[james44]

Well was talking to a local handyman today! One who I knew as a window cleaner?
Well he was doing what every other window cleaner was doing windows,gutters and facias as add-ons to his window cleaning business
Whats new there I hear you say?
Well as you know of the licensing law here in Scotland prohibits you from working in different areas if you do not have a licence for that area!
Well he has got round not having to need a licence to clean windows to cut a long story short,
He registered as a handyman and not as a window cleaner and no licence to clean windows is required!
Well he said to me that he had found out that as long as he is not registered as a window cleaner he can trade as a handyman or a property maintenance company then he does not need a licence to clean windows
He explained to me that he was cleaning gutters in an area that requires you to have a licence for that area for window cleaning and was still registered as a window cleaner and not one person said a thing to him even though he spoke to local window cleaners
Who where not to happy at a window cleaner cleaning gutters in a licenced area,but as he was not cleaning windows what could the local authority do!
But because there is no licence for window cleaners to do gutter,facia cleaning in other areas does this not put a huge flaw in the licensing law?
Now if what he said to me is true you could re-register as a cleaning,maintenace handyman company and can trade wherever you want? As far as I am aware the licence only covers window cleaners that are registered as window cleaners?
Now if you are registered as a handyman,property maintenance company can anyone stop you from cleaning windows?

Your thoughts please!

[Llaaww]

Is there a map of these areas??

[david watts]

ten to four

[CLEANCARE WC]

  YOUR ONLY ALLOWED TO STICK TO ONE THING?

[james44]

YOUR ONLY ALLOWED TO STICK TO ONE THING?

Says who?

[CLEANCARE WC]

sorry james i had never heard of this being from east anglia, are window cleaners liscensed to specific areas?

[mci services]

Dan it is a Scottish law, but up to the council to enforce, 26 councils enforce it and 6 do not, I can put up a link to the areas if you want or are interested

[james44]

Dan, In some areas of scotland you will need a licence for the area that you are working in or risk a fine! (if caught)

[CLEANCARE WC]

NEW LEVEL OF RESPECT FOR SCOTTISH WINDOW CLEANERS...LUCKILY WE DONT HAVE THIS HASSLE, BUT I GUESS IT CUTS DOWN ON THE COWBOYS?

[chopsie]

ten to four

[Wickerman]

NEW LEVEL OF RESPECT FOR SCOTTISH WINDOW CLEANERS...LUCKILY WE DONT HAVE THIS HASSLE, BUT I GUESS IT CUTS DOWN ON THE COWBOYS?

You would think it would clean up the cowboys but in truth it doesn't.
I have my license, public liability and have gone through the police checks (your application is sent to them to clear). You must wear your badge at all times, this doesn't stop plenty of people just getting a wee ladder and a bucket and undercharging everyone. I have worked on houses next door to guys who could hardly stand up. But the problem is that some customers are happier to pay £3.50 for a clean once every few weeks than pay £10 for a licensed cleaner every 4 weeks. Other problem is that the public don't know that window cleaners have to be licensed.

[jouk45]

what he means james, is he can clean internals only, same as office cleaners, if they are stoped while cleaning the externals, he will be fined, for example i clean a very large office building in dundee, they have 6 office cleaners who clean everything even the inside glass, but are not allowed to clean outside, thats why i have the contract, to me, the whole thing is maddness the way the work it out,