Communal cleaning covers shared spaces in residential buildings — lobbies, stairs, lifts, bin stores — under a recurring contract paid via service charge. Domestic cleaning covers the inside of a single home, booked privately by the resident. Different scope, different scheduling, different insurance.
Key facts
- Communal = shared spaces, contract-based, paid by service charge.
- Domestic = inside one home, booked privately.
- Communal contracts usually require building-wide public liability cover.
- Domestic cleaners typically work alone; communal often involves teams.
Comparison table
| Communal cleaning | Domestic cleaning | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Lobbies, stairs, lifts, bins, corridors | Inside a single flat or house |
| Booked by | Freeholder / managing agent / RTM | The resident or homeowner |
| Paid via | Service charge | Direct payment |
| Schedule | Weekly or fortnightly | Weekly, fortnightly or one-off |
| Insurance | Public liability across building | Usually personal liability only |
| Reporting | To the agent / RTM board | Direct to the homeowner |
London context
Many London blocks try to save money by asking a resident's private domestic cleaner to also do the common parts. It's a false economy: domestic cleaners rarely carry the right insurance for shared spaces, the work doesn't sit in any contract, and accountability disappears the moment something goes wrong.
The simplest way to think about it: domestic cleaning works for one front door. Communal cleaning works for every front door in the building plus the spaces between them. Insurance, scheduling and accountability all have to change accordingly.
If you own a flat and you're tempted to organise communal cleaning informally with neighbours, get a proper contract in place. It protects you legally and resolves the awkward 'who pays this month' conversations.
If you run an RTM or manage a block, treat communal cleaning as a procurement exercise — written scope, named tasks, insurance evidence, monthly reporting. That's the difference between a clean block and a complaint thread.
Related services
Relevant areas
FAQs
Can one cleaner do both communal and domestic work?
In principle yes, but insurance and contract terms must explicitly cover the communal scope. We recommend separating them.
Who is responsible if a cleaner damages communal property?
The cleaning company's public liability insurance. Always confirm cover before signing a contract.
Is communal cleaning more expensive than domestic?
Per visit, usually no. The cost is spread across the service charge and shared between leaseholders.
Need help with communal vs domestic cleaning?
Call, WhatsApp or request a free quote — we respond fast across Central and East London.
Reviewed by Emma Cleaning LTD · Last updated 2026-06-09