How to choose a cleaning service in Luxembourg

According to Guichet.lu, most economic activity carried out on a regular basis in Luxembourg requires an autorisation d'établissement, and anyone can check whether a business holds one with the "Rechercher une autorisation d'établissement" tool. Companies are also entered in the trade and companies register (RCS), which can be consulted on lbr.lu. Ask the provider for its authorisation number and RCS number in writing, then check three things: the name matches the one on the quote, the registered activity fits the service you are buying, and the entry is current. If the answers are vague or the details do not match, ask for clarification before you go further.

Employees must be declared to social security, which in Luxembourg is handled through the CCSS. Declaration means contributions are paid on the hours worked and the person is covered by social insurance. Ask the provider whether the people who will clean your home are its own employees or subcontractors, and how they are declared. A business with declared staff can answer this without difficulty. It also matters for you: the household-help tax allowance of up to €5,400 a year is only available when the workers are declared to social security and mainly carry out domestic tasks inside your home, whether they are employed by you or by a company. If you prefer to employ someone yourself, Guichet.lu describes the simplified CCSS procedure for private households, including the written contract and pay at least equal to the social minimum wage.

The chèque-service accueil (CSA) is a scheme that reduces what parents pay at recognised childcare services, such as crèches, maisons relais and registered childminders; the amount is paid directly to the recognised provider. It is not a subsidy for household cleaning — not for weekly cleaning, deep cleans, end-of-lease cleaning or office cleaning. If a cleaning quote advertises a chèque-service discount, ask the provider in writing which scheme it refers to and on what legal basis. A discount that cannot be explained in writing should not influence your choice. The support that does relate to declared household help is the income-tax allowance for household-help costs, which you claim yourself in your tax return.

A useful question for any recurring contract is what happens when your regular cleaner is on leave or ill. A well-organised provider can name a replacement or explain how one is chosen, gives the replacement a written task sheet for your home, and may send a supervisor on the first visit. Ask the provider to describe this in writing: who replaces your regular cleaner, how the replacement is briefed, and whom you contact if the work slips. On longer contracts, ask whether the provider reviews the scope with you periodically. A provider that handles substitution only verbally may still be fine, but you have less to rely on if quality drops during holidays.

Three questions about products and equipment belong in every quote. First, who supplies them: some providers bring products, cloths and a vacuum cleaner, others expect you to provide them, and the price should reflect which applies. Second, eco-labelled products: if this matters to you, ask whether the provider can use products with the EU Ecolabel and whether that changes the price. Third, fragrances and allergens: if someone in the household has asthma, eczema or another sensitivity, ask for fragrance-free or suitable products and for the product names in writing, so you can check the label or safety data sheet. Equipment matters too; for example, ask whether the vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter if dust is a concern.

Handing over a key deserves a written arrangement. Before you give a key to a cleaning provider, ask how it is stored and who has access, whether it is labelled with a code rather than your address, what happens if it is lost, and how it is returned when the contract ends. Hand the key over against a signed receipt, and ask for a signed receipt when it is returned. If the provider loses a key, ask in advance who pays for replacing the lock or cylinder and whether its insurance covers this. A provider that cannot describe how it handles client keys is a weaker choice for unsupervised work in your home.

Cleaning arrangements usually take one of three forms, and using the wrong one for the job causes disputes. A recurring contract (weekly or fortnightly) defines the scope, the cadence, the price per visit or per month and the notice period on both sides. A call-off arrangement (commande ouverte) lets you book hours when needed at an agreed rate; it suits irregular needs but does not guarantee availability. An end-of-lease clean is a one-off job against a checklist; ask the landlord or agent for their checklist and attach it to the quote, so the provider prices exactly what will be checked. Whatever the format, the contract should name the provider's liability insurer and state the notice period, so neither side can end a recurring arrangement without warning.

A clear cleaning quote separates the pricing basis — hourly, per m² or fixed — from the total and shows VAT on its own line. Under Luxembourg's VAT law, cleaning of private dwellings is taxed at the reduced rate of 8% and cleaning of business premises at 17%; a very small business under the VAT franchise scheme (annual turnover up to €50,000) does not charge VAT and should say so. Hourly quotes should state any minimum duration, the cadence, the team size and who supplies products. Per-m² quotes should state the surface counted, the rooms in scope and which items are extras (interior windows, oven, cupboard interiors). Fixed-price end-of-lease or post-renovation quotes should attach the checklist. A rate that seems very low compared with others for the same scope is a reason to ask how staff are employed and declared. Finally, ask for a copy of the provider's liability insurance certificate before the first visit.

Some warning signs come up repeatedly with problem cleaning arrangements. One: the provider will not put the rate and scope in a written quote. Two: the rate is far below other quotes for the same scope, without a clear explanation. Three: payment is requested in cash or to a personal account rather than by bank transfer against an invoice. Four: the provider does not give its autorisation d'établissement, RCS or VAT details on request, or the details do not match the public registers. Five: the quote advertises a chèque-service discount on household cleaning. Six: no liability insurance certificate is provided when asked. A single point may have a simple explanation, so ask; several together are a good reason to choose another provider. Undeclared arrangements also leave you without an invoice, without access to the household-help tax allowance and without a clear insurance position if something goes wrong.