For a business with one site, or a few sites in and around London, a local cleaning company is usually the better fit: its managers can visit in person, cover problems quickly and agree the specification face to face. A national contractor makes more sense when you need one contract covering sites in many regions of the UK. This guide compares the two on the points that matter day to day, and lists the questions to ask either type before you sign.
Local vs national at a glance
This guide is for office managers, practice managers and facilities managers in London choosing between a local commercial cleaning company and a national contractor.
- Which suits a London business best?
- If your sites are in London and Greater London, a local company can usually supervise more closely and respond faster.
- When is national better?
- When you want one supplier and one contract for sites spread across several UK regions.
- What matters more than size?
- Who actually cleans, how they are vetted, how quality is checked and how quickly problems are fixed. Ask every provider the same questions.
How they compare day to day
These are the usual differences. Individual companies vary, so check each point when you compare quotes.
- Site visits and supervision: a local company’s managers are usually close enough to visit and inspect in person. A national contractor may manage your site through a regional office further away.
- Covering absence: a nearby team can often send cover quickly when a cleaner is off. Ask any provider how they cover sickness and holidays, and how fast.
- Who you speak to: with a local firm you often deal with the same manager each time. With a larger contractor, ask whether you get a named account manager.
- Specification and changes: agreeing changes face to face on site tends to be simpler than through a central helpdesk.
- Sites in several regions: a national contractor can put every site on one contract and one invoice. A local company covers its own area.
For more on the day-to-day benefits of a nearby team, read why choose a local cleaning company.
When a national contractor is the better choice
If your business has premises across several parts of the UK and you want a single supplier, one contract and consolidated reporting, a national contractor is usually simpler to manage. DNA Cleaning Solutions covers London and Greater London only, so for sites outside that area a different provider will suit you better.
Questions to ask any cleaning company
- Who will clean our premises? The company’s own trained staff, or subcontractors?
- How are staff vetted? Ask about DBS checks and referenced background checks.
- Can we see your insurance? Public liability and employers liability insurance certificates should be available on request.
- Will we get a written specification? It should list each area, task and frequency.
- How is quality checked? Who inspects, how often, and against what?
- What happens when something is missed? Who do we call, and how quickly is it put right?
- What are the contract terms? Notice period, minimum term and whether one-off cleans are possible.
How DNA Cleaning Solutions works
We are a commercial cleaning company with more than 18 years’ experience, working across London and Greater London, including Heathrow, with local teams in Pinner and Twickenham.
- Our own trained cleaning teams do the work, supported by an experienced management team. We supply the equipment and products.
- Every cleaner is DBS checked and passes 5-year referenced background checks. Our airside teams also hold TSA vetting.
- Our managers make regular site visits and check the work against the written specification agreed before the contract starts.
- We are ISO 9001 certified and hold public liability and employers liability insurance.
- We clean daily, several times a week, weekly or monthly, take on one-off cleans with no contract, and answer our phones 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
See our local cleaning pages for London and Greater London.
Questions we are often asked
- Are local cleaning companies more expensive?
- Not necessarily. The price depends on the premises, the specification and how often you need cleaning, not on the size of the company. Compare written quotes against the same specification.
- Can we switch from our current cleaning contractor?
- Yes. Check the notice period in your current contract first. We survey the site and agree a written specification with you before the new contract starts.
- Which areas does DNA Cleaning Solutions cover?
- London and Greater London, including Heathrow, with local teams in Pinner and Twickenham.
- Do you offer one-off cleans without a contract?
- Yes. We clean daily, several times a week, weekly or monthly, and take on one-off cleans with no contract.
Book a free site visit or call +44 20 3826 8555.
