to find a 20% increase in cleaner's fees too much? How much do you pay?

[applesauce1]

My husband and I are average earners (I'm a non-SLT teacher). We've had a cleaner for about 3 years after I found I couldn't juggle all of the housework with my teaching work, and my husband doesn't get home from work until really late and does what he has time for. He plays sport every weekend and after a day of school work at the weekend, I'd actually like to do some things for myself!

Anyway, our first cleaner was £9/hour. Our new cleaner has been £10/hour. She's asked us to up the rates to £12/hour. I'm desperate to keep her, but we just can't afford the 20% increase when we scale it up to the yearly cost.

What do you pay for your cleaner's hourly rates outside of London? Am I being unreasonable to not stump up an extra £4 a week for someone who makes my life so much better?

I do nursery paintings as a hobby, and did realise that I am selling my paintings for less per hour than I pay the cleaner currently which really highlighted how much the increase meant for us...

£12.50 an hour for us in north east she uses all her own equipment hoover/steam mop etc and buys all cleaning products and is fully insured etc.

Oh and when I was pregnant and suffering from HG on her mornings she always offered to make me some breakfast/drink and didn’t moan once at cleaning the carpet after I never made it to the bathroom on time to be sick.

OP, is it just you and your husband? Hope you don't mind my asking, but why is it you're so broke? You're on above average earnings and you say your husband works long hours, so presumably he's on something similar. I hate to say it but this is usually the richest you'll ever be, without the cost of childcare or part-time work.

Is there anything that can be done with your budget?

I pay €9 per hour and that is legally set by the Belgian government via the service cheques used to pay the cleaner. I pay her if I cancel her, but don't pay her when she's away. I think £12 per hour is steep if it's cash in hand!!

£12.50 per hour - Gloucestershire

Agree with the point that it's awful that carers get less than cleaners but don't agree that cleaner's pay should be reduced. Carers should get so much more for the incredible work they do

My father is self employed and does some cleaning to fill the gaps in his normal business. He didn't put his rates up for years because he had loyal customers and wanted to treat them well. Unfortunately changes in tax credits, the cost of living rising and increasing travel costs meant he had to put his prices up by a significant amount.

Most people increase prices because they simply don't have a choice. It's really down to you whether you can afford it or not. For me it's a price worth paying to put an end to the stupid arguments between me and my DP - life is too bloody short!

If you cant afford an increase but would still like some cleaning, you could approach her about keeping what you pay the same, but getting less time for it. At £12 per hour, paying £20, you would get 1 hour 40 minutes of cleaning. Of course, the cleaner would have to decide that she is still willing to come.

About£12/HR. I've booked a massive spring clean (tomorrow!!!) and then will probably top it up with a few hours a week. I hate cleaning and struggle to keep on top of the basics, which then de-motivates me to do anything. It's something I'm willing to outsource, like car maintenance, my DC's education, etc.

Oh and I'm a carer and get paid NMW. I work more hours than the cleaner would be here so I can justify the cost barely.

Have you looked for an alternative cleaner OP? Somebody starting out will probably charge less.
Or just knock it on the head completely; if you are talking about a £4 increase then that's two hours, which is one hour for you and one for DH. Not paying your cleaner's new rate would save you £1,248 a year!

Although £12ph seems to be about average, increasing her prices straight off by £2ph is a bit steep. I would accept a 50p or £1ph pay rise but to do a straight increase of £2 is a bit cheeky imo.

I would cut down to fortnightly, and explain why.

Perhaps if your DH cut down on his weekend sporting activities you would have the extra £4 per week and/or take on a couple of extra household chores. Why should his hobbies take priority over yours?

“...or he could take on a couple of extra household chores...”

It is very dependent on where you live and how good she is. Ultimately, only you can decide if it is worth it for you. I understand your reluctance to pay a big rise though. As a public sector worker I have had only a 1% pay rise for many years. Everyone argues that it is the same in the private sector but it doesn't seem that way given the price increase for many of the services we pay for. I have certainly cut down depending on what I can and can't do myself e.g. I can't teach my children to play the piano but I can certainly clean.

OP, if you really do account for every penny then stop paying the cleaner and clean yourself for free. It is a luxury, not a necessity. Even at the existing £10 per hour - which you don't seem to be able to afford anyway - if money is tight.

I'm now paying £13.50 per hour - SE but not London. Plus things like a weeks bonus at Christmas.

Great, friendly cleaners are like gold dust around here - she has a waiting list for new clients (half of them my friends!)

Asking around, we're paying toward the top of the going rate, which is 12-14 pounds per hour around here. (Agencies are more.)

I was paying £10 PH a decade ago when I first had a cleaner (with a long break in between when I couldn't afford it), and living costs have risen a lot in that time.

£14 per hour. But she’s AMAZING and I wouldn’t be without her. We pay her when we are on holiday (and she does a few extra bits) and a week’s bonus at Xmas.