is this a normal request from a cleaner?

[bananacarnival]

I've known my cleaner for a couple of months, she was passed on to me by another cleaner. Silly me, I haven't asked her for any of her details and have just had her over 4 or 5 times in the past few months.

A few days ago she asked if I wouldn't mind giving a reference, I said yes of course. This morning she sent me a long text message stating she needs my full name, and address.. For her 'invoices' that she has to send to UK border control to prove she is working. I've said that I would only be happy for my details to be used on,a personal basis but she insists that she is not misusing my info.

Would I technically be her 'employer' ? I've only had her over casually a few times and haven't committed to a fixed day as we.are struggling financialy.

My friend is warning me to steer clear as she's never heard of 'invoices' for cleaners, but perhaps I'm being paranoid?

Thanks

[IDismyname]

Ohhhh. I'd be very careful indeed. Never heard of a cleaners 'invoice'. Do you pay her cash in hand?

[bananacarnival]

Yes I do..and she's never provided me with an invoice. ...

[picturesinthefirelight]

Sending invoices indicates that she is self employed & that she is declaring everything properly. An invoice should contain your name & address (or company name if she was invoicing a company) and Hmrc or immigration people etc can ask to see them

I don't see the problem.

[dontlaugh]

That is not a normal request from someone working for cash in hand.

[dontlaugh]

pictures should cleaner be handing invoices to employer also if all above board? I would have thought yes?

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

Erm maybe she's actually - you know - paying taxes and everything.

[imperialstateknickers]

So you're avoiding paying tax and NI? With a cleaner whose immigration status is confusing?

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

Why would you feel the need to steer clear of someone who wants ro act within the law?

[Roseformeplease]

We employ a cleaner - for our business - and would expect an invoice. We can use it for our books. Because she is self-employed and works for many others we are not responsible for tax / NI but the fact she provides us with an invoice gives us confidence that she is paying tax and it is all above board. Paying cash is not a crime but being paid in cash and not declaring it for tax purposes is. She needs to invoice you to show she is working for you - amongst others - presumably to show that she runs a viable business. Of course you must supply her with your details, unless you are a spy or master criminal.

[picturesinthefirelight]

Technically speaking yes but dh who is a private music teacher often doesn't if he types them out afterwards ( unless he is asked for them)

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

Does this shed any light on the situation?

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

I don't think you are her employer, no. I would say she is self employed and you are paying for her services. She should be invoicing you or at least giving you a receipt.

I can't really see any issue with you giving her your name and address. Border control might contact you to confirm she is using your services. Don't sign anything that says you are her employer though if she asks. That is very dodgy.

[SamSmalaidh]

What's the problem with her invoicing you? She's self-employed and invoicing you for the work she has done.

If you were her employer you'd be giving her payslips.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

You are using her services. Doh!

[zombieplanmum]

It sounds to me like she took the job in good faith but didn't do things by the book because she didnt know there was a book to follow, has now taken advice about declaring the job etc in terms of tax, i doubt that she will earn enough to pay tax but will still probably needs to register as self employed. So someone has advised her that she needs to provide details of her employer, and that is what you are, it doesn't matter how often she works for you, you pay her. She also needs to provide invoices or suchlike. I don't understand what your problem is.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Zombie : OP is not her employer, she is paying her for a service. When you go to the hairdresser, you are not your hairdressers employer.

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

No, the OP is not the cleaner's employer if the cleaner is self-employed; she's a client.

[bananacarnival]

Ok. This IS really helpful because one of my concerns was : what exactly is my status here...am I liable as her 'employer' etc

Thanks all. Yes, I am being dim here but I've never had a request such as this from any cleaner over the past 2 decades so its thrown me.

I'd also expect to be invoiced if it was.a formal/fixed arrangement as in the case of one of the posters who mentioned a cleaner and her business ...but this is very casual. I didn't expect it.

[AdoraBell]

Ask her for your copy of the invoices you've been paying. IMO the only reason she'd need your details for border control would be in relation to immigration status. Do you have a contract with her? If it is simply a tax issue then I can't see how that involves border control, I could be out of touch with UK systems though because I'm living abroad.