How much do you pay your Au Pair? Post Reply

[shaneleone]

In my ongoing saga to find an Au Pair, accompanied by many questions posted on this site - I think I have one more final question.

What do local families pay their Au Pairs (on top of room and board), and for how many hours per week?

I've looked at the Home Office and website recommendations for the UK, but the last candidate we spoke to said she was getting a much, much higher weekly pay rate - so just wanted to check with other families in SW London.

Thanks very much!

[Seriously?]

I think it varies wildly! Our current Au Pair was getting £110 for a family in Islington, which probably seems like a lot on the surface, but didn't include phone or travel. I pay her £90 a week now, but we started on £80 for the first 3 months. I also give her an Oyster card with unlimited travel and phone with unlimited calls, texts and data. I could easily pay £120 per week and it would be cheaper than including the travel and phone on top of the £90! In terms of work, we probably only need about 15 hours a week, and I have a cleaner who does all the housework. We do it more for the flexibility and in house baby sitting each week. We have had 3 au pairs, and all think they have/had a very cushy deal with us.

The agency I have dealt with also thought the money was fine and including Oyster card very generous. However, I have thought about changing the money to an "all inclusive" weekly rate as a high headline rate will give you the most choice of candidates. In the end I decided to leave it as it was because I didn't actually want to attract candidates simply for the rate. I think a successful Au pair relationship needs to be more about reciprocal benefits, so the opportunity should be most appealing, not the money.

I'm not sure if that is helpful, but I guess what I am saying is that you don't necessarily get what you pay for with Au pairs. It more important to have a good fit for everyone involved.

[shaneleone]

Thanks very much for the reply. My understanding was that an Au Pair was only supposed to work 20-30 hours per week, but the Au Pairs we've been talking to who have been with other families in London have been working 40+ hours per week, so they're getting paid more (although still only about £120). But I'd thought this would put them out of the Au Pair category and mean that both the family and the Au Pair should be paying taxes….

I'd love to hear from any other local families who are or who have used Au Pairs.

[shaneleone]

bump?

[Muddlemoo]

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

[GES77]

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!!!

[Muddlemoo]

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.

[GES77]

£150 for 50-60 hours is exploitation.

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

[shaneleone]

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.

[Seriously?]

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.

[mummag]

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

[kookiegoddess]

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.

[Timefortea101]

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!

[shaneleone]

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!

[Seriously?]

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.