AIBU?
To think £85 a week is extortionate
Pollypanda · 07/11/2018 12:57
For a cleaner.
My house is not large, it’s a new build 4 bed with 2 bathrooms and a downstairs loo. We would only need 2 of the bedrooms cleaned as the others are largely unused.
I have been quoted £85 a week for a basic house clean (2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, living room and stairs)
AIBU to think this is obscenely high? I was expecting about 40-50.
For context I live in the south, but not London or the south east.
ifoundthebread · 07/11/2018 13:00
Depends on how many hours and what tasks you want doing per room/area
mcmooberry · 07/11/2018 13:01
No it is obscenely high just as you say, I would say £50 max for that.
Nogoodusername · 07/11/2018 13:02
It is extremely high! I pay £50 per week for a 4 bed, 3 bathroom house to be cleaned - that’s London as well.
Pollypanda · 07/11/2018 13:02
The company say they don’t work to hours, it takes as long as it takes and they don’t leave til it’s up to standard, so they don’t “do” hourly rates which is fair enough. It’s for hoovering/floors, wipe down of kitchen surfaces and front of cupboards, dusting, bathroom clean inc toilet.
DonDrapersOldFashioned · 07/11/2018 13:03
What does that break down to as an hourly rate? It does sound expensive but if you tell us that they are coming in for 8+hours or you’ve got a team of 2 cleaners coming in for hours then it doesn’t look so bad.
FWIW, I pay £36pw (£9ph for 4hrs pw).
MatildaTheCat · 07/11/2018 13:04
Is it an agency? They charge far more than self employed cleaners.
For context, outskirts of London, five beds, two baths, generous reception space: I pay £50 for 4.5 hours during which the whole house is cleaned to a good standard, my bed changed and five shirts plus one super king duvet cover ironed.
BathFullOfEels · 07/11/2018 13:04
I pay for 5 hours a week at £10 an hour for a large 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom house which needs all room cleaned. How many hours were they suggesting? Is it through an agency?
TheCakeCrusader · 07/11/2018 13:04
We pay £12.50/ hour for a 3 bedroom, 1 main bathroom, downstairs cloakroom, living room and large family room/ kitchen area which take 3 hrs so £37.50 (London suburbs)
BathFullOfEels · 07/11/2018 13:05
I wouldn’t be happy for them to decide when it was done but charge the same price each week. Definitely go elsewhere.
DonDrapersOldFashioned · 07/11/2018 13:05
Just read your update. No that is barking. Tell them to jog on. Unless you live in a pit or the cleaners are snails, there is no ways it should take so long as to justify £80+. Cheeky fuckers
hendricksy · 07/11/2018 13:05
Find a local person who does it themselves otherwise you'll pay twice !
HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 07/11/2018 13:05
The company say they don’t work to hours, it takes as long as it takes and they don’t leave til it’s up to standard, so they don’t “do” hourly rates
So they could come for 2 hours and it would cost you £85 or they could be there for 8 hours and it would still be £85 that sounds like a shit business model.
It is a LOT of money for cleaning a house.
Pollypanda · 07/11/2018 13:06
Yes an agency. They came recommended so I thought I’d see what they quoted, I’m shocked! Glad it’s not just me that thinks it’s very high. I feel much more confident politely telling them to sod off.
IStandWithPosie · 07/11/2018 13:06
Yes that sounds extortionate. Your house is the same size/rooms as mine, also a new build and I would say max 3 hours for a normal clean once a week. If the house is tidy to start. If not it obviously takes longer. I’m a cleaner and charge £12. I would say £50 max depending on area.
MaHeidsGouping · 07/11/2018 13:06
I'm a cleaner and do a 4 bedroomed house with 2 bathrooms in 2 hours, sometimes I even have time to hang a wash load up. £85 is a crazy price.
RebootYourEngine · 07/11/2018 13:07
I think it depends on how many hours they would be doing.
If you have someone in on £10 per hour, three hours per day, three days per week. Thats £90.
fluffandnonsense37 · 07/11/2018 13:07
I'm in the same location as you OP and have had lots of quotes.
Your house is three hours work if reasonably clean and tidy or four hours work if it's messy or pretty dirty.
Hourly rates in this region start at £9 (very cheap, self employed cleaner, probably they're asking for cash as they don't pay tax or NI) through to £16 at the top end for a company who pay their staff less than that per hour but it's all legit. Most of the time it's around £10-13 per hour. Therefore your house should cost £27 cheapest, £64 most expensive, and realistically £35 to £40.
Hope that is helpful. Ask around for recommendations instead
DonDrapersOldFashioned · 07/11/2018 13:08
Molly Maid are around here too and are notorious CF rip off merchants.
IStandWithPosie · 07/11/2018 13:10
very cheap, self employed cleaner, probably they're asking for cash as they don't pay tax or NI)
Please stop perpetuating this myth that all SE cleaners are on the fiddle! 
RebootYourEngine · 07/11/2018 13:10
Just saw your update. I domt think i would trust a company like this.
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