£125 - 25hrs a week + flight allowances for our au pair from Spain. We also hire a cleaner so au pair can be dedicated to our 3 children.

Mine doesn't do any housework apart from ironing shirts and my daughters dresses. We have a cleaner who also cleans her room.

I pay £105 for 25 hours a week. In reality she rarely does all the hours but I love the flexibility of having the help if I need it. We pay her all year around even if she goes away or we aren't there. She has been with us for 18 months now which is fab. I did pay for her first flight here too. I found mine on Au Pair World and she was already in the Uk when I interviewed her because she was working for another family. I also interviewed my last au pair face to face. I think its so important to meet someone who will be living in your house. Friends fly girls over for interviews which I would do if they weren't already here.

I haven't and wouldn't pay for a flight over here. The agencies would definitely not expect you to, which is always a good benchmark. I don't think I have ever interviewed anyone with expectations that I would organise their travel to London.

Thanks everyone for the replies. And what I sincerely hope is the final question - just wondering if people paid for the flight over for their au pair? I've already had a few girls who seemed very keen and then backed out at the last minute so I am a little reticent to fly someone over as I've heard stories of girls just taking the flight and leaving straight away, but just not sure what is expected? It wold be flying from Spain most likely....

Thanks again!

we pay 110 per week basic for 35 hrs per week. we then gave her the option to clean the house for 5 hrs a week for an extra 35 pounds, and she was very keen to do that. doesn't feel like exploitation!

Hi, have you tried using an agency? I used Almondbury and was happy with the service. Our first au pair has been great and I have done my best to be honest with her and expect the same in return. I have focused on treating her with respect and courtesy and not taking advantage, and I think she works hard and is happy as a result. We have worked out a timetable which is roughly 5 hours a day, but she often hangs out with the kids, or we'll prepare meals together, etc, so it's not strictly work. She does 6 hrs of school a week, and we rarely use her at weekends except for evening babysitting or occasionally watching the kids if we need to Pop out for something.

I think she does a little over 30 hrs a week for £90 per week, plus travel and phone - but she does v little housework, just tidying kitchen, putting away laundry etc. It is most important that I can be free to get stuff done when I need to rather than her doing endless ironing.

Sorry to hear some of the Au Pairs in SW are been treated poorly. If any of the disheartened friends of Au Pairs are still looking for a nice welcoming family who would treat them fairly and as one of the family, do let me know as we are struggling to find one for our 3 year old fun and outgoing daughter.

Thanks

I came across similar when looking for our current Au Pair. As I wanted to meet in person, I pretty much was dealing with girls who were not happy in their current positions. I was amazed that there are people out there who have someone under the same roof as their own family while treating them in such an appalling way. They all seemed to do the right amount of child care hours of about 25, but then we're loaded up with heavy duty cleaning for another 20 hours. Seemed £100-£120 was usual rate as well. Our first au pair told us some horror stories about some of her au pair friends in the area also. Unfortunately it seems to be more common than you would hope for.

I think this is exactly the problem I am coming across. We are looking for an Au Pair and were following the very specific guidelines (room and board, working 30 hours a week or less for pocket money). But the Au Pairs we have been talking to who are already working in London have all been working 40+ hours per week for £120. Which, in my understanding, is illegal and exploitive and not working as an Au Pair at all, but as a nanny.

£150 for 50-60 hours is exploitation.

I paid a full-time nanny (live in) £400 a week for 60 hours.

It's £192 as the PAYE threshold. I know a lot of people paying au pairs £150 for 50-60 hours a week so i think the same amount for 25 is not bad.

Off the top of my head, I think that if you pay over £109 a week you need to register employment with hmrc and you will then need to pay tax and NI.

An au pair is a cultural exchange where board & lodging is exchanged for 20-25 hours week "pocket money". 40+ hours a week is not an aupair and means paying well below minimum wage.

The reason I mention it, is please be careful as HMRC are really hot on this and will need no excuse to make an example of anyone!!!

Hi for 25hrs a week in the term time and full time in school holidays we pay £130-£150 a week. X

bump?