Trust & safety
Houmse is a managed marketplace. Every cleaner is an independent contractor who must pass our approval process and carry their own insurance before accepting a booking.
How we approve cleaners
1. Structured Interview
We assess work ethic, attention to detail, and communication before anything else.
2. Reference Checks
Every applicant provides at least two prior client or employer references. We call all of them.
3. Background Check
An Enhanced Canadian Criminal Record Check is completed before any cleaner enters a client's home, with no exceptions.
4. Identity Verification
Identity is verified through OneID, which authenticates government-issued ID documents against a selfie taken at the time of verification.
5. Hands-On Training
Every new cleaner trains with our standard checklist before their first solo visit.
We don't subcontract your booking to a third party. Every cleaner who comes to your home has gone through Houmse's own approval process above — the same background check, the same reference calls, the same insurance verification — directly with Houmse. We don't hand your job off to an outside agency or a subcontractor we haven't approved ourselves.
For the order and method on the day of the clean, see How We Clean.
Insurance on every booking
Every cleaner carries their own $2M commercial general liability policy — we collect the certificate before activation and track its expiry. Houmse Inc. carries its own occurrence-based policy with Northbridge Insurance — $2M per occurrence, $5M general aggregate — plus $50,000 employee dishonesty coverage on every booking.
Verified against the Certificate of Insurance dated 13 August 2026 (policy period 19 May 2026 – 19 May 2027).
Background checks & identity
An Enhanced Canadian Criminal Record Check is completed before any cleaner enters a client's home, with no exceptions. Identity is verified through OneID, which authenticates government-issued ID documents against a selfie taken at the time of verification. Every applicant also provides at least two prior client or employer references, and we call all of them.
the Houmse 24-Hour Re-Clean Guarantee
If something was missed, tell us within 24 hours and we will re-clean it at no charge.
See My PriceRelated reading
- Score any company on insurance and screening with the 20-point Toronto scorecard.
- Weigh company coverage against a solo cleaner: company vs independent cleaner.
- What cleaners bring on the day: supplies and equipment.
- Book standard cleaning or browse more answers on the FAQ.