What is Janitorial Services Agreement Drafting?
A janitorial services agreement is a legal contract between a business client and a cleaning provider. It has to specify all the details about their working arrangement, such as cleaning schedules, payments, and expectations.
By preventing miscommunication, a janitorial services agreement can help you to avoid disputes.
Read the rest of this article for key terms to include in a janitorial services agreement, how to draft it for clarity, and how a lawyer can help you with the process.
What Key Terms are in a Janitorial Services Agreement?
A janitorial services agreement includes the following essential information.
- Work scope. You should outline the specific cleaning services required and the location where cleaning tasks will occur.
- Effective date. State the start and end dates. If the contract is ongoing, specify how long it will last.
- Schedule. Explain the days and times for cleaning tasks, as well as how frequently this will occur.
- Compensation. State how payments will be made, such as on an hourly or flat-fee basis. Include due dates and penalties for late payments.
- Supplies. Explain what supplies and equipment is required, as well as which party is responsible for providing them.
- Liability. Specify which party is responsible if something goes wrong, such as property damage, and include remedies for the damages.
- Termination. If either party wants to end the contract, explain the process. This should include providing written notice a certain number of days in advance.
How Do You Draft a Janitorial Services Agreement?
Once you’ve included key terms in your janitorial services agreement, elaborate on them to provide details and clarity for both parties.
Describe all Tasks
Be as detailed as possible about what the cleaning provider will do, such as sanitizing surfaces, dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and emptying trash.
Specify all Cleaning Locations
Mention exactly where the cleaning provider will work, such as if they need to clean a certain number of rooms in an office building, including restrooms, waiting areas, and others. This will obviously depend on the working arrangement but it must be clarified so that both parties know what’s expected.
Describe Equipment and Supplies
Your contract should specify what materials, supplies, and equipment is required for the cleaning services to be completed. Explain which party will supply these so that there’s no ambiguity.
Consider Additional Costs
When explaining payment terms, you should include if there are any extra tasks that will have to be done and how they will be paid for. For example, add-on services could include carpet cleaning.
Provide Access Information
Mention in the janitorial services agreement how the cleaning provider will access the location, such as how they can deactivate alarms, if they will receive keys, and so on.
Since they might be exposed to private or confidential information, such as security codes, you might want to include a clause regarding how confidentiality and privacy will be maintained.
Do You Need a Lawyer to Draft a Janitorial Services Agreement?
Although you don’t always need to hire a lawyer to draft your janitorial services agreement, it can benefit you to prevent issues, such as if you’re hiring a cleaning provider for your business.
Here’s what a lawyer will do during the contract-drafting process:
- They’ll define the scope of work required. This includes cleaning locations and service standards to meet.
- They’ll establish all payment terms, how late payments are handled, and any additional fees that apply to prevent disputes.
- They’ll help you to identify both parties’ rights and duties.
- They’ll include provisions to protect both parties, such as liability, insurance, and indemnification.
- They’ll help you protect your sensitive information, such as regarding house keys, and safeguard client property.
- They’ll consider hidden risks in the agreement to ensure that you remain protected.
- They’ll guide you through potential disputes and how to deal with them quickly and effectively.
- They’ll consider the most appropriate duration for your agreement and help you to terminate it early should this be required.
- They’ll review your janitorial services agreement if you’ve already drafted it, ensuring all its terms are clear, legally sound, and protect your interests.
Where to Find a Lawyer for Janitorial Services Agreement Drafting
If you need to hire a lawyer to draft your janitorial services agreement, the process of finding a reputable one doesn’t have to be challenging. Online legal platforms such as ContractsCounsel make the process easy.
ContractsCounsel is one of the largest online legal marketplaces that gives you access to a network of vetted lawyers. All lawyers on the platform have expertise and experience to help you with your contracts. They can review and/or draft contracts, while providing you with legal guidance.
Here are the steps to follow to request that a lawyer on the ContractsCounsel platform drafts your janitorial services agreement for a flat fee:
- Go to the ContractsCounsel marketplace.
- Post your project for free. Include a few details to help you find the most suitable lawyer, such as what cleaning services are required.
- Wait for bids. Without having to search for a lawyer, you’ll receive multiple bids from lawyers directly on the platform who have the experience to help you.
- Review the lawyers’ profiles. Take some time to go through the platform’s lawyer data, such as their location, client ratings for previous projects, expertise, and credentials.
- Connect with a lawyer you think is best suited to your requirements and hire them to draft your janitorial services agreement. They can also review an agreement you’ve already drafted, giving you peace of mind.
