Posted by
RiceT
18 yrs ago
We're considering a move to London and wondering what the going rate is for domestic help there. Hoping to get some input on...
1. How much can we expect to pay for domestic help (housecleaner, childcare)? What kind can we find there...i.e. live-in nanny? live-out nanny? part-time housecleaner? a cleaning service similar to a merry maid type of thing?
2. Is it worth it to bring our helper? I know some have stories about helpers getting abroad and then taking off, but assuming they don't leave... How much is the minimum wage, etc.? Any pertinent laws as to live-in rules, etc.?
Thanks.
Please support our advertisers:
TC
18 yrs ago
A friend of mine recently (like 6 weeks ago) returned to the UK after many years in HK, and he took his PH helper of 10 years with him. He had to pay some sort of a bond and sign some sort of warranty but was successful. Their plan all along was that a friend of the helper would meet them at Heathrow and they would go their separate ways as the friend had already lined up a helper job for her. The helper's visa for the UK is not employer-specific as it is in HK. I'm not sure whether in fact they have broken any of the terms of the warranty that he had to sign because I didn't actually see it, but my guess is that there could be some trouble if she does something 'really naughty'. I'm just giving that example to show that it is possible.
Please support our advertisers:
Minimum salary for a qualified nanny in London is around 25K and quite often use of a car and it would be very unusual for a nanny to do any housework or cooking (other than for the children). A cleaner will cost you around 10 pounds an hour and a cleaning company will charge you more not sure how much an au pair costs. We couldn't afford to bring our helper with us to the UK but our friends who have brought their helpers with them are paying around 12K per annum plus one flight home a year and this doesn't include taxes and national insurance and most of them have Saturdays and Sundays off. I'm not sure what the laws are for live-ins maybe the British Consultate would be able to help with that info. I do know that in certain parts of London there is a lot of poaching going on of Filipino helpers so I'd avoid Clapham like the plague!!
Please support our advertisers:
RiceT
18 yrs ago
Hertfield, thanks again. What do you mean by poaching? Hopefully that other employers are enticing your dh to work for them...and not that there's some 'kidnapping' ring stealing dh's...?
Please support our advertisers:
You have to pay the minimum wage (think it's about 8pounds per hour) and I think they have to have worked for you for over one year. Three of my friends took theirs home with them this summer and two have already run away alledging all sorts of mistreatment at the hands of their employers. From what I hear you will need to pay well over the minium wage, more like 450 -500 UK pounds per week in order to guarantee retaining your helper. There is a very good filipino community who support each other so they know they can always find more work. I'm told that because of the high rate of absconding the UK won't be issuing visas to filipina helpers after 2008.........
Please support our advertisers:
No kidnapping just lots of helpers being approached and asked how much you are paying and then offered more! Minimum wage is 5.35 for employees over 22 but I think that you can also get your helper registered as a childminder and claim childcare vouchers from the government (I've a friend doing this at present). Helpers absconding - obviously this happens but I have five friends who have brought their long term helpers over and they are all still working for them so I think a lot has to do with the existing relationship that you have. As I said you would be looking to pay them 12K but you are responsible for tax and national insurance so your paying considerably more BUT still cheaper than employeeing a nanny.
Please support our advertisers:
RiceT
18 yrs ago
Thanks for the info. Seem to be getting very different figures from various sources. Hetfield, is the 12K a monthly figure? Also, what kind of childcare vouchers do the government offer...is that a tax deduction or an actual reimbursement of a sort?
Please support our advertisers:
12K is a yearly figure - 1,000 Sterling a month - the childcare vouchers we get to offset our nursery care are actual vouchers but I've just remembered that you are entitled to these once your child is 3 years old.
Please support our advertisers:
You may also want to take into account the visa charges. GBP 335 per annum if applying by post.
Please support our advertisers:
i have a friends and aunt in uk,im going there last december for holliday with my employers,i taking care of they son,my friends and my aunt told me that the per hour in uk is 5.50pounds,but i told them that if have a enterested to be my employer there in uk,why not?no problem,my employers support me,the important is they know that im going to work as a legal in uk,so now i find the employers wants to hire me as a nanny or clean they house,and i garantee u that im not go to run away...im not stupid to do that,the important is we can follow the law,if u enterested u can email this email add cherry_moore_80@yahoo.com thank u verry much!!!
Please support our advertisers:
You can also get mothers help in UK who would be less qualified than a nanny but also does housework. You would have to pay at least minimum wage and normally give the weekends off plus the work day would not be as long as seems the usual in HK. You could have a live in or out but a live out would cost more as they have to pay for accommodation etc themselves.
There are many agencies who could help you just do an online search, I personally think it’s safer to hire someone who is entitled to be in UK so you don’t need to worry about them disappearing on you and the bond etc you have paid means you are Responsible if they get into trouble.
Please support our advertisers:
RiceT
18 yrs ago
Moppet - Thanks. What do you mean by "the bond etc you have paid means you are Responsible if they get into trouble." Could you explain further? Visiting the Consulate tomorrow and am hoping to learn more about the rules and regs in the UK for all of this. Cheers.
Please support our advertisers:
RiceT. If you are asked to pay a bond and sign papers as a sponsor then it means you are co responsible for her and what she gets up too. It is like going guarantee on a loan for someone else, not something you do unless you know and trust the person completely. There are many options in UK for childcare, it’s not as cheap as a DH but even if you took her with you you’d still have to treat her the same as you would a local UK person as in Pay and terms and conditions.
Please support our advertisers:
RiceT
18 yrs ago
I see. I did not know that we are required to pay a bond and sign papers as a sponsor. We will speak with the Consulate more tomorrow so to be completely informed. Thanks.
Please support our advertisers:
You must be logged in to be able to reply.
Login now
Copy Link
Facebook
Gmail
Mail