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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is this hourly rate too high?

213 replies

Question285 · 28/02/2025 09:25

I’m looking for a cleaner for a couple of hours weekly. I budgeted £18-20 per hour, but I’ve received a quote of £25 per hour. This is an independent cleaner, albeit with a proper set up. AIBU to think that this is a lot?

I’m in the NW in a reasonably affluent area, but it’s not London. Also, we live in a very normal family home. It’s not a job with an NDA in a mansion.

I’ve checked some local sm groups and it seems that £25 per hour is not unheard of, so I don’t think she was trying to put us off.

I understand overheads, tax etc. come out of that, so she’s not left with £25. But I can’t help thinking that I earn less than that gross in a role that took the better part of a decade to train for. It also comes with a lot more responsibility and less flexibility than a self employed cleaner has.

Is this where things are because of minimum wage increases? I’m not saying they were a bad thing, people should be able to live off their wages. But it seems that middle earners salaries have not kept up if for a low skilled job you can earn as much as a high skilled worker.

OP posts:
Catza · 28/02/2025 09:51

It doesn't matter whether she cleans a 3 bed terrace or 7 bed mansion. The cleaning job is exactly the same. Yes, it's above what I earn as a professional but so what. You are free to start your own cleaning business if you choose to. My SIL is a cleaner. She is a qualified physio but a cleaning job works best for her in terms of flexibility. Cleaning for others is not "unskilled", just look at the numbers of complaints about poor clean on MN.

Katemax82 · 28/02/2025 09:47

I used to get £17 and hour as a private cleaner in the south east, the client provided all equipment and products. Maybe this cleaner provides all these things

Original poster
Question285 · 28/02/2025 09:47

McT123 · 28/02/2025 09:33

Do you get holiday pay? Do you get sick pay? Do you have to buy your own insurance? Do you get paid whilst you are having lunch or taking a break? Do you have to spend time and money generating work for yourself?

Comparing your hourly rate to a cleaner's is really not comparing like with like.

Actually, including holiday pay and pension contributions I get about £25.5. I don’t get paid lunch breaks. I don’t have to ‘generate’ work, but I also don’t have flexibility to choose when / how much I work or work around school hours, need my holidays approved, have to travel for work, which is a crucial part of my job, but often unpaid other than expenses etc. So there are pros and cons in both situations.

OP posts:
MidnightPatrol · 28/02/2025 09:44

Seems very high.

I pay £15/h in London.

Molecule · 28/02/2025 09:41

I look at it this way - you need a cleaner 3 hours/week. If the going rate is around £20/hour, but your cleaner is charging £25 that is only an extra £15 a week to you, which in the great scheme of things is probably nothing to you but makes the cleaner feel happier and more motivated.

Remember that the cleaner doesn’t get holiday or sickness pay, will have clients cancelling when they go on holiday (and not expecting to pay), has to pay her NI and tax out of the £25.

Amba1998 · 28/02/2025 09:40

I think it’s high for the NW. I would say up to £20 p/h is normal in my area

Randomusername37258 · 28/02/2025 09:39

That is a lot but if she's really good it's probably worth it. I had a fantastic cleaner who did more in one hour than a bad one in two. I'd ask for a trial session.

LittleRedRidingHoody · 28/02/2025 09:38

My cleaner works harder and is more experienced than me, and I'm on six figures 😂 It's a hard (and skilled if you're doing it right) job!

I'm sure you can pick one up within your budget, but in my experience those charging more are like any other profession. They are the best, really know what they are doing, and do it very well. The ones at £18 an hour round here are essentially mums who want a convenient job around school hours. Nothing wrong with that but there's a difference between those who work for that, and those have done it for a long time, know their worth and charge more.

Cakeandusername · 28/02/2025 09:37

I think that’s high for North but if she’s really good and in demand then obviously can charge what she likes. I pay £18.50 north for comparison to a small agency. Cleaner nice but not amazing.

Hedgerow2 · 28/02/2025 09:37

Market forces at play. She's not going to price herself out of work so charges what people will pay. Education/training has never been a guarantee of a good salary. Presumably you have more job security than she does, get sick pay, paid leave etc. you're comparing apples and pears.

brunettemic · 28/02/2025 09:34

To summarise your view…you think your job is superior to that of the cleaner in question and your training etc makes you “above” her. Nice.

Doggymummar · 28/02/2025 09:34

That's why I don't have one, they earn more than I do.

McT123 · 28/02/2025 09:33

Do you get holiday pay? Do you get sick pay? Do you have to buy your own insurance? Do you get paid whilst you are having lunch or taking a break? Do you have to spend time and money generating work for yourself?

Comparing your hourly rate to a cleaner's is really not comparing like with like.