[Londoner]

Just a general question, not trying to get anyone to reveal any trade secrets. How does £7-8 per hour sound? lts for my mum who is getting on and needs a bit of help.

Its London suburbs remember, she's been quoted much more but people with websites and subs are going to be dearer.

[Wc Solutions]

too cheap i think - more like £10 - £12.

and im sure a lot would charge more than that ...

[Denise l]

Just a general question, not trying to get anyone to reveal any trade secrets. How does £7-8 per hour sound? lts for my mum who is getting on and needs a bit of help.

Its London suburbs remember, she's been quoted much more but people with websites and subs are going to be dearer.

About £6.50 to £8 here in South Wales. I wouldnt pay more than that. If its a Franchise they charge £9.50

[David Taylor]

It all depends on the company and its costs. To work self employed for £6/8 an hour in London is very low unless the cleaner lives locally and does it part time, maybe try posting an ad locally in a shop window.

[Londoner]

It all depends on the company and its costs. To work self employed for £6/8 an hour in London is very low unless the cleaner lives locally and does it part time, maybe try posting an ad locally in a shop window.

Thats what she wants to do but wants an idea on prices

[The Great One]

Hi

i think min wage in London is higher, about £7.20 p/h.

Sorry but no way would i work for that, you cannot run a business on that amount £12-15 p/h is more normal.

Martin

[Adam P]

"£7-8 per hour sound?" pointlessly cheap. you can earn more working for another company. £12.00 is decent for self employed single cleaner, but maybe £10.00 is more realistic i'm not sure if london is higher or lower

[Denise l]

I think what I was trying to say is that if your mum wanted to employ someone direct , say from a card in a shop window, she would pay less than if she used a firm that advertised. The problem there is if she is vunerable it would be better to use a firm that has CRB checked cleaners and are insured but its more expensive. Have you contacted Age Concern, they employ good cleaners for the older generation and your mum can pay the cleaner herself.

[Londoner]

The point is there are very good Polish girls around here (supposedly) and she wants to get one for a few hours a week but has no idea what to offer. The market seems to be a bit heavy with "Agencies" but either they are not interested in a few hours a week or charge too much and you get a different person every few weeks.

I think she has a bit idealistic view of what she wants but one thing I have learned, theres lots and lots of work around here. Maybe I should extend my window cleaning business to include domestic cleaning, at least its indoors this weather.

[Paul Evans]

wife been doing this part time for the last couple of months.
since social services cut her hours.
She charges £10 per hour.

 cleaning,home help,shopping. and yes she has insurance and is crb cleared.

And i must say very dedicated to her job. ( she has gone out this morning walking to a old ladies to do her shopping 1 in a million)

[Paul Evans]

I think what I was trying to say is that if your mum wanted to employ someone direct , say from a card in a shop window, she would pay less than if she used a firm that advertised. The problem there is if she is vunerable it would be better to use a firm that has CRB checked cleaners and are insured but its more expensive. Have you contacted Age Concern, they employ good cleaners for the older generation and your mum can pay the cleaner herself.

Hi Denise
my wife only works from recommendation to her. She has never advertised once, and turns work away. IMHO i would go to a cleaner crb checked and self employed its worth the extra couple of quid. also insured accidents happen.

Paul

[gordonswindows]

Vince it's your Mum stop being tight and hire the best person you can find and pay whatever it takes

It is your MUM add on to a few of your customers to pay for it ot whatever it is your Mum cmon spoil her a lot goodness knows what she gave for you

I am becoming a bit repetitive now but honestly Vince

It Is Your Mum and she deserves the best

Gordon

[Adam P]

i may have read this wrong but i thought vince asked for advice for his mum as she wants to do this and doesn't know what to charge, rather then vince asking what to pay his employee/mum. could be wrong

[cml]

Assuming I have read correctly, Mother is the employer and wants an employee.  The question is mother does not know the best way to do this nor how much   to pay.  However it is not clear whether mother runs a company or looking to subcontract an existing contract .  I will respond on the assumption she is a company.

With respect I would advise mother to seek advice via business link etc.when it comes to employing staff making sure she covers all legal aspects of employment.  As for rates she may want to check rates of pay in her local area as a guide only.  The key factor to consider is her costs, the amount she charges her clients and what she can afford in line with the rates in her area (nothing below minimum wage).  Meaning if she charges the client £15-£20 per hour then can she after deducting running costs afford to pay staff £7-£8 per hour and still make a profit.

[gordonswindows]

Damn don't say I have got it wrong again

My my that's twice I have been wrong now this time and back in 1974 lol

Have reread and still see it as his Mum is needing a bit help at home , funny how we can read the same words and get a different message

Cmon Vince clear it up for us which is it?

Does your Mum want help for at home or does she want to employ to help her business?

[dianegreenwood]

Hi Vince

Personally if it was my Mum I'd want someone who was CRB checked, with references and fully insured, in which case you should be paying between £12 and £15 per hour with the cleaner providing their own equipment and materials.

She would only need about 2 hours weekly or fortnightly to keep things nice for her so it doesn't have to break the bank, but better that than try and hire privately some random stranger who might cost a lot more than £30 in the long run.

I know I'm biased because I run a professional domestic cleaning business but why on earth do people entrust their home and possessions (and their Mums!) to someone other than a professional?

Cheers

Diane

www.freshlymaid.co.uk

[Londoner]

What is happening is that my mother wants a home help rather than a cleaner. She's nearly 80 after alll. Answering a few ads in yellow pages has resulted in being visited seperately by two different ladies both of whom obviously don't do the work themselves but seem to charge around £18 an hour while probably paying some Phillipino girl on a student visa a third of that to do the cleaning.

There is very little value in having somebody who is crb checked if they have not lived in this country.

All my mother wants really is to find someone that she feels comfortable with and not a procession of different cleaners every few weeks.

[creighton foyle]

we are in south wales and my wife charges £10 ph for domestic work and thats on clean houses where she just goes in once a week to do high bits low bits change the bedding etc and generally keep on top of things for her clients who tend to be elderly, in fact she says there is so much nice work like that available she does'nt need to clean dirty houses,

[cml]

Ah clarity 'Home help is required'.

My Mother used to do home help about 3 years ago via an agency and rates then were approx £8-10 an hour. 
Currently in London a family member is being paid anything between £11-£13 which is dependant on assignments.  So it pays to shop around to different agencies to get the best deal even for professional staff.  Note on top of these fees are agency fees of approx £3-£5 per hour.

I hope it all goes well.

[Denise l]

Like I said before, ring Age Concern, they have domestics that do this.

Denise