Hiring a cleaner

GlasweJen

How do you go about hiring a cleaner?

I'm looking for someone to come in once or twice a week to do some dusting, hoovering, general tidying. Am I best using an agency or a private individual? Also do I have to talk to my house insurance if I hire a cleaner?

Tropez

Agency cleaners are preferable I think.

While you will generally pay £2-£3 more per hour, there's usually much more flexibility with an agency cleaner and any reputable agency takes their business very seriously, so there is an added sense of security for you, especially if your cleaner will be in the home on their own, because the agency will have standards and practices as well as take care of security checks.

Agencies will often have a different range of services - ranging from quick cleans to oven cleaning and some even offer housekeeping services.

Gillyx

My mum does it for a few people at weekends/evenings aswell as her day job and takes £6 an hour, she does bring along all her own cleaning products though. That's in the Lanarkshire area. Someone else I know hires a cleaner through an agency and it's generally £10/£12 an hour and they will bring there own cleaning products too.

Alter_ego

Having seen agency cleaners at work, I formed the opinion that they were doing the minimum acceptable to keep their jobs.

Molly41

I pay my cleaner 8 pounds an hour and provide all products/ equipment. My cleaner was recommended and does a good job when she comes but has to fit me into her busy schedule. Just recently it has stressed me very much as she has not been so reliable but she has been with me for five years so I keep hoping it will change. I have been thinking baout an agency for the reliability aspect.

Darlyd

I would love to do cleaning job, make my own company, I would charge £7.50 an hour and supply my own cleaning equipment. But would not know where to start with insurances etc.

If I were to hire a cleaner I would use a company, for the reliability. I have a safe for valuables anyway, so wouldn't worry about precious things going missing..

shirlgirl2004

I have employed 4 cleaners paying £7 to £7.50 using an agency would have been at least double that. Agencies don't allow their cleaners to move ornaments, stand on steps or do anything remotely risky for insurance reasons. Realistically it means they can't clean your house properly.

I gave up having a cleaner when I realised I ended up doing it myself because it was always rushed. Initially I didn't have a full written list of what I wanted done but after the first cleaner I realised it is essential however it doesn't matter how comprehensive the list is if they don't bother to read it :mad:.

Kimberley82

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

I have employed 4 cleaners paying £7 to £7.50 using an agency would have been at least double that. Agencies don't allow their cleaners to move ornaments, stand on steps or do anything remotely risky for insurance reasons. Realistically it means they can't clean your house properly.

I gave up having a cleaner when I realised I ended up doing it myself because it was always rushed. Initially I didn't have a full written list of what I wanted done but after the first cleaner I realised it is essential however it doesn't matter how comprehensive the list is if they don't bother to read it :mad:.

I have worked for 2 different agacies and that is just not true, we can move things and basically do everything needed.

shirlgirl2004

Kimberley82 wrote: »

I have worked for 2 different agacies and that is just not true, we can move things and basically do everything needed.

Not when I was looking at employing them. I was told they can't do picture rails (too high). They won't move ornaments incase they break them. They won't move large potted plants incase they hurt their backs etc. Maybe they are all soft down south (or are you down south too?).

Kimberley82

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

Not when I was looking at employing them. I was told they can't do picture rails (too high). They won't move ornaments incase they break them. They won't move large potted plants incase they hurt their backs etc. Maybe they are all soft down south (or are you down south too?).

Im in the midlands.

pleasedelete

If you are employing them then you need to sort out tax and ni and pay employers contributions. You need their NI number as even if you are not paying them enough to pay tax they may have multiple jobs etc