How much do you pay your agency:cleaner?

[FourArms]

I've decided to get a cleaner to save my marriage , but am a bit shocked by the proportion of the fee which goes to the agency. I pay £6.50 per hour to the cleaner, and £3.00 per hour to the agency, so £9.50 per hour total. I wouldn't mind paying all of that to the cleaner, but I feel that the £3 per hour for the agency is a bit much. I agreed at first as I thought that covered NI contributions, and tax, but they don't pay that as they class 'me' as the employer so all jobs fall under the NI threshold (you get £100 or so per job per week I think), and they say the cleaners don't reach the tax threshold. Seems a bit . Is this ratio (I know the total hourly amount is probably higher in different parts of the country, we're in Devon), fairly normal?

Seems to be a bit high as that is the rate in London and I got a quote for a cleaner too.

Are you in a remote part of Devon - is that why it's high?

No, Plymouth city.

Thought it seemed a bit much. Don't get me wrong, happy to pay the cleaner more, but think the agency is getting a bit much!

Can't you advertise locally for a cleaner and get someone direct instead of through the agency? Or look for ads from cleaners in local shop windows etc. Presumably you couldn't just take your current cleaner direct or the agency would sue you so it would mean putting the cleaner out of a job with you though.

I haven't yet signed the contract, but when I approached the cleaner directly (she cleans for a neighbour already), she said she'd rather work through the agency.

I could employ someone myself, but really liked the idea of using someone that a friend has already found good and reliable.