Does your cleaner have a key to your house?

[MadameLeBean]

Just that really! Am employing a cleaner for the first time (recommended by a friend who has used her for ages and given her a key to her house).

Is it okay to say I will pay by bank transfer rather than cash?

New to this!

Yes, if you trust her to be in your house on her own then you've got to trust her to keep the key safe.

And all our clients (dogwalking) pay us by BACS, if she's legit she won't mind and may well prefer it, as I do.

Yes and yes.

It saves having to be in and waiting for her to come!!
Ours turn up whilst I am at work and I come home to a clean house
Pay via bacs - no stress

I think if you pay by cash it makes the cleaner self employed so therefore they're responsible for their own tax, ni etc. I'm sure I read if you pay them by back transfer you become the employer and therefore could be liable for pensions, sick pay, etc etc

Stand to be corrected though

It's your home. Do what you feel comfortable with. I had my cleaner for a few weeks coming round when I was in to get to know her and feel comfortable leaving my key. I paid her in cash every week, left an envelope by the phone

We don't have a cleaner at the moment but when we did we used a key safe that she had the code for, we only left a key in it when she was due to come.

And you supply the cleaning products and equipment right?

yes.

It's also useful for you to know how to change a lock if a key gets lost or you part company with the cleaner. It is not at all difficult.

If you are robbed by someone who has a key, and did not force entry, your insurers will probably not pay.

I have a key for the houses I clean, I also get paid by bacs. Not an employee though, I run my own business and declare whatever income I receive from self employment on my end of year accounts, whether it's paid cash or electronically.

Thanks everyone.

Yes, the customer supplies the products they want used. If they run out it make a note on their blackboard that they need more toilet duck etc. I take my own (strong) rubber gloves and my own Hoover, just because I prefer it. I also take my own cloths because I know that I'll have the right ones for the job, but it's handy to also have access to other cloths, sponges, kitchen roll etc.

no and yes.
if they only accept cash I would be worried that not all of her income was declared for tax reasons.
the least you need is an invoice and proof of her insurance.

Yes to key. I pay cash but just always have done. I supply all the cleaning products, she lets me know when she's running out of anything.

You need to agree on what you want beforehand. I did not with my first cleaner and was cross as she didn't use my environmentally more sound products and used cream cleaner on the bath. I would not want someone to use their own Hoover if it had been used in a place with animal hair or their own cloths. I'm a fussy mare though. I asked the next lady to tell me what she wanted me to buy and got things we were both happy with.

Oh and yes to key for her.

yes she has a key.

she has also babysat for us before - if I trust her to look after my children of course she can have house keys!

btw, she is the best, she is a good friend and I don't know what I would do without her!
(she's been with us for 4 years now!)

At my first house cleaner had a key. Our 2nd we never locked the door so no need and where we are now a key safe (left from the previous elderly owner). This is my preferred option as it means others can get in if needed, if I gave them the code.

PearShapedToad You are basically completely wrong !

Hahahaha I'm corrected! I blame the friend of a friend of a friend.....!