Temporary Housekeeping — Pricing and Booking Terms
Temporary housekeeping services start from £40 per hour.
The final rate will depend on the property location and size, the duties required, the frequency of visits and the overall length of the booking.
A minimum booking of four hours per day for at least two days applies.
Booking confirmation and payments
Once the required dates, working hours and duties have been agreed, The London Housekeepers will provide a written service agreement setting out the booking arrangements.
To reserve the agreed dates and secure a suitable housekeeper, full payment is required in advance. (You must allow 3-5 business days for some international payments to clear)
A booking is confirmed only once the service agreement has been accepted and payment has been received in cleared funds.
Client Allowance for Purchases, Errands and Travel
Where the client requests the housekeeper to purchase groceries, household supplies, dry cleaning, toiletries, flowers or any other agreed goods, an advance allowance must be provided on booking
The allowance may also be used to cover reasonable travel and transport costs incurred while completing agreed errands or household tasks, including public transport, taxis, parking, delivery charges and collection fees.
The housekeeper will not be expected to use personal funds for client purchases, travel or expenses.
Receipts or other proof of purchase will be provided wherever available.
Any unused balance remaining after the agreed purchases, errands and travel costs have been completed will be returned promptly to the client by bank transfer.
Time spent travelling, shopping, collecting items, returning goods or completing other agreed errands will form part of the client’s booked housekeeping hours unless otherwise confirmed in writing.
Booked and unused hours
The housekeeper’s agreed days and hours are reserved exclusively for the client.
Where the client chooses to release the housekeeper early or does not require all the reserved hours on a booked day, unused time within the agreed minimum booking will not normally be refundable or transferable.
Any deductions from advance payments following cancellation will be fair and proportionate and will reflect the costs and losses reasonably incurred by The London Housekeepers.
UK consumer guidance states that businesses should not retain excessive amounts that go beyond their genuine loss.
Additional hours
Any hours required beyond those stated in the service agreement must be requested and approved in advance and will remain subject to the housekeeper’s availability.
Additional hours will be charged at the applicable agreed rate.
Payment must be received before the client leaves London or before the additional work takes place, unless alternative arrangements have been confirmed in writing.
Cancellations and rescheduling
All cancellation and rescheduling requests must be made in writing.
Any refund or cancellation charge will depend on:
The notice provided
Work already completed
Staffing already committed
Costs reasonably incurred
Whether the reserved hours can reasonably be reassigned
Advance payments will not automatically be retained in full.
Any amount withheld will be limited to a reasonable reflection of the business’s actual loss arising from the cancellation.
Contract terms must be clear and fair, and an unfair consumer term may not be legally binding.
Property access and client responsibilities
The client must provide safe and timely access to the property at the agreed start time, including any necessary keys, entry codes, building permissions or instructions for concierge staff.
Unless otherwise agreed, the client must provide suitable:
Cleaning products and equipment
Laundry and ironing products
Bin liners and household consumables
Care instructions for specialist surfaces or belongings
Clear instructions regarding alarms, pets and restricted areas
Time lost because access is unavailable or delayed may remain chargeable as part of the reserved booking.
Shopping, dry cleaning and household errands
Where the housekeeper is asked to arrange dry cleaning, grocery shopping, household supplies or other agreed purchases, the client must provide an advance allowance sufficient to cover the anticipated costs.
Receipts will be provided for all purchases.
Any unused balance will be returned promptly by bank transfer once the agreed errands have been completed and the expenses reconciled.
Time spent shopping, travelling, collecting dry cleaning, receiving deliveries or completing other errands will form part of the booked housekeeping hours unless otherwise agreed in writing.
The housekeeper will not be expected to use personal funds to pay for client purchases.
Additional expenses
The following costs are not included in the hourly rate unless expressly stated in the quotation:
Parking
Congestion Charge
Ultra Low Emission Zone charges where applicable
Public transport, taxis or courier costs required for agreed errands
Household purchases
Dry-cleaning charges
Specialist products or equipment
Additional laundry services
Other authorised expenses
These charges will be agreed where reasonably possible and invoiced or deducted from the client’s advance allowance.
Scope of service
The agreed duties will be listed in the service agreement. Temporary housekeeping does not automatically include:
Childcare
Personal or medical care
Pet care or dog walking
Heavy lifting or furniture moving
Cleaning at height
Hazardous or biohazard cleaning
Pest-related cleaning
Exterior window cleaning
Specialist treatment of antiques, artwork or delicate fabrics
Cleaning of specialist stone, finishes or surfaces
Tasks requiring professional licensing or specialist contractors
Any additional service must be specifically agreed in writing before work begins.
Valuables and specialist items
Clients should secure cash, jewellery, important documents and other high-value personal possessions before the housekeeper arrives.
The client must provide written care instructions for antiques, artwork, designer furnishings, natural stone, specialist appliances and delicate surfaces.
Where suitable instructions are not available, the housekeeper may decline to clean or handle the item.
Damage and breakages Our housekeepers carry out all duties with reasonable care and skill, as required under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Any accidental damage or breakage observed during the service will be reported promptly.
Clients should notify The London Housekeepers of any concern as soon as reasonably possible and provide photographs or supporting details where relevant.
Nothing in these terms limits any legal rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.
Service changes
Any change to the agreed dates, hours, address, number of occupants or scope of duties must be approved in writing.
Changes may affect the quotation, staffing arrangements or availability.
We cannot guarantee that the same housekeeper will be available for altered or extended dates.
Acceptance of terms By accepting the written service agreement and making payment, the client confirms that they have reviewed and accepted these pricing and booking terms. All services remain subject to availability and final written confirmation by The London Housekeepers.