a flat quote after photos or a walkthrough. Payment is due on completion (there's no recurring relationship to bill against), and the agreement should state that the scope assumes an empty unit: cleaning around a half-packed apartment is a different job and re-quotes on arrival.
Mistakes that weaken a housekeeping agreement
Leaving 'clean' undefined
Every dispute in this industry is a checklist that didn't exist. Room-by-room tasks in writing turn 'the bathroom wasn't done properly' into a checkable list instead of a standoff.
Hourly billing on recurring service
Hourly punishes efficient cleaners and makes every invoice a negotiation about minutes. Flat per-visit pricing against a checklist aligns both sides; reserve hourly for one-off chaos jobs.
Ignoring worker classification
A directly hired housekeeper on your schedule with your supplies is likely a household employee — and paying them as a 1099 contractor creates back-tax and penalty exposure for the household when it surfaces.
No lockout or late-cancellation fee
A cleaner who drives to a locked house loses the slot and the income. The 24–48 hour cancellation window and a lockout fee make the client's calendar discipline a financial matter, which is the only kind that works.
Handling breakage informally
Deducting a broken vase from the cleaner's pay, or the cleaner hiding the breakage, both poison the relationship. Report-immediately plus insurance-covers-negligence, written down, keeps accidents administrative.
How to use this template
- 01
Download the housekeeping agreement template in Word or PDF.
- 02
Build the room-by-room checklist and mark the excluded tasks and priced extras.
- 03
Set the schedule, the flat per-visit rate (or hourly for one-off work), and payment timing.
- 04
Settle supplies, key storage, alarm procedure, and the lockout fee.
- 05
Fill in the cancellation window and fee, and state the worker-classification arrangement.
- 06
Have both parties sign, and schedule the initial deep clean as the first visit.
Skip this template if…
- Commercial janitorial contracts — office and retail cleaning runs on per-square-foot pricing, service-level agreements, and after-hours access terms.
- Short-term rental turnovers at scale — Airbnb turnover services need same-day windows, photo verification, and restocking terms; use a dedicated service agreement.
FAQs
How much does housekeeping cost?
Typical rates run $30–$60 per hour per cleaner, or $100–$250 flat per visit for a recurring 2–3 bedroom home on a weekly or biweekly schedule. One-time deep cleans run $200–$500 and move-out cleans $250–$600. First visits usually price as deep cleans.
What should a housekeeping agreement include?
A room-by-room task checklist, excluded tasks and priced extras, the visit schedule, flat or hourly rates and payment timing, supplies responsibility, key and alarm access terms, a 24–48 hour cancellation policy with fees, breakage handling, and the worker-classification arrangement.
Is a housekeeper an employee or independent contractor?
It depends on control. A cleaning company's staff are the company's problem; a housekeeper you hire directly, schedule, and supply is generally a household employee under IRS rules — and above $2,800 in annual cash wages (2026) you owe Social Security and Medicare withholding.
Who provides cleaning supplies?
Professional cleaners typically bring their own supplies and equipment, priced into the rate — they know their products and carry what the checklist needs. Client-provided supplies make sense for chemical sensitivities or specialty surfaces; either way, the agreement should say which applies.
What happens if I cancel a cleaning visit last minute?
Most agreements require 24–48 hours' notice; inside that window a fee of 50–100% of the visit price applies, because the slot can't be refilled. Lockouts — the cleaner arrives and can't enter — typically charge around half the visit price.
What if something gets broken during cleaning?
The standard structure: the cleaner reports breakage immediately, and damage caused by negligence is covered by the cleaner's liability insurance. Clients should list irreplaceable items they want left untouched — exclusion is better protection than reimbursement.
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