Would you work as a cleaner 2-3 hours a day for free accommodation but no pay?

[ShittyGlitter]

I need a bit of perspective here as I'm not sure of what I’m looking for is reasonable.

I’m drowning in gardening and cleaning, I currently take a half day off a week to try get everything done including g laundry and prep for the week ahead.

My job is becoming more demanding as I have new projects starting this year but also we’re renovating our house so time is also spent covering DIY tasks and running around after our two children. My DHs job is also demanding, but we’re generally good at splitting tasks between us.

we’re both burnt out and skint for renovation costs.

what I’m wondering is, I have an annex separate from our house that’s fully self contained. Would it be reasonable to advertise a live in position for someone to help out with gardening and cleaning tasks? I’m thinking 2-3 hours a day say 5 days a week, rotating around some household tasks. just to help us free up some of our life’s for work or family!

The problem is I can’t afford a cleaner for so many hours, and I thought maybe it would help someone out or am I being daft?

Bills would be covered and there are loads of jobs locally specifically in hospitality as week live in a touristy spot. So someone could have another job to work around it or if they were remote workers anyway.

thoughts would be appreciated!

What happens if they stop doing the tasks? Or do them badly? You'd be stuck with someone who doesn't have an actual payment amount on their tenancy.

Just charge for it in the normal fashion and then get a cleaner and gardener with some of the income from the rental.

I saw something similar online a few weeks ago and the poster was slaughtered for suggesting what was essentially a modern day slavery set up. I suppose perhaps this is different if the lodger is able to also earn a living by having a job as well as helping you out in return for accommodation... but I think it's dodgy ground and agree with others it'd be better to rent the property out and use that money for an actual cleaner or gardener.

No, they're in your space all the time, if you have a dispute or it's not working out you've got to legally remove them from the annexe. Absolutely not. Keep the two things separate as suggested by a lot of other people.

I wouldn't do it.
What if they didn't do the job/hours, & refused to move?
As others have said , draw up a proper rental agreement & rent out to afford domestic help.

Think you have your answer op.

See this is my worry 🥲 I can’t tell if this could be an outrageous ask or a good opportunity for the right person.

thanks for the responses so far. I live in Scotland so renting out requires a license. I have the relevant safety certificates and checks though.
Also as people have said there is tax implications, we are both in employment, so any rental income would be absorbed in tax with little left over. It just seemed like a better idea exchange cleaning for rent money in my head.

Its a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom property, im not sure what the going rate would be to be honest there is such a variety of property around here.

I think just get a lodger and use that money to pay people to do whatever it is. You won’t get 3 hours per day, but it would be something.

@ShittyGlitter https://www.workaway.info/en/hostlist?gnid=2638360&country=GB&region=scotland

You could get an au pair but you’d have to pay pocket money. I agree it’s better to generate 7.5k a year tax free and pay a cleaner

@ShittyGlitter there is a site called (WWOOF) WOOFING this sounds similar . I know someone who had people stay in accommodation on their land. They had free meals( simple , cheap soup pots etc and board for helping with the land . These people also helped with the kids as they jelled with the family . They would want to travel and explore countries and could do so this way .

Yes totally agree with that. I think that would be my plan if I was just employing someone. There would need to be an agreement for a fair amount of jobs.

The annex is very separate and I work nearby so wouldn’t expect anyone to pick up other task other than cleaning surfaces mopping etc.

looks like renting is my only option 😩

Great idea. Have all the formalities in place though else you’re relying on trust and goodwill. A tenancy agreement. Precise list of tasks. Will they have free access to the main house or certain agreed hours only? Can they have partners staying over?

Thanks @Eyesopenwideawake@Unexpectedlysinglemumand @Imbusytodaysorry these are cool ideas.

2-3hrs a day for 5 days =10-15 hours of work. At minimum wage that’s £127/190 per week or £508 / £762.60 per month.

Is that reasonable rent for where you live or is it over the odds?

I'm wondering how this would work out legally now that tenants have such strong rights. It would only suit a person who had another source of income for their daily needs, such as an active retired person or one prepared to work flexibly.

The suggestion made by other PP to let the rooms and put the money towards cleaner/gardener might be better. However you still need to look into the legal side of granting a tenancy or it could go badly pear shaped.

https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-accommodation/effect-on-the-minimum-wage

This is a very common arrangement in New Zealand. It can be cleaning, childcare, gardening... Whatever work the host and the 'worker' agree to. Typically people will offer room only for 2 hours per day, or room and board for 4 hours per day. It seems to attract younger people who want the independence but don't want to pay all the bills that come with living away from home

Yes I would need a nice person im exchange for some domestic help (preferably not slave labour 😳)

The accommodation is completely self contained with kitchen, living room, 3 bed rooms and 2 bathrooms so would suit more than one person. I wouldn’t be interfering with what a tenant was upto (unless it’s a massive swing party or drug den 😅) bit of a risk I suppose

Of course you wouldn’t.

like pp said they would be considered an employer.

it’s not modern slavery unless they are preventing them from leaving, limiting their movement etc.

You need to look up hmrc rules about payment in kind. I think you may still need to pay a wage and employ the individual, with all the relevant statutory obligations.

Are you in Surrey by any chance?

would suit my friends dd who wants to move to that area, but doesn’t have a job yet. She has savings for the first year, but this would get her accommodation and a few hours work while she could look for a FT job. Eventually I would see it evolving into paying rent if she did get a job, which you could use to hire help.

If it was one hour, maybe two, a day, they could fit it in around their job, but three hours might be too much. It also sounds like it could be very complicated with a lot that could go wrong. And let’s say they had to do the housework early morning or late night to fit around their job, would you be happy with that?

A whole three bedroom property, you might as well rent it?

Maybe your local council has a scheme for people on their list where you can choose and meet the family beforehand you’ve got a family property sitting empty. I think it would work out very well for both of you.

this is the kind of arrangement that works best I think when you know the person. The daughter of a friend who wants to study locally, that older person who has left a relationship and wants a bit of breathign room etc. It's hard to find just "cold" as it were.

I'm not sure how au pairs are paid but I believe it's more pocket money than actual salary, in which case, would that be an option?