House cleaner and security

newbian

We've moved to a new home and it's too far away for our trusted cleaner to continue working for us. I interviewed someone who lives in the area and cleans a lot of houses, and was recommended by estate management. My husband is concerned that the fact she lives in the neighbourhood makes us more vulnerable to theft. I view it as the opposite - she is cleaning many houses on our street and lives at the end of the road, if she steals from us surely we/the police can track her down much more easily.

Are there any good ways to vet a cleaner short of asking other clients for a reference? Background checks?

Also what is the best way to keep your house secure as far as giving them access to keys when you are not home? We were planning to leave a key with the estate management for her to sign in and out, instead of giving her one directly or leaving it hidden around the house.

evoke

You should really check with your home insurance company about giving your house keys to a cleaner. It may void your insurance.

If you know she cleans several other houses down your road then you ask her if it's okay to speak to some of those homeowners. See how long she has been cleaning their houses and if they've ever had any issues.

A handful of good references should put your mind at rest. Nevertheless, human beings are human beings so never leave anything lying around that could provide temptation! Lock away all sensitive documents and possessions.

If you do take her on board, explain the areas that she can and cannot access.

Building trust is a two-way thing so it's best not to go overboard on being suspicious about someone to the extent that it makes them feel uncomfortable.

googler

How did your 'trusted cleaner' become trusted in the first place?

warmhands.coldheart

I sleep with my cleaner, though she prefers me to call her my wife :rotfl:

newbian

googler wrote: »

How did your 'trusted cleaner' become trusted in the first place?

Our previous residence was a block of flats where most of the owners have lived for 10+ years, so the references were based on long-term relationships.

We now live in a new build estate with first residents moving in within the past year, so even a good reference locally will be a very short term one. So I think I will ask her for refs from people she has been working with for at least one year, outside of the neighbourhood.

louby_lou

warmhands.coldheart wrote: »

I sleep with my cleaner, though she prefers me to call her my wife :rotfl:

for a moment thought my husband must be online at the same time as me... :rotfl: