Employing a cleaner - what do I need to know?

littlesparkles

I've decided to get a cleaner. I met with two cleaners. One runs a cleaning agency and sends cleaners out. It's quite a new company and the owner still cleans too. Insurance and references are good. The second is a self-employed cleaner. She runs a very small family business with some relatives helping out. Insurance and references are good and all are CRB checked.

I've chosen to go with the self-employed cleaner rather than the agency because she's £1 an hour cheaper and I prefer her getting the money directly rather than an agency.

Should I expect some sort of contract? What should I look for in this? Any other advice?

cyclonebri1

Avoid the agency, they are for quick, short term arrangements.

And of course they take there cut, £1 per hour, I think you could get £3, assuming thats about 20% ;)

Check your cleaners immigration and tax status unless you want issues later.

Tell him/her the payments will be advised to HMRC etc, the price may go up very quickly.:rotfl::rotfl:

Biggles

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Tell him/her the payments will be advised to HMRC etc, the price may go up very quickly.

Though they won't be, will they (if they're self-employed)?

cyclonebri1

Biggles wrote: »

Though they won't be, will they (if they're self-employed)?

Don't know what you meant but I was saying if they know they will have to put it through the books, the price may be less attractive;)

yoyoegg

You need to confirm if you are responsible for buying the cleaning materials, if so which ones does the cleaner prefer to use.

You need to set out what you expect to be cleaned, the day she'll come around and any items that shouldn't be touched. Also the schedule for cleaning things like oven which won't be done every week.

littlesparkles

Thanks for the replies. The cleaner is British as evidenced by the CRB check which states she is British. There should be no immigration issue there.

She will provide the cleaning products.

She said she is registered as self-employed.

I've contacted one of the references and it is genuine.

Should there be a contract?

Biggles

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Don't know what you meant but I was saying if they know they will have to put it through the books, the price may be less attractive

Quite. But all I was saying was that, if they are self-employed, you won't have any requirement to report to HMRC.

cyclonebri1

Biggles wrote: »

Quite. But all I was saying was that, if they are self-employed, you won't have any requirement to report to HMRC.

That's OK. I was just making you aware of another possible issue, you wouldn't be the 1st that had been asked to supply false payment sheets by a "casual" employee.;)

Sorry biggles, was talking to you as the op

Fishingtime

The main thing you need to know is.

Can they clean :rotfl:

cyclonebri1

Good point, weeks trial would sound a good course of action?

The other major the op has covered, the criminal record check,something similar should be applied to all possible candidates.

silvercar

Fishingtime wrote: »

The main thing you need to know is.

Can they clean :rotfl:

Very true.

Expect the cleaner to take longer the first 2-3 times as they find their way round, has been my experience.

Agree whether they expect you to pay them if you are away on holiday and whether they expect any paid holidays if their cleaning day clashed with a bank holiday etc