There is definitely a market for housekeepers as well as cleaners. How often do people talk about struggling to tidy before their cleaner arrives, as cleaners "don't tidy", or won't do other simple tasks like put the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher that had been missed in the morning rush or change the bedsheets?
I worked as a housekeeper for a couple of years and I was willing to do any reasonable household task as a PP described. From cleaning, laundry and ironing, elderly companion helping with shopping and library visits, babysitting (DBS checked as I volunteered in a school), cat- sitting, etc.
I was housekeeper 10 hours a week for one family, spread over the week as I saw fit. An elderly gent I helped with various tasks for 5 hours over 2 or 3 days including driving him to his late wife's grave and helping him tidy it. Cleaning, tidying, hanging out laundry, running and emptying dishwasher etc for a single dad twice a week with occasional babysitting. Plus ad hoc pet sitting clients.
I chose clients within a small radius to keep my travel time and costs to a minimum. I dropped a couple of flaky clients who I felt didn't appreciate me or my time. One advised me last minute that I wasn't needed as they had gone away to the Caribbean for a Christmas holiday and would let me know when I could come next. I had the keys, it was a very large house and I could have spent some time deep cleaning fridges, ovens, etc. That was 6 hours work per week lost without notice over the expensive Christmas period and they didn't even give a gift or bonus. They eventually advised I could come back after 3 weeks, but I had already filled their slots with better clients and took great pleasure in politely declining.
Another family home with teens that was dirty but relatively tidy when they showed me the house and before my first visit, but the following week they had done virtually nothing since my visit so I found days worth of encrusted dishes, unflushed toilets, skid-marked pants on the floor, etc. I stayed and did my hours as they had left me the cash, but I worked around the worst of it and didn't go back.
However, most were respectful and really valued me as I was flexible, reliable and hard working. I still have some really treasured gifts from some and received a few very generous bonuses at Christmas.
I had my own insurance and filed Self Assessment etc.
I eventually stopped the cleaning aspect, as it was tiring and I focused on my elderly companion clients and cat sitting. It all ended during the pandemic though and I moved away from the area too.