What Is TUPE & How Does It Affect Cleaning Contracts?

TLDR

In the UK, TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations) is a law that protects employees when their service contract changes hands, like when a business switches cleaning companies.

3 Key Takeaways

• What it is: TUPE means the existing cleaning staff usually transfer to the new cleaning provider with their same terms and conditions.

• Why it matters: It ensures job stability for the cleaners and provides continuity for the client, who gets to keep the same familiar team.

• Client benefits: While some clients worry about inheriting underperforming staff, a good cleaning company sees it as a chance to improve. By offering better training, communication, and fair treatment, the new company can motivate the existing team and boost their performance, leading to a stable, reliable cleaning crew.

Introduction

When businesses change cleaning providers, many assume it means starting fresh with a completely new team. But in the UK, that’s rarely the case. Thanks to TUPE legislation, the staff already working on the contract usually transfer to the new provider. This ensures continuity for the client and protection for the cleaners.

So, what is TUPE and why does it matter in cleaning contracts?

What Is TUPE?

TUPE stands for the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations. Put simply, it’s a set of rules designed to protect employees when the business they work for changes ownership - or when services, like cleaning, are taken over by a new contractor.

For cleaning contracts, TUPE legislation means that when you switch from one contractor to another, the cleaners working at your site will usually transfer across to the new company on the same terms and conditions.

Why TUPE Matters In Cleaning Contracts

• Stability for staff: Cleaners keep their jobs, avoiding unnecessary redundancies.
• Continuity for clients: The same cleaners stay in place, reducing disruption.
• Fairness and compliance: TUPE legislation ensures staff are treated lawfully and ethically during the transfer process.

This continuity is particularly important for office cleaning, where trust, consistency, and familiarity with the site make a big difference.

TUPE Benefits For Clients

Many clients worry that inheriting staff through TUPE means they’re stuck with underperforming cleaners. But handled well, TUPE can actually be a huge advantage.

At Jaguar Contract Cleaning Services, we see TUPE as an opportunity:

• We take on cleaners who may have been poorly supported by their previous employer.
• We provide correct training, open communication, and regular check-ins.
• We treat them as part of the Jaguar family, with respect and fairness.
• We pay correctly and on time, every time.

The result? A motivated team with a sense of pride in their work. Our approach has led to a staff turnover rate of just 15% - far below industry average. For our clients, that means no endless cycle of new faces. Instead, they build trust and long-term relationships with reliable cleaners who actually want to stay.

Jaguar’s TUPE Promise

When you move your cleaning contract to Jaguar, we don’t just “take on” staff - we invest in them. That’s why clients who were once frustrated with poor standards often see a complete turnaround once our team gets involved.

This combination of legal compliance, staff care, and proactive management makes TUPE not a challenge, but a benefit for both cleaners and clients. Learn more about our office cleaning services. 

So, what is TUPE and why should you care? TUPE legislation in cleaning contracts protects staff, creates continuity for clients, and - when handled with the Jaguar approach - delivers long-term benefits. Ready to experience the Jaguar difference? Make an enquiry today.