Cleaning Agency charging £40 for less than an hour.

[QueenieBaxtersrougepot]

My increasingly immobile aunt has finally succumbed to the need for a cleaner. The agreement she has with the agency is for kitchen, bathroom, sitting room and hallway of her very modest bungalow to be cleaned every fortnight. Two cleaners are sent and they can leave when they consider the work is done, so don’t even stay for two hours.

My opinion is that my aunt is being fleeced, and so are the cleaners, who are effectively on a piece rate.

Is this normal practice? I’m talking about a national (possibly franchised) agency here.

(My aunt admits the cleaning isn’t brilliant, things are missed. I’m just hoping she’ll get shot of them soon.)

Well £40 is £10 per hour, 2 cleaners for 2 hours so thats not even minimum wage.

However, if you think they aren't doing a good enough job, find someone else, maybe someone independent rather than a franchise.

Why would they stay for 2 hours?

1hr is £20 each which is min wage for self employed.

So is 2 cleaners for an hour or 2 cleaners for 2 hours?

Just to confirm, my aunt is paying a total of £80 for the two cleaners who are with her for less than two hours.

Sorry not to be clearer.

I assume you mean 2 cleaners come for an hour. Which means at £20 per hour total cost will be £40. Which seems reasonable. But they should stay the full hour.

Didn't see your post. They should stay for the full two hours.

£80 for two hours is fine. £80 for less than one hour is not.

I still can't tell which it is (sorry - it's early..ish)

I have a weekly cleaner, she’s here 2.5 hours and although she does different areas each week, often she’ll do our main living/dining/kitchen, hallway, stairs and main bathroom (bath and separate shower). It’s gleaming by the time she’s done, all hoovered and mopped (mainly LVT and tiles, stair carpet). This cost me £15 per hour, so £37.50 per week. It is absolutely gleaming though
if it’s not really clean then bin them off and get another cleaning company

So £80 is now a rip off if they aren't doing a good job so time to find a new cleaner.

I don’t think the rate is terrible. However they should be completing the job properly. I’d consider asking around, maybe someone independent has the time. I’ve been a cleaner and mainly did holiday lets so needed to be immaculate but I did a few companion cleans where I’d go in make us both a cup of tea, crack on and do the cleaning. Then do the ironing whilst keeping up with chat.

I think you’d get much need someone proactive who can see that’s a bit dusty or there’s a cobweb and just give it a clean so many agency people do this if it’s not on the list it doesn’t get done. I’ve had to deep clean many a holiday cottage after agency staff have been failing to do skirting boards, inside windows etc.

A friend of mine went for an interview at a local cleaning agency - I think it was a franchise. They worked on a piece rate. They paid the cleaner 27 per cent of the amount they charged the client. I was so shocked I phoned them up to check my friend hadn’t got it wrong. Shocking.

You're lucky to get 20 mins for £40!
Have you not looked at hourly rates for cleaners before? Suggest you do some research next time.

That’s an absolute con… I’m from the West Midlands and going rate round here is £20 an hour.

Most companies that charge by the hour have a minimum charge, expressed as a set number of hours. So in this case, the company has a minimum fee of £80 for two hours. If your job takes less time, they still charge the same because it’s their stated minimum call out fee.

How was the work agreed? Was it “please do ABC”, or “please provide 2 hours of cleaning, prioritising ABC and then fill any remaining time with DEF ”? Some people genuinely do only want ABC done and don’t want the cleaners to find other jobs when they’re done. They might think your aunt is one of them.

For 2 cleaners?

Thanks to the many who gave really helpful replies.

So, the rate Auntie is paying for each cleaner of £20/hour (£80 overall) is reasonable, except Auntie needs to make it clear she expects the full two hours as any leftover time can easily be filled with other tasks - for instance they could vac a bedroom if they’ve time to spare.

It’s a horrible way for the cleaners to work though isn’t it, gauging that you’ve done just enough before racing off to the next job, clock watching the whole time. No job satisfaction.

I’m horrified at how little the cleaners will be getting. Auntie shied away from getting an independent cleaner, she didn’t want a personal relationship in case things didn’t work out.

Why on earth does it take two cleaners. Thats pure daylight robbery. One cleaner should do that in 2 hours. They are taking the absolute piss. Get rid of them.