Cleaner charging higher rate for garden cleaning

[user874158974267]

We've had this cleaner for a few months now. She charges £13/h for domestic cleaning (going rate here is £10-£12) And this week for the first time I asked her to clean our garden. Now she sends me text saying that she spent 1h cleaning the garden and she wants £20/h for that work.

Garden is small with artificial lawn. She had to sweep the leaves and clean the small patio area with a power washer. And she cleaned some garden furniture - a table and a few chairs. And she put some kids toys around the garden in a storage.

I've had my fair share of cleaners so far and was never charged extra for garden tidying and cleaning. And the extra seems too high (over 50% of her domestic cleaning rate).

I could just suck up the extra cost to avoid a hassle. But once the weather gets warmer I need this cleaner to clean the garden each week. So the cost increase for me wouldn't be negligible.

AIBU to expect a cleaner to do some garden cleaning (as per the requirement above) at the normal rate?

'Cleaning the garden' is what I would describe as 'yardwork' (I think that's a US term, sorry). Whilst not strictly 'gardening', it's still outdoor maintenance.

You wouldn't dare expect a handyman to accept £13 for an hour of outdoor physical labour so I have no idea why you expect your cleaner to do so.

I hear the OP has asked her cleaner to start building the extension next week.

I asked my cleaner to do my accounts. He had the temerity to ask me for 2k!!

Is it only me that ends up covered in sludge after jet washing the patio. How mucky is your house that this is the same as cleaning the house?

@tinybluerose agreed. Who gives a shit about nature, right?

Lol no YABU

YABVU! She’s a cleaner not a gardener.

I call Reverse.

YABVU. And who 'cleans' their garden once a week in summer anyway?!

Such a weird thread. I'd charge extra if some wanker sent me outside in this weather when it's definitely not my job.

Is this for real? Why not ask her to wash your car and prune the bushes while she's at it! 😂

I think this post is a journo looking for a story to write about.
Journo asks herself what can I post that will upset Mumsnetters so I'll have a story to write, about entitled Mumsnetter and the responses she / he gets from others.

I need a cleaner to clean my garden

Who even refers to ‘cleaning’ a garden?

Madness.

It's green plastic and slabs. And you call it a garden?

This is light hearted nonsense to distract from corona, right?? It's not real ...

YABU, our gardener chargers a lot more then our cleaner and I wouldn’t expect it to not be the case

You're also unreasonable for having horrible plastic grass.

No, this is a gardener you want op. I understand there is only an artificial lawn and you are not expecting her to mow it clearly but you are expecting power washing etc. Charging higher prices is an indication you do no want the job.

I ran a home support business for a few years. Some older people wanted cleaning done as well and I usually referred them to a cleaning company because our rates were higher, indicating the responsibility of personal care etc. The few that pressed ahead not only wanted indoor cleaning, they wanted the staff to go up ladders and wash the windows outdoors. Just no. There was a real I want my money's worth attitude.

I wouldn't want to clean your garden op and nor does your cleaner.

YABU 100%

YABU. Did you even warn her you were going to ask her to do this? Did she have a coat and wellies with her so she could work outdoors?? Ffs, you asked her to work outside in her trainers and normal coat, didn't you? Power washing probably meant she got wet, damp at least. You're a horrible client and I'd not be coming back to you.

I’ve powerwashed my own yard and there is no way I could go to a clients house afterwards. I needed to shower and change my clothes. If your cleaner had a client after you then she will have missed out on at booking while she went home and changed. I’d have charged you their full fee too.

Yabu

She was wrong to not tell you the price up front.
But now you know what it costs you either accept it and pay or you find someone else to do the gardening.

This is a wind up, right?