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!

You need to be careful, on paper it’s looks like a great idea, but effectively it would be a contract, and may be considered to be employment even if you are not paying them. You then have to deal with minimum wage requirements, does the value of the accommodation meet these requirements? If they are viewed legally as an employee you have a bigger issue with tax, NI, holiday pay etc, and letting them
live in the accommodation if self contained, could give them rights as a tenant, as opposed to a simple lodger if just living in a room in your house. I’d certainly take proper advice before proceeding.

It is not unusual. That is how I found my position. Via The Lady magazine.

Despite the PPs warnings, it is all actually above board. The term is 'live in all found'

It is a legal arrangement between two people . I notified HMRC as did the woman i cleaned for.

There are no rights to becoming a tenant. It is called a 'licence to occupy ' that gives the owner, certain rights

All homeless hostels use a licence to occupy agreement.

Granted, it has to be a person that isnt going to take the piss. For me, a lone woman in my 40s, it worked.

Would it work for a young person? No, I don't think it would. For me, it was breathing space & enabled me to get back on my feet.

My host had her ducks in a row. She had no mortgage lender to report to. She simply had a space that enabled her to then move to direct payments from the local authority to employ a carer as her needs grew due to her condition.

OP, this would have to be a private arrangement with strict boundaries as I had and I also put in place. It can work, as long as the relevant authorities are notified.

Any person that has run a home would be respectful of such things as energy misuse or such.

Going down a hole of 'being an employer, you will end up with a tenant with rights", isnt correct. The laws around 'housing someone ' do not cover this element. If a mortgage lender stipulated you can't have someone living in your home, to become a tenant then do not do it. It is a complex area.

As more women are having to work longer, without funds to secure housing, there may be an increase in such arrangements.