To think this quote for cleaners is excessive?

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I have a young baby and will be returning to work soon and definitely not keeping on top of housework so have decided to get quotes for cleaners. I've never had a cleaner before so no idea what would be reasonable.
I have a 3 bed semi. Standard 1930s layout. Not particularly big. A small extension downstairs means there is a small utility/shower room which is additional to the small bathroom upstairs.
Just been quoted £22 per hour from an agency. They think it'd take 3 hours and would send 3 people so £66 per week. Is this excessive? I wasn't expecting it to be that much. I'm in the South East outside of London. AIBU to think that's a lot?

Yikes, don’t have a cleaner but I thought they were more around £10/£12 an hour. Look elsewhere

The amount of hours in not unreasonable for a decent job, but the price per hour is!!
I’m in the north so can’t give you a meaningful comparison but our cleaner is £12 an hour

It sounds very high to me.
Can you get a recommendation from someone who lives near you? Someone whose house is always clean. Or try the local parish mag.

That’s ridiculous. I’m an independent cleaner and I charge £12 an hour. I think it’ll probably take 2.5-3 hours a week to clean.

Unfortunately the agency will be taking quite a cut of that money. In London you pay £10 - £15 an hour.

You could check if that price includes the, bringing all their own cleaning materials - but unless there is hardly anyone who does clean, then perhaps that is the price.

And I’m south east too for comparison.

Molly Maid? Speak to a small local agency and get a quote for much less.

Don't go through an agency. Three people to clean a three bedroomed house and it would take three hours? Am I getting it wrong? I think that would equal one person taking 9 hours!

£22 sounds really excessive to me, as does three hours. I don't go through an agency and pay my cleaner £13 an hour. She cleans my 2 bedroom flat (1 room is used for storage) in an hour and I've never asked her to change the bed or do ironing and always make sure it's tidy before she arrives. Occasionally she will do an extra hour for cleaning out fridge and/or cupboards etc.

Is there any way you can find a cleaner other than from an agency who I think will always charge more? Ask your neighbours eg?

3 people cleaning 3 hours a 3-bedroom house!? Unless it's an end of tenancy deep cleaning it's totally unreasonable!

That’s quite a lot
£10-£12 per hour is reasonable and 2-3 hours is reasonable
Our cleaner does 2.5-3 hours
Generally spends 1.5-2 hours generally cleaning then does one “big job” a week ie. all the bathroom tiles (1 fully tiled bathroom, and 2 fully tiled loos) then the next week she will do all the skirting boards downstairs, week after the oven etc

Yes that is too much money. I’m in London and have friends who clean. They charge between £10-£14 hour.

That’s insane.

Cut out the agency and find someone direct. I see a lot of recommendation on FB selling pages.

Maybe for a one-off deep clean but 3 people for 3 hours at £22 per hour per week for a 3 bed semi is having a laugh. I would not use them on principle as it seems they are out to rip you off.

Personal recommendations of cleaners are the best. I pay £12 per hour in the South East for a good cleaner and don't use agencies.

They said 3 hours but if 3 people came then it'd only take 1 hour. Still £66 but works out as £22 per hour per person.
Am glad others think this is a lot! I think I will start looking elsewhere for independent cleaners.

I pay £10 an hour mates rates in the south but she would usually charge around £12

I charge 10 an hour
..i might start charging 12!!! But 22 is too much!

Did they mistype? Three people for three hours?! No need for that level of service every week! They must mean they will do it in one hour, but send three people? Bit confusing. I pay £16 per hour in London.

Good grief. I have a similar size house. Cleaner comes once.a fortnight for 3 hours. 2 come for 1.5 hours at £15 an hours each so £45. Bring everything from bin liners to.a Hoover!

I pay £12 an hour.

My friend's a house cleaner gets £11 an hour

We pay £15/hour for 2 hours

Oeps sorry just seen your update re it only taking one hour. Still too expensive like you say.

Can you hire an independent cleaner the agency is probably paying 12 to the cleaner.
I don't no if an independent would have insurance for breakage, if you have lots of valuables.