South East Cleaner Costs

[SEcleanQ]

How much do you pay hourly for your cleaner in the south east commuter belt?

Ours has just asked if it’d be ok for her to put her prices up from £20 per hour to £25 per hour. And I’m trying to work out if it’s worth accepting it, asking meeting her midway, or start looking for someone else.

For context she takes 4 hours which is fair but not fast, previous cleaner took 3 hours but occasionally stayed an extra 15-20 minutes (paid) to get it finished. Paid cash in hand, when I’ve asked to transfer the money instead she refuses.

I understand it’ll be a lot cheaper in some parts of the country, and also a lot more in others. So I’m hoping to get an idea for just similar areas, so Sussex, Surrey, Kent commuter towns and villages.

£18.50 an hour. Surrey. Brings her own stuff but isn't very quick and doesn't get round the whole house.

If cash in hand I think £20 is reasonable, especially sine she's not very quick. Could you increase the wage but drop ton3 hours and say now she's been in job x amount of time you expect her to be quicker.

£20 an hour in Surrey. She brings her own stuff. Not the best cleaner but it does save me time for the weekend.

£18 per hour in Surrey.

£15 an hour in Surrey. 4 hours every other week.

£15 per hour, London. I provide all the cleaning equipment.

£15.50 an hour London but she hasn't put her prices up for a couple of years - I imagine she will do in January.
She comes for 4hrs a week and does the kitchen, two bathrooms, living areas plus 1 or 2 bedrooms (we alternate which ones).

Thank you everyone. So £25 per hour is on the steep side, especially if it’s at average speed.

She said it’s what everyone is charging now and she wouldn’t struggle to find other jobs at that rate. I have a feeling if I push back she’s going to quit, so I don’t want to say no then have egg on my face when I can’t find anyone else for under £25.

I think if I reduced her hours she’d quit.

She wouldn’t be able to fill the extra single hour and she’d end up £5 worse off even with the pay increase.

£20 hour in South Bucks, we provide everything.

Anecdotally there seems to be a lot more cleaner availability at the moment probably due to COL. Two years ago you could barely find anyone with space.

I haven't rtft but I would only pay this amount for someone with a company behind them and therefore who could send me a different team in the event of illness and holidays, work round bank holidays etc. And I would understand that might mean they were at VAT turnover levels.

An individual doesn't have those overheads. For them maybe 1.5 minimum wage seems more reasonable especially if you provide the materials.

So why don't you see if you can find an alternative first?

£17.50 an hour through an agency (part of this cost is a monthly agency fee)

Let her quit.

South Bucks, £17/hr via an agency.

I looked for a cleaner 2 years ago and it was a struggle finding someone who could deal with dogs, cats, kids and this time I had no problem.

Totally agree but she might realise she's better off not asking for pay rise. Are cleaners short in your area?

This is out of control inflationary pricing @£25 per hour. I know the cleaner may have to travel to get to her job (don't we all) but personally I think this is completely over the top.
Perhaps £25 for the first hour (so paying for travel time, then £12-£15 per hour after that?) That is still very generous.

I know very smart temporary senior secretaries who are being paid £13-£14 per hour.

That is £433.33 a month!

We’ve just had to learn to do without a cleaner and tbh I’d probably not go back now. Saving up for a roborock mega hoover /mopper and a window cleaning robot (about four months of having a cleaner - not bad!)

Kent £18 per hour. (My parents cleaner). I worked for myself on an hourly rate in a different “service industry” role so I get the whole travel, covering unpaid holidays and sickness etc insurance, consumables, work clothes, admin time. However unless she was absolutely fantastic I would baulk at £25 p/h to be honest.

£25ph is a £50k a year salary

South coast and I pay £20ph