They Have Your Keys. Do You Know Who They Are?
regulations requiring cleaners to verify ID
annual UK doorstep crime cost
to verify with Certifyd
The reality of cleaners in the UK.
Identity verification for cleaners goes beyond checking a business card or a name on an app. Certifyd uses bi-directional authentication — both the homeowner and the cleaner cryptographically prove their identity to each other in real time. When a cleaner arrives, the system verifies not just who they are, but that they hold an active membership with the cleaning company that sent them and are authorised to be there. The result is a tamper-proof, auditable record of every visit: who arrived, when, where, and under whose authority.
The UK cleaning industry is largely unregulated. There is no licensing requirement, no mandatory identity check, and no register of domestic cleaners. A person can set up a cleaning business tomorrow with nothing more than a Facebook page and a bucket.
For the millions of UK households that use a regular cleaner, this means entrusting house keys, alarm codes, and unsupervised access to someone whose identity has never been formally verified. When cleaning companies send substitute staff — which happens frequently — the homeowner often has no idea who has just walked through their door.
Platforms like Checkatrade and Trustatrader verify that a cleaning business exists. They cannot verify who actually arrives. That gap — between the business you booked and the person who turns up — is where risk lives. Closing it requires bi-directional authentication: both parties proving their identity to each other in real time, with the cleaner’s organisational membership and authority verified cryptographically, not just taken on trust.
This is broken.
Here's why.
Cleaning companies send different staff with no notice — you don’t know who’s actually in your home.
Self-employed cleaners found via Facebook groups or Nextdoor have zero identity verification.
Cleaners hold house keys, alarm codes, and knowledge of your schedule and valuables.
When something goes missing, there’s no record of who was there and when.
Simple verification.
Every time.
Cleaner arrives — both parties open Certifyd and authenticate via their registered device
Each person’s identity is cryptographically verified to the other — bi-directional, not one-way
The system confirms the cleaner’s active membership with their cleaning company and their authority to be there
A tamper-proof record is created: who, when, where, and under whose organisational authority
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“My clients give me their house keys and alarm codes. They trust me completely. But when I started, nobody verified who I was — I could have been anyone.”— Self-employed cleaner
Common questions.
There is no legal requirement for homeowners to verify a cleaner’s identity in the UK. However, you are giving someone unsupervised access to your home, keys, and personal belongings. Verification protects both parties — the homeowner knows who is in their home, and the cleaner has proof they were there if a dispute arises.
This happens frequently — staff sickness, scheduling changes, and holiday cover mean a different person may arrive. Without verification, you have no way to confirm that the substitute is actually from the company. Certifyd links each cleaner to their verified identity, so you know immediately whether the person at your door is who they claim to be.
Cleaning companies register as an Organisation on Certifyd and add each cleaner as a member with a defined role. Each cleaner registers their own device (a passkey on their phone, for example) which is cryptographically bound to their identity. When they arrive at a job, the system verifies not just the cleaner’s identity but their active membership and authority within the company — in real time. If a cleaner leaves the company, their membership is revoked instantly and they can no longer verify under that organisation.
A driving licence or passport proves a person’s name — it does not prove they work for the company they claim to represent, that they are authorised to be at your address, or that they were actually there at a specific time. Certifyd uses device-bound cryptographic authentication: the cleaner’s identity is verified through their registered device, their active membership in the cleaning company is confirmed in real time, and a tamper-proof audit record is created automatically. It’s the difference between a static card anyone could carry and a live, verified chain of trust.
Yes. If you employ a cleaner directly (rather than using a cleaning company), you are legally required to check their right to work in the UK. Failure to do so can result in civil penalties of up to £60,000 per illegal worker under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. The Fair Work Agency, launching April 2026, will enforce this more proactively.
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Bring verification to your cleaning business
Book a demo to see how Certifyd works for your team, or tell us about your verification needs and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.
Read: Who’s Really at Your Door?