Employing a non contract cleaner?

EvilMonkey

We've been using a contract cleaner for a while now, but she's just left the agency. I'm rather disapointed in the 'agency' aspect of it as from my side I pay a fair wack to them for very little (we've has 3 replacements form the agency for holidays, 2 did a terrible job and we asked them not to come back and 1 was a no show!).

I'd be happier paying the hard working cleaner the agencies cut! So what should I think about if I want to go down this route.

Worries I have:-

- How to I check their honesty (IE how do I avoid coming home to find my place emptied out)

- Am I employing them? Do I have tax liabilities?

Anyway thanks for any advice you can offer!

1984ReturnsForReal_2

EvilMonkey wrote: »

We've been using a contract cleaner for a while now, but she's just left the agency. I'm rather disapointed in the 'agency' aspect of it as from my side I pay a fair wack to them for very little (we've has 3 replacements form the agency for holidays, 2 did a terrible job and we asked them not to come back and 1 was a no show!).

I'd be happier paying the hard working cleaner the agencies cut! So what should I think about if I want to go down this route.

Worries I have:-

- How to I check their honesty (IE how do I avoid coming home to find my place emptied out) You cant 100% ensure that. You can reference & maybe get a copy of a recent CRB check.

- Am I employing them? YES Do I have tax liabilities? YES

Anyway thanks for any advice you can offer!

How much do you believe the "agencies cut" to be?

How much did you pay the agency per hour & how much did the cleaner get?

EvilMonkey

The cleaner = £6 for 2.5hrs weekly (direct to cleaner)
Agency = Can't recall exact amount but roughly £112 quaterly which works back to £3.50(ish) per cleaner hour.

Looking around I think we had a bad deal as other agencies seem to charge only £2.50 per hour...

paddypaws101

I have used an on-line portal www.opalcleaning.co.uk...I pay a small fee and can then search a database of dozens of registered cleaners in my area or I can post a wanted ad and invite applications.
It has worked very well for me and several friends so far, I take references and a copy of a household bill and passport as security.
This way the total fee goes direct to the cleaner...she is self employed and her tax is her own issue.

angelsmomma

EvilMonkey wrote: »

We've been using a contract cleaner for a while now, but she's just left the agency. I'm rather disapointed in the 'agency' aspect of it as from my side I pay a fair wack to them for very little (we've has 3 replacements form the agency for holidays, 2 did a terrible job and we asked them not to come back and 1 was a no show!).

I'd be happier paying the hard working cleaner the agencies cut! So what should I think about if I want to go down this route.

Worries I have:-

- How to I check their honesty (IE how do I avoid coming home to find my place emptied out)

- Am I employing them? Do I have tax liabilities?

Anyway thanks for any advice you can offer!

I am a cleaner and as I used to be a childminder I have a CRB certificate. I can also supply references when people interview me from other clients so that should really cover you for their honesty. I pay my own tax and insurance so that is not a problem.
The bottom line is why pay an agency when there are numerous people out there who will do a better job because you are their boss not the person at the agency (who has no idea how you do your job unless there are complaints)

EvilMonkey

This is my thought angelsmomma, we really liked our last lady and would have happily paid her the agencies money and cut them out!

Paddypaws, I like the idea of a copy of a household bill / passport. Is the idea behind this that if the worse did happen, you can take them to the police?

Will also take a look at that site you mentioned.

I KNOW I'm a bit paranoid, but can't really help it...

kazd

EvilMonkey wrote: »

The cleaner = £6 for 2.5hrs weekly (direct to cleaner)
Agency = Can't recall exact amount but roughly £112 quaterly which works back to £3.50(ish) per cleaner hour.

Looking around I think we had a bad deal as other agencies seem to charge only £2.50 per hour...

Most agencies charge about £8.50 with the cleaner getting about £7.00ph. So I feel sorry for your cleaner, the min wage is about £5 odd per hour.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

kazd wrote: »

Most agencies charge about £8.50 with the cleaner getting about £7.00ph.

If an agency done that they would be bankrupt within the amount of time it takes the money to drain out of their business bank account.

It costs more than £8.50 to employ someone on £7.00 per hour!

TomsMom

EvilMonkey wrote: »

The cleaner = £6 for 2.5hrs weekly (direct to cleaner)
Agency = Can't recall exact amount but roughly £112 quaterly which works back to £3.50(ish) per cleaner hour.

Looking around I think we had a bad deal as other agencies seem to charge only £2.50 per hour...

:eek: Who in their right mind works for that sort of money - £6 for 2.5 hours work, that's £2.40 per hour, when the minimum wage is £5.80 per hour for age 22+. Surely the agency is breaking the law by only paying their cleaners that amount?

Up until 12 months ago I employed a cleaner at our restaurant (we're retired now) and I was paying her £6 an hour then and we live in an area where wages are quite low. Be explicit in letting your cleaner know exactly what you want doing. I typed up a list for my cleaner to follow so there was no misunderstanding, laminated it and at first she ticked each job off until she was in a routine.

See if you can ask around friends/neighbours/colleagues for a recommendation. And be prepared to pay a decent wage for a decent job.

Steve_xx

TomsMom wrote: »

:eek: Who in their right mind works for that sort of money - £6 for 2.5 hours work, that's £2.40 per hour, when the minimum wage is £5.80 per hour for age 22+. Surely the agency is breaking the law by only paying their cleaners that amount?

Up until 12 months ago I employed a cleaner at our restaurant (we're retired now) and I was paying her £6 an hour then and we live in an area where wages are quite low. Be explicit in letting your cleaner know exactly what you want doing. I typed up a list for my cleaner to follow so there was no misunderstanding, laminated it and at first she ticked each job off until she was in a routine.

See if you can ask around friends/neighbours/colleagues for a recommendation. And be prepared to pay a decent wage for a decent job.

I'd hardly call your £6 per hour ground breaking in this day and age.

TomsMom

Steve_xx wrote: »

I'd hardly call your £6 per hour ground breaking in this day and age.

This thread wasn't discussing what I was paying, and if you read my reply that was 12 months ago and in an area of Wales described, I believe, as deprived. That amount was one of the higher wages in the area at the time and above the minimum wage .

And if you're criticising that, what are you comments on the £2.40 per hour mentioned in the OP's post?