Going Rate?

[pato]

Purely out of interest does anyone know the standard cost of maid service for a villa, I'm sure it varies considerably but I'd like an approximate cost to help me fix my rental charges.

[ron5000]

Currently between 7 and 9 Euros an hour

[Matryx]

I think I got absolutely shafted with mine, as the employment came with the purchase of the house! 650 euros/month, which includes the gardening and the pool, but I have to pay throughout the year, regardless of whether we use it. In fact, I've only spent about 7 days there since last summer!.............anybody want to buy a lovely villa with a great view, complete with maid and gardener?

[Rampage]

I think I got absolutely shafted with mine, as the employment came with the purchase of the house! 650 euros/month, which includes the gardening and the pool, but I have to pay throughout the year

. Think you did Matryx. We have a local agent looking after the house and arranging paying guests (we are too far away to be hands on). That means we also have an annual contract for maid, gardener & pool maintenance with monthly payments, whether or not the villa is occupied. However we only pay 350 per month (although the maid is paid for 13 months so the average is slightly higher).

[James Faro]

So, if you purchase a property that has a contractual term that you must employ a maid/and or gardener does that stay for the whole duration of the property ownership? Is it to employ a maid/gardener no matter who or does that stipulation cease if the people employed get employment elsewhere, retire or pass away?

[pato]

Matrix, I knew Eddie Thomas and his wife very well and he was a shrewd character, I'm sure the maid and gardener live on the premise, I may be wrong in that assumption, I know the gardens in your villa are superb, but the amount your paying is seemingly extortionate, I pay 240 Euros a month in the summer and 140 euros in winter for a maid. and the top end, so I've been informed, of 90 euros a month, all year for the pool maintenance, a gardener? say 100 a month, maybe more in your case. How can you buy a property with that sort of contractual millstone? surely that was agreed with the previous owner.

[widge]

Matrix, I knew Eddie Thomas and his wife very well and he was a shrewd character, I'm sure the maid and gardener live on the premise, I may be wrong in that assumption, I know the gardens in your villa are superb, but the amount your paying is seemingly extortionate, I pay 240 Euros a month in the summer and 140 euros in winter for a maid. and the top end, so I've been informed, of 90 euros a month, all year for the pool maintenance, a gardener? say 100 a month, maybe more in your case. How can you buy a property with that sort of contractual millstone? surely that was agreed with the previous owner.

You have to be careful not to compare apples with pears. Matryx figures are very similar to mine & we too retain a maid, gardener & pool man 365 days a year. We pay the maid €284 per month for 14 months including her Christmas bonus. Her Social Security costs are an additional €104 per month. If you think about it €284 per month is about €14 per visit in the summer & on changeover day she brings her mum & sister (no charge) to clean a 5 bed 5 bath villa & change all the laundry in 4 hours !!!! During the winter she visits most days if we're in UK but if we're in Portugal she comes just once a week to clean our apartment.I can't imagine asking anyone to do it for less - it's a 6 km round trip in her car just to get to my place !

Gardener is €150 a month for 2000 sq mtr plot & pool man €75 a month for cleaning twice a week.

This is not just about competitive costing or rental pricing, it's much more important than that!!!! The peace of mind & continuity in standards is invaluable & of course, after 9 years in our employ, we have a moral responsibility to the staff who make owning and renting our villa successful.

[Bruce Wallis]

I agree with Widge.
Your rental charge should be a fair market rent for a villa of your status, in your location.

What you pay to have that villa serviced, is a totally different issue

A decent maid, something over 200 a month + NI x 14
Gardener, depending on size of garden and frequency of attendance, around 150 a month.
Pool man 60-70 a month.

On top of that you probably pay a management company.

It aint cheap!
I doubt that many people, if any, actually make a profit.

[Matryx]

Matrix, I knew Eddie Thomas and his wife very well and he was a shrewd character, I'm sure the maid and gardener live on the premise, I may be wrong in that assumption, I know the gardens in your villa are superb, but the amount your paying is seemingly extortionate, I pay 240 Euros a month in the summer and 140 euros in winter for a maid. and the top end, so I've been informed, of 90 euros a month, all year for the pool maintenance, a gardener? say 100 a month, maybe more in your case. How can you buy a property with that sort of contractual millstone? surely that was agreed with the previous owner.

You have to be careful not to compare apples with pears. Matryx figures are very similar to mine & we too retain a maid, gardener & pool man 365 days a year. We pay the maid €284 per month for 14 months including her Christmas bonus. Her Social Security costs are an additional €104 per month. If you think about it €284 per month is about €14 per visit in the summer & on changeover day she brings her mum & sister (no charge) to clean a 5 bed 5 bath villa & change all the laundry in 4 hours !!!! During the winter she visits most days if we're in UK but if we're in Portugal she comes just once a week to clean our apartment.I can't imagine asking anyone to do it for less - it's a 6 km round trip in her car just to get to my place !

Gardener is €150 a month for 2000 sq mtr plot & pool man €75 a month for cleaning twice a week.

This is not just about competitive costing or rental pricing, it's much more important than that!!!! The peace of mind & continuity in standards is invaluable & of course, after 9 years in our employ, we have a moral responsibility to the staff who make owning and renting our villa successful.

That makes me feel a little better Widge. At the end of the day, we trust the maid, and they always attend if the alarm goes off etc. We don't rent out, so have to swallow the costs when the place is un occupied. Just wish I could spend more time there, but not possible as things stand.

[pato]

Matrix see me when I'm over. I'll save you money. Dave

[Matryx]

Matrix see me when I'm over. I'll save you money. Dave

We said we'd meet for a beer, so let's do that the next time we're both out? We may come over for a long-weekend in early/mid September, but it will at short notice if it happens.

[pato]

Matrix see me when I'm over. I'll save you money. Dave

We said we'd meet for a beer, so let's do that the next time we're both out? We may come over for a long-weekend in early/mid September, but it will at short notice if it happens.

I'll be there in September (God willing) just look for the washing on the line.