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Council Cleaning Contracts: How to Find and Bid for Them
Councils buy cleaning for offices, libraries, depots, leisure centres, public toilets and council housing. Many lots are small enough for local firms.
Where councils publish cleaning tenders
New council tenders are published on Find a Tender. Lower-value quotes may only go to a council's own portal or to approved supplier lists, so register on your local councils' supplier portals.
What councils usually ask for
- Insurance certificates and a health and safety policy
- Social value commitments (local jobs, Real Living Wage, apprenticeships)
- Environmental policy (products, waste, travel)
- Financial checks (accounts, turnover)
Framework agreements
Some councils use frameworks, which are pre-approved supplier lists that run for up to 4 years. Getting onto one can lead to call-off contracts. Missing it can lock you out for years, so track framework end dates too.
Housing associations
Communal cleaning for housing blocks is a good fit for small firms. Many housing associations publish on Find a Tender.
See current council and public cleaning contracts by region →
By Carly · Updated 2026-10-24