Cleaner - independent or an agency?

[TheBoots]

We're planning on getting a cleaner when I finish my maternity leave and return to full time work, but I'm not sure where to start about finding one!

Is it better to go with an agency or with an individual? I'm keen to have someone that I see regularly, and worry that with an agency we wouldn't have the same people every week so won't build up a relationship with them. Also, if we use an agency, can we be sure that the cleaners are being paid fairly? Interested to hear people's experiences!

I have had both and now prefer Agency cleaners. It is incredibly hard to find private cleaners. The ones I had were gold, but that was about 10 years ago. There are fewer people willing to take on the work nowadays.

I have Been fortunate with my Agency cleaners and in 12 years have only asked for one to be removed. I think that the Agency is not always more expensive. Most cleaners are self employed. They do all the checking and chasing on the rare occasion they don’t show up.

That's good to hear @florentina1, when you go with an agency is it the same cleaner(s) who come every week?

Yes we did have the same ones. It is easier for everyone, as you tell the Agency what you want doing and then they get into a routine. They were all Eastern European and really reliable hard workers. Since Brexit there will be fewer of them. In London we pay between £15 to £18 per hour.

I would start looking six weeks before you need them to start.

Brilliant, thank you!

Agency. Same woman has been coming to us for a few years now. She went on long term sick literally the day DD2 was born - we were on different wards in the same hospital. One text to the agency and they'd lined up someone else to come for the few months she was off. Not a hassle we would've needed if it had been a private arrangement!

Conversely my experiences with agencies have all been extremely negative, and I used two of the big National ones. I never saw the same people twice, despite requesting it — apparently both haemorrhaged staff — they were unreliable, and took a big chunk of the hourly rate I paid (ie the cleaners were paid much less per hour). Plus, given the poor pay, I was inundated with the staff asking if I’d like them to come and clean for me privately, off the books.

I always go by word of mouth, I was recommended a couple of local cleaners who work on our estate, no agencies were recommended so I went with the local ones that people knew and recommended. I did the same in our last house.

If no one could recommend or they didn't have availability then I might check and agency.

Never had a problem

I had the same experience as Corbally. Agency were rubbish, constant changes with no handover of instructions. But it is hard to find someone who is good and reliable if you go the non agency route, and have to accept occasional sickness and holiday absences.

I have heard negative reports about the big Agency chains too. Where possible look for a small local Agency. Our was started by two ex cleaners and was based just a few streets away.

I've had both. My current cleaner was from an agency. But apart from finding her, I didn't think they were with the monthly fee. So she does it privately now.

Independent everytime. I paid £10 a month to an agency and the cleaner ( who didn’t appear to have cleaned anything in her life) had to organise her own cover when she was off. Which was constantly.

I live in the NW and have found independent better. You can pay them the direct wage so they get more and you build up a rapport so it's easier to alter routines. Yes, you have to cover whilst they're away but it's not a problem,l. Despite the horror of Brexit and the apparent assumption that British people are too lazy and unreliable to be cleaners, you can still get cleaners round here.

I preferred independent. PPs have said that if you have agency you will get a replacement and that is true. However, when I had an agency cleaner she was amazing and then she had time off and then left entirely but we had a different replacement every week and they were all awful. It was totally pointless in the end. So then I went with someone independent, no time off and really really good.

I'd go independent every time now.