Cleaner contracts in Spain: do you need one?

This is one of those questions that most people in expat WhatsApp groups answer incorrectly. The short version: if you hire an individual to clean your property regularly and you’re the primary or only client, Spanish law may classify that as an employment relationship — which comes with obligations.

The employment relationship question

Under Spanish law, a domestic employee (empleado del hogar) who works for you more than 60 hours per month must be registered with the Social Security system and receive a formal contract. Even for fewer hours, there are grey areas. The key factors are: regularity of work, exclusivity, and who controls how and when the work is done.

The autónomo route

The simplest way to avoid the employment complexity is to hire a cleaner who is registered as autónomo (self-employed) in Spain. An autónomo cleaner operates as an independent contractor — they invoice you for their services, handle their own taxes and social security contributions, and you have no employer obligations. This is how most professional cleaning services on the Costa del Sol operate.

Ask for proof of autónomo status and request a proper invoice. This protects both parties.

Using a cleaning company or platform

Hiring through a company or platform like SAM removes the employment question entirely. The cleaner is contracted to the company, which handles all employment obligations. You pay for a service and receive an invoice — no employer relationship, no social security complications.