To not give a complete stranger a key to my house?

[Macdaddylonglegs]

AIBU or am I right in thinking it's not a good idea to give someone I barely know I key to my house? We've lost our last couple of (very good) cleaners for various reasons so I asked around on Facebook for some recommendations. Have found a lady who does an alright job and seems nice enough but she doesn't speak one word of English and she can only clean at a time I'm usually out of the house. She has asked (through a 3rd party via text - as this is the only way we can communicate) if she can have a key. I think we should just find another cleaner as despite how nice she may seem, I can't actually talk to her and I don't know her from Adam. My husband thinks I'm being over cautious and we should just give her a key?

So who recommended her? Presumably they can vouch for her?
I've given keys to workmen before, but only if they are from an actual company with an address. A random person you've found on Facebook, not so much.

YANBU I wouldn't be comfortable with this either.

You need some references

References or absolutely not.

Have you got references? Is she DBS checked?

No references, no DBS, I put a post on a local FB page so I don't actually know the person who recommended her either.

No don't give her a key!

She is a random from Facebook recommended by a random on Facebook and you don't even speak the same language.

Ok so you've let a random person you don't know, who had been recommended by a random person you don't know, into your house.

Of course you shouldn't give her a key.

I think my husband is just much too trusting. He just thinks she seems really nice!! We've met her twice. I don't think you can tell how 'nice' someone is if you cant even have a conversation with them. He sometimes makes me feel like an over anxious, cynic but I think in this instance I'm right!

I've given my cleaner a key. She was recommended by someone I don't know on FB too, but I was here the first few times she came and we've had loads of chats. I trust her personally so felt fine about the key. I wouldn't feel fine in your circs.

You would be mad to give a total stranger recommended to you by a total stranger a key to your home. You are not being over-cautious, your husband is being reckless.

And how are you going to communicate to her what you want her to do when you don't share a language? Madness!

I wouldn't do it. I was recommended a cleaner off someone I didn't know on a Facebook group. I was at home when she came to do a deep clean. It was the worst clean I've ever seen and she charged me a £100. Never trusting the word of a stranger again! They might have their own vested interests in it.

I agree with pps - don't do it. Also don't get a cleaner you can't communicate with - more hassle than its worth in my experience.

how do you know anything about her with no common language?

It's really not worth it, she could be completely innocent. However she could be a fruadster!

Would you even be covered by insurance if you gave a thief a key.

there are plenty of DBS checked cleaners around

Our cleaners had a key. We went through an agency so they were DBS checked and insured, which meant our home insurance would have covered things as well.

No I wouldn't

there are plenty of DBS checked cleaners around

No there aren't. DBS checks are only available for roles included in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Cleaners are not included. The nearest you can get is a Disclosure Scotland Basic Disclosure. Unlike a DBS check this does not list spent convictions.

Strictly speaking you are not usually allowed to request a DBS check for a cleaner (like the role mentioned by the OP).

YANBU