[wayne99]

heard a rumor that certain wc'ers have a license to do an area and noone can muscle in on that area, is this true or a load of cobblers??reason is my uncle says his cleaner only charges £3 for a 3 bed house, i know he is not insured but would he have a license to do that area? i am about to canvass the area and dont want to tread on anyones toes, there is enough work for all of us.

[julian_d]

Wayne,

Yeah I think there is a liscense scheme in Scotland, no  doubt theres someone up there who will be able to fill you in on the details.

steve

[Philip Hanson]

There's no such thing as a "licence to do an area"

Sometimes one company will have a contract that covers a group of buildings (eg a warden-controlled retirement complex) but normal houses are fair game for anyone.

If you live in Scotland you do need a licence to window clean, these are obtained from your local council and cost less than £100 per year.  You may run into difficulties getting one if you have a criminal record, but otherwise I think the application process is straightforward.

There is enough work for everyone, however its usually considered bad form to try and undercut someone's prices and take their customers.  Also, that is asking for trouble in my opinion.

Better to concentrate on houses that clearly need a window cleaner, they are usually over-the-moon to see you and you dont have to convince them to swap-over.

-Philip

[zeusjazmin]

licence in ayrshire scotland is £175 ,it lasts for 3 years

[james44]

Zeusjazmin where in Ayrshire are you

[George-Reid]

License costs and length of time varies from council to council and some limit the amount they will issue.

Cheers

George

[zeusjazmin]

cumnock,what about you?

[james44]

Ardrossan

[zeusjazmin]

seems south west scotland has been hit by rain sinse september,do you get working in the rain

[james44]

I work in light rain to moderate,i could not work in windy days up a ladder, but i am now getting a backpack from cleantech at the end of the month so won`t have many lost days due to weather, it would have to be heavy rain and gail force to stop me working now.

[zeusjazmin]

backpack??.if you can give me something to let me work most days i would be eating more than i have lately,im totally skint

[gaza]

think it would be a great idea to licence window cleaners in england,sort out the winter dodgers,dole wallys and scrim and scarper boys,as long as they dont start issuing price guides

[zeusjazmin]

it would still be possible for the fly by night guys to operate with a licence
anyone with insurance and a clean criminal record can get one,you do not have to prove you are a legitimare cleaner.
i went 3 years without any spot checks when i was on the streets,then i was stopped 4 times in 2 weeks
round these parts the ones who sighn on are only out when they need money,leaving the rest of us to work 6 days aweek

[mbosticky]

How much is insurance? I guess a lot. Can anyone recomend insurance policy with a good insurance company?

Martin.

[zeusjazmin]

insurance is around £70 a year,that is for 2million£
lots of cleaners cancel it after 1st year,as you only have to show it every time you renew licence,which is every 3 years

[AuRavelling79]

But for the equivalent of about £1.50 per week I think you'd be crazy not to have public liability insurance.

A mate of mine put his ladder through a top light and showered his elderly customer with glass - if she'd wanted to she might have sued successfully. You just don't want that type of anxiety in your life.

And if you're using a pole think of all that hose that the unwary (crafty?) might trip over and "hurt" themselves!

[AuRavelling79]

Well Alan, it scared my mate while the old lady's son huffed and puffed about suing for a few days.
Also if you want commercial work many businesses and (all?) local authorities will not use you without Public Liability Cover.

So I reckon £75 - £100 is a small investment compared to the benefits.

And no I don't sell insurance.

[dennis buller]

How much is insurance? I guess a lot. Can anyone recomend insurance policy with a good insurance company?

Martin.

i used assure uk on-line