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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

Live in to Live out

40 replies

LouIsOnAHighwayToHell · 15/02/2010 10:08

Are there any nannies or nanny employers who have changed the job description from live in to live out?
Both bosses will now be living in the UK (one used to work abroad) and the house is now going to be quite cramped with 4 children and 3 adults living in it.
I have suggested that perhaps a way to obtain more room is if I move out and the parents take the nanny flat etc.
So, what would be better? The parents paying the rent of wherever I live or them paying me extra?
This is a new situation for me and would like to know what other would do/have done.
Thanks

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frakkinaround · 15/02/2010 10:23

Parents paying the rent is a taxable benefit. I would suggest them giving you a significant salary hike - not sure where you're based but live ins are usually left with more disposable income than live outs.

Original poster
LouIsOnAHighwayToHell · 15/02/2010 10:27

That is my concern, I would lose money by going completely and truly live out. I thought that if they pay the rent it works out better for them (and me too I think).

OP posts:
nannynick · 15/02/2010 14:19

Can't see why having one more adult being around more often is such an issue. If your accommodation is separate then they would surely not want to be in that, if their children were in the main part of the house.

If you were to live-out, then I feel that you would be responsible for all costs involved in having your own accommodation. The costs involved are far more than just rent... you have electric, gas, council tax, tv license to name a few.

Original poster
LouIsOnAHighwayToHell · 15/02/2010 14:38

The father would be working from home now. The office was turned into a DC's room and now he needs it back as he is moving back to the UK. We can all fit but there is just too much stuff now and it might be easier this way (and I can have a life again). My accommodation is the top floor of the house. If I were to move out it would be into a flat/house share nearby

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 16/02/2010 09:54

to go from live in to live out can mean a salary increase of maybe £100+

would your family pay this? As Nick said, it is not just rent, but also bills (gas, electric,council tax, water in+out - to name a few) +food etc - which can easily cost £100 a week

you are likely to be out of pocket

also from what you have posted in the past, you work long hours and babysit for free alot, if you lived out, this would stop (good for you) [grin but not sure your employers would agree

there is only one nanny i know who was live in but has changed to live out - i will contact her and see if she will pop on

Original poster
LouIsOnAHighwayToHell · 16/02/2010 20:22

That would be great if zou could ask her. Thanks

OP posts:
Strix · 16/02/2010 20:39

Lou, you have been there a whil now. And from what I also recall, you aren't really on a very lucrative deal. Do you think it might be time to dust off that CV and see what else there is? To be honest I don't think you should take it upon yourself to sort this out. Let your employer sort out what they are going to do about the office they no longer have. It would probably be cheaper for the dad to go rent an office outside the house. And if they decide they want you to live out, then they should propose the arrangement. I think if you offer to move out, whilst well meaning, you might do yourself far more harm than good.

Original poster
LouIsOnAHighwayToHell · 16/02/2010 21:51

strix - you are correct on every thing you said. To be honest I am just lazy and can't be bothered looking for a new job. I am pretty settled in the area. I only styed in the UK due to a guy but since that is not working out I am going to head home sooer then later. I am going to ask for more money abd I would like living out so will just see what they offer and move from there.

OP posts:
Strix · 16/02/2010 21:53

And dust off the CV. Never hurts to have an up to date one handy.

Good luck.

Strix · 16/02/2010 21:55

And remember if they change the terms of the contract they will have to give you notice (whatever the contract says) so let them do the changing.

Blondeshavemorefun · 17/02/2010 08:57

i assume that if your job was a live in one when you signed the contract, that legally your employers dont have to accept you being a live out nanny,as it would cost them

what happens if they say no as wont/cant/dont want to pay more?

Original poster
LouIsOnAHighwayToHell · 17/02/2010 10:26

I guess then I quit and move on.

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 17/02/2010 10:30

then def dust up your cv

good luck

Blondeshavemorefun · 17/02/2010 10:30

then def dust up your cv

good luck

Strix · 17/02/2010 10:34

yes, it will be really clean if you do it twice.

Blondeshavemorefun · 17/02/2010 10:38

pmsl - how did that happen?

Original poster
LouIsOnAHighwayToHell · 17/02/2010 10:39

oh dear this is all just too much at the moment. I only stayed in the UK because of a man and now I think that is ending. Have no job to go back to at home and not enough money to move back anyway so that is why I am not really looking for a new job now. Better the devil you know and all that.

OP posts:
Strix · 17/02/2010 10:44

Where is home? Do you really want to go back or would you be happy with another job here? If you are thinking of leaving I would think setting up residence might not be a good thing? Are you fed up with this family, or living in? Perhaps another live-in job would be the change of scene you need.

Come on. We need more information to help you. And remind me how long you have been with this family.

Blondeshavemorefun · 17/02/2010 10:50

think austraila/nz way if blondes pathetic brain rememebers what lou said when we met

Strix · 17/02/2010 11:17

oh yeah... airplane jelly and all. I remember now.

But, Lou, if you can't afford the journey home, I would suggest not quitting your job until you have another one.

Original poster
LouIsOnAHighwayToHell · 17/02/2010 11:35

I can afford the move home but who really wants to move back in with their parents .

Ok, so have been with family for 18 months.
I like the family, have free rein with everything and it is not a hard job just long hours.
Home is Australia and I have been in the UK nearly 4 years.
I am trying to get my old job back in Oz but I have to reapply for it so that takes time.
As for the current job, well if I moved out it would be to down the road. Share house (my choice) and they pay all the bills and I get a small increase in pay to cover the extra bits and pieces.
I would still eat all meals in the main house so would not have to buy food really.
I stayed in the UK (was meant to leave last year) becuase of a man, which in hindsight was a stupid thing to do as I think I will be single again soon.
Umm anything else?? Can't think well today, am doped up on night nurse.

OP posts:
Simplyme · 17/02/2010 11:53

Hi Lou, I'm blondes friend and she asked me to pop on yesterday! Sorry I didn't but I'm in Cornwall at the moment with the kids for half term and only have my iPhone with no reception at the house! We are on the beach now which oddly enough has 3G reception so thought I'd reply to your post! I have been a live in nanny for my current family for almost 4 years now. It is a bedroom/bathroom basis. I took the job as a stop gap as wanted live out but couldn't afford it as just got back from travellng! Obviously it became longer than a year stop gap because I loved the children and was comfortable there and had a good nanny circle/friends etc.

I left them last summer because I had a job offer of live in but with separate accomodation. That job didn't work out and meanwhile my replacement wasn't working out so my old family asked me back. I was slightly reluctant as I really didn't want to return to live in but the job Market was not good and beggars can't be choosers!

Anyway this was last July, I planned to stay a year then look for a live out job. A very good nanny friend of mine was looking for a flat mate so I thought I'd broach the idea of changing my current job to live out rather than leave them in the summer.

Simplyme · 17/02/2010 12:04

So I asked my boss how she felt about the idea? She said she wasn't keen because they had the room and didn't mind me living there! If I moved out they would have a big extra cost financially and lose one nights babysitting etc

I told her I appreciated that and would honour my commitment to stay until July but would then need to leave and get a live out job. Luckily for me they don't want to lose me. After their unfortunate experience with my replacement last year they don't want to go through all that again so they said they would def pay rather than lose me! I'm very happy as now have job stability for next few years and get to move out too!

Just so you know moving out is not cheap and the price you pay for your own place is very costly! Some things to think about - food for eves and weekends, toiletries such as loo roll or washing powder or cleaning products. Regular bills ie c tax, water, gas elect, tv license, Phone line, broadband? Commuting costs car or bus etc!

Also generally live out nannys have shorter hours and less babysitting! I'm keeping the same hours but dropping to 1 nights babysitting

and of course after all that you will have a lot less 'spendable cash' don't get me wrong live out will be great but think of everything first! I do think it might be better for the dad to rent office space? Hope this helps you x

Original poster
LouIsOnAHighwayToHell · 17/02/2010 12:05

Hi Simply, thanks for interrupting your beach time and writing.
It is a tough decision to make but I think I would rather have a life now. I was only nannying as a stopgap too and have been living in for nearly 4 years now and am too old for it now. I've been thinking all day and in 6 months I should know what is happening at home jobwise and will have saved enough (that is if I stop travelling in my holidays) to move back.

We are going to redo my contract so will have to lay down some ground rules. Does anyone have a good live out contract that I could use as a reference? All mine have been live in.
Thanks

OP posts:
chitchat07 · 17/02/2010 15:54

The other thing of course is that by being live out you can do other babysitting jobs a bit easier so could earn a bit of extra cash.

Live in isnt easy, my nanny is live in but only because she lost her accommodation and we had to hire her quickly or risk losing her (she is absolutely fabulous with the kids so we felt it was worth it). TBH I would much prefer live out as would she, and she is saving as fast as possible to be able to afford to live out. She won't be as financially well off live out though, but she will have far more freedom and I think it will be easier all round.

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