London - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
My understanding was that it was pretty expensive, so we never explored hiring household help. - Nov 2022
We pay 12 GBP/hour (~$15/hour) for a housekeeper and consider ourselves VERY lucky. I think 15GBP/hour is more typical. If you are a diplomat you don't need to pay into the social programs but you still must provide 28 days of leave for a FTE. - May 2022
I have no idea, but I assume it's available and expensive. - Jun 2017
We pay about $30 to have a maid clean for four hours. We've heard that childcare can be extremely expensive. - Feb 2017
Expensive, 10-20 GBP per hour. - Feb 2016
No sure. - Nov 2015
It's available. I think I paid 50 GBP for 4 hours/week? Ask around the embassy if you want to find someone trustworthy. - Aug 2015
We had a housekeeper come once a week for 10 GBP/hour. Expensive, but helpful. - Jun 2015
No experience. The few people I know who have nannies bring them into the country as live-ins. Babysitters charge £10 per hour. - Jun 2015
Available and expensive. The going rate for cleaning and dog walking seems to be 10 pounds per hour. Many families with children sponsor live-in domestic help from the Philippines. - May 2015
Easy to come by but hard to keep. About 10£ an hour, yikes! - Aug 2014
Cost is about 6 pounds an hour, which is $9 - $10. - Sep 2012
It varies here. There is availability, but it's pricey. Every person charges something different. - Jan 2012
Expensive, from what I understand, but available. - Aug 2011
Don't use it, too expensive. - Mar 2009
Very expensive, help starts at 8 pounds per hour which is about US$16 per hour. - Sep 2008
Expensive. I had someone who came in for a couple of hours twice a week. I paid US$100/week. You could probably get a non-professional cleaner to come in for cheaper, but you would really need to know people in the community well to find those people. - Feb 2008
