Taking in a lodger / housekeeper

MobileSaver

RealLife wrote: »

Well, I would pick a woman, because I want the domestic assistance.

Lol, well with an attitude like that at least it's no mystery why you are single!

Annie1960

Get leaflets from all your local takeaways, and when you want a meal ring them up.

If you hire a cleaner directly, you will become his or her employer and will need to register with HMRC and deduct tax, NI etc. from the cleaner's pay. The way to get around this is to hire someone via an agency, as the agency is the employer and will invoice you.

Newly_retired

Well over 30 years ago, I briefly became a live-in housekeeper for an elderly relative, in exchange for free board and lodging, plus £50 per week, plus travelling expenses.
Strictly speaking there should have been considerations of tax , NI and insurance too.
You may want to consider the going rate at today's prices.
Also the potential issues of conflict, having someone else in your living space.

Eponym

agrinnall wrote: »

Ah, of course, only women can do domestic tasks can't they? I feel any woman who accepted your offer would very soon tire of your sexist attitude and start looking for an alternative place to live.

I was going to call the OP out on their sexist attitude, which seems straight from the 1940s, but you beat me to it! Well done for saying something.

OP, you need to rethink your attitude on this. It's sad that you don't realise how sexist you're being.

Jabberwk

Temporarily putting to one side the appalling sexism in this thread, the job of live-in housekeeper does exist, but it involves paying someone as well as providing room and board. If you don't want to be their employer, you would have to hire them through an agency (which would be more expensive) or find someone self-employed. If you want all the cooking and cleaning done for two people it may also be more than an hour's work a day. It depends how much time you, yourself, also contribute to it.

You could take in a lodger for the extra income, which would help with the cost of hiring a cleaner and buying microwave meals. If they don't contribute to the cost of a cleaner they may well be willing to do 'their' share of cleaning. Lodgers are people. Not all of them are tidy. A lot of them will not be willing to creep silently around the house so as to be in line with your shift times. You may be lucky and find someone willing to live around your life and do some extra stuff around the house for a reduced rent, but I think if you start advertising specifically for this you are likely to put a lot of people off. It kind of sounds like the start of those situations that end up with a news story about modern slavery. I'm sure that isn't your intention, but it would certainly ring alarm bells for me if I saw such an advertisement.

You could speak to a local cleaning agency about how much notice they need for appointments (presuming you have some notice of your shift times). If you explain your situation and if the agency is big enough they may be able to accommodate you most weeks.

Pixie5740

This has to be a wind up. Someone to cook, clean and wash your backside in return for board the equivalent of £70 a week who also has to fit in around your work patterns. You're going to struggle.

ladyabouttown

Find a wife!? That's sexism, he may want a husband...

Mojisola

RealLife wrote: »

So arranging pre-set times for a cleaner to visit may not be the best solution. I don't want to be woken up by the vacuuming when I've just gone to sleep.

So are you expecting your lodger to creep silently round the house when you want to sleep?

TBagpuss

I agree with PPs. If you don't want to do your own housework, hire a cleaner (using an agency to avoid becoming an employer) and, if necessary, take in a lodger to help cover some of the costs involved.

bear in mind that a lodger would be free to come and go as they want, and that you would need to be up front about your working hours and the disruption you coming in and out at odd hours will cause, and also bear in mind that a lodger would not normally expect to have to creep around in the day if you are sleeping.

isisini

There are a couple of online cleaning agencies which may suit you, like HomeJoy or Hassle.com. Pretty easy to pick and choose when you want them to come (you might not always get the same cleaner).