Cleaners - tardiness and fees?

[SpringDreams26]

I have moved house, 15 miles but a different county.

I paid £20 per hour for a cleaner who was with me several years and wonderful. She continued to clean for a few months to help us but couldn’t keep up with the travel so gave me notice. She cried when she left she was genuinely fantastic and we got along so well.

Now everyone is charging £25-27.50 per hour. Even self employed, one woman bands. AIBU to think that’s madness? I come out with about £30 after taxes earning £50 an hour. Cleaning used to be marginally above minimum wage and now it seems the same cost as a professional? Not to say cleaners aren’t professionals, but the start up costs and overheads low.

Then you have to weed out the awful cleaners, I’ve had many in my time who just move dirt around.

Had 4 people quote ALL have been late by atleast 30 minutes. If you want to justify your rate atleast show up.

and yes, I know the answer is to do my own cleaning. But AIBU that the market has changed this much?

I am self employed 🙄 it’s not that I dont have a good grasps of the pitfalls of being self employed or running your own business.

Well she's charging ot for a reason maybe her other clients think its an acceptable rate and are willing to pay it?

This is so true, I never realised it before, but it’s like some people don’t realise that cleaners (or any other trades) can quote whatever THEY decide it costs to provide their service plus a decent rate of pay on top!

Some people seem to think that the cleaner should only quote what THEY would like to pay, completely forgetting that loads of others will pay it if they don’t!

It’s just not relevant what one individual thinks of their price, either you buy it or don’t buy it. It would only make a difference to the cleaner if NOBODY bought it, but that’s just never going to happen!

So the fuck what?!

If pay for teachers and nurses is that shit then the answer isn't to want others on less. It's a fucked up way of thinking.

Maybe.

I don’t have to pay and if you’ve read the posts you’ll find I’ve not had to either.

Yes, but at £50 an hour you have a lot more freedom to save for those days. Wouldn't you say?

And thats fine
Not sure what your issue is then?

I’m not sure I did say I had an issue - I made an observation and began a discussion.

Not when a lot work cash in hand: no.

There you go. So why do people bang on about the cost of cleaners. I clean my Fathers House on a Saturday and do his laundry. My job is much more enjoyable than doing that. It’s boring, tedious and not that pleasant!

I presume you are not a self employed cleaner who csn charge what they want ?

Your msking a lot of assumptions.

No. It would not be for me. Even though I love a clean and tidy house.

It’s not “people” is it and the post wasn’t a generic moan about “cleaners” it was specifically about the rise in costs travelling 15miles up the road. You’re extrapolating - what’s it got to do with your father in law how much I think is reasonable for cleaning?

No I’m reaching a rationale conclusion when they can’t supply invoices or ask me to send a payment ref “gift” which one cleaner did 🤣 do you believe people who say “cash preferred” just especially like clicking up mileage to the bank?

I am stating that it’s physically hard work. Wort every penny. And it’s my Father, not in law.

If it’s worth every penny why do you not employ a cleaner?

No, but they should then stay for the full duration of time they are paid for, not knock off 15-30 mins early. If they are charging £25 per hour that should allow them to build in some wiggle room for traffic conditions etc.

This is one of my other issues. I never found a cleaner willing to accept a bank transfer in payment, every single one insisted on cash only, so I suspect most under declared their income to maximise what they could claim in universal credit on top.

"They literally scrub loos for a living"....what a patronising and nasty comment. Do you really think that is all they do? You do it for a living then and see how easy it is or is it beneath you?

Oh get over yourself.

I’d rather babysit than clean though

That’s not even a logical reply.

Because some people came to insulate his home and stole my late mother’s jewellery. So he won’t have anyone else in the house. And I am happy to help him.