Domestic cleaners

[Miniscuria]

It's my first post to Mumsnet, so do bear with me if I tread on someone's toes!

I've had many domestic cleaners in the past, but the last one gave up on us half way through a large extension building project. Now the building work is almost finished, I'd like to start hiring a new cleaner. I know this topic has been discussed before, but the latest seems to be at least a year old. So, what is the current (end of 2017) going rate in the south England area? Also, any tips on how to find a good reliable cleaner?

I’m in North London and pay my cleaner £80 for 7 hours a week. I paid her £70 until a year ago when I increased it to £80 (it was just easier to make it a round figure). She has been with me almost 10 years and never asks for a pay rise

She cleans the kitchen and family room, vacuums and washes the floors twice a week. Bathrooms, bedrooms (including changing and washing the bedding) cleaned weekly. Basically she cleans the whole house, she decides herself when things like the fridge needs to be emptied and cleaned. She also does the ironing for DH and myself

When we go on holiday she carries out a proper spring clean, it’s so lovely to come back to

I try to treat her fairly as I really appreciate everything she does for us so I pay her for 2 weeks in the summer when she visits her family, I’ve paid her for next week even though I said she needn’t come and I’ve spent £30 on her Christmas present, along with a present for her daughter

Thanks for your answer. Your cleaner sounds like the lady who used to clean for us for over 20 years until she retired a few years ago. She cleaned our house just like her own, pet-sit our cat when we were away, and even stocked up our fridge with fresh milk and bread just before we came home from holiday. I did not have to tell her what to do - she just did what was necessary to keep us on top of things. I do miss her.

Things have not been the same since she retired. I had one cleaner who dropped 3 picture frames in 6 months (the last one broke, but thankfully not one of the antiques - we let her go quickly after that!) and another who came for a couple of months and disappeared one day, before we found the last one who lasted 1.5 years until she quit. I've heard the average turnover for cleaners is 1-2 years... Do treat yours nicely, and brace yourself for the day she retires!

Incidentally, the last cleaner charged us £12/hr for a 6hrs/wk work, but was about to raise it to £15/hr which I thought was a lot. That's why I asked my original question.

I pay mine £10 per hour for an hour a day, 5 days a week, just for the downstairs though. That send to be the going rate round here, unless you go through an agency.

I pay £35 for 3 hours (London).

Found my current cleaner through a local FB group, but in the past have asked all my friends if their cleaners want extra work.

Mine is £15 per hour, she provides all her own equipment and cleaning products, I’m Herts/Beds.

This thread has made me think I should make sure I’m still paying her a competitive wage. She would never ask so I think I’ll check out our local notice boards etc