How to ask for pay rise in private cleaning?

[Deleted User]

I do private cleaning 4 times a week, these are for two people. One lady I do clean is three times a week (4 hrs) she pays me by standing order and I got the key to her house and she also gave me bank card in my name to buy cleaning products or occasionally flowers or drinks for guests. Apart from cleaning I do change her bed and wash and iron the sheets, if she had guests then I would strip the beds, wash and iron the sheets and make the beds. It’s more of a housekeeping work really and she pays me £12 p/h. The cleaning job I do once a week it’s purely cleaning and I don’t even take the rubbish out and I get paid £15 p/h for 2hrs work, and this week they’ve given me £3 rise (so I take £33 for 2 hrs). I really want to ask the lady for pay rise but don’t know how to word it right and do you think I should do it in writing or face to face? 

MorningcoffeeIV

Advise her that your rates are increasing to x from x date. Whether you do it in writing or face to face to up to you and will be influenced by your relationship with her.

Obviously if you're asking for a large increase or you've already increased in the recent past, she's less likely to agree.

TELLIT01

Simply be straight with her.  You have kept your price the same for 18 months but have to increase it to x.

diystarter7

Hi

To be blunt, IMHO I think you are pushing your luck.

Is it local, ie few mins walk/drive etc and are you happy there?

If the above is yes, think hard before asking.

where is it you work, ie town approx location

Thanks

74jax

I'd do it in writing and with your next invoice. 

'Please be advised that as of (date) the hourly rate will increase to (£x) which reflects (x%) increase.' 

[Deleted User]

@diystarter7 I don’t think I am pushing my luck, her cook and gardener told me when her brother was looking for a cleaner they suggested me, but she said no because she’s afraid he’ll snatch me, I am struggling at the moment with prices going up and I do drive to hers (not far just 10mins drive), I am happy there as it fits within school hours and I have given up my healthcare job so I don’t have to work weekends, and whenever my daughter is off school I can always bring her with me. It is just the whole idea of asking her I’m bit apprehensive about. 

Abby1984

@d@diystarter7  . How is Op pushing her luck to ask for a pay rise during a time when many are striking in order to get one? Average cost of a cleaner back in January was £12  to £23. So op was at the lowest end of the scale before inflation dramatically rose so surely a small increase in hourly rate wouldn’t be unexpected?

Funny how you say politeness and courtesy is free yet i wouldn’t call what you said polite. 

Marcon

74jax said:

I'd do it in writing and with your next invoice. 

'Please be advised that as of (date) the hourly rate will increase to (£x) which reflects (x%) increase.' 

I don't think private cleaners doing a few hours a week for local customers invoice - and actually speaking to the customer is a far better approach in this situation.

diystarter7

Deleted by poster

diystarter7

diystarter7 said:

Hi

To be blunt, IMHO I think you are pushing your luck.

Is it local, ie few mins walk/drive etc and are you happy there?

If the above is yes, think hard before asking.

where is it you work, ie town approx location

Thanks

Hi OP

I think I got confused and thought you was getting 15 pounds an hour.

To confirm is the same person paying you 12 or 15 quid an hour?

Many thanks in advance.

[Deleted User]

diystarter7 said:

diystarter7 said:

Hi

To be blunt, IMHO I think you are pushing your luck.

Is it local, ie few mins walk/drive etc and are you happy there?

If the above is yes, think hard before asking.

where is it you work, ie town approx location

Thanks

Hi OP

I think I got confused and thought you was getting 15 pounds an hour.

To confirm is the same person paying you 12 or 15 quid an hour?

Many thanks in advance.

Maybe I didn’t make it very clear- so apologies. The lady pays me £12 p/h I’ve been with her 18 months and I do 12 hours for her, and want to ask her for pay rise, and from other cleaning job I get £15 p/h and this week they’ve given me £1.50 rise so for two hours I get £33.