Live-in Nanny Rates/Questions

[Anonymous]

We currently have an au pair who is leaving in a few months, and we're toying with the idea of getting a live-in nanny to replace her, but we're wondering what this would cost, and how the pay arrangement works.

We have a basement bedroom and bathroom for the nanny, who would then also have access to the rest of the house and kitchen. Should we try to figure out what the going rate would be if we were to rent the room? and then subtract that amount from weekly or monthly pay?

We're looking for someone to watch a newborn and 3 year old around 40 hours a week. The 3 year old is in preschool 5 half days a week. We were thinking we would pay $16-18/hour and then ask for $500/month in rent. Is this reasonable? Should we charge more for rent? We live in kensington close to the marc train and a little over a mile from forest glen metro. Are there other considerations we need to think about?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

A live-in doesn't pay rent. Maybe you can get a warm body at a reduced hourly rate if she has nowhere to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A live-in doesn't pay rent. Maybe you can get a warm body at a reduced hourly rate if she has nowhere to live.

Ah yes, the warm body poster again. OP has never had a live-in and was asking for advice because she has no idea what to pay. If you don't think what she is suggesting is good how about some helpful advice instead of a snarky comment? If you think nannies are underpaid your nasty comments aren't helping the situation.

OP, I'm sorry, I've never had a live-in so I'm not sure how it works either. I have one friend who lives in Bethesda who has a live-in for 3 children, 5 and under, and she pays $16/hr but that's all I can tell you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A live-in doesn't pay rent. Maybe you can get a warm body at a reduced hourly rate if she has nowhere to live.

Ah yes, the warm body poster again. OP has never had a live-in and was asking for advice because she has no idea what to pay. If you don't think what she is suggesting is good how about some helpful advice instead of a snarky comment? If you think nannies are underpaid your nasty comments aren't helping the situation.

OP, I'm sorry, I've never had a live-in so I'm not sure how it works either. I have one friend who lives in Bethesda who has a live-in for 3 children, 5 and under, and she pays $16/hr but that's all I can tell you.

Do you suppose she pays rent out of her 16/hr?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A live-in doesn't pay rent. Maybe you can get a warm body at a reduced hourly rate if she has nowhere to live.

Ah yes, the warm body poster again. OP has never had a live-in and was asking for advice because she has no idea what to pay. If you don't think what she is suggesting is good how about some helpful advice instead of a snarky comment? If you think nannies are underpaid your nasty comments aren't helping the situation.

OP, I'm sorry, I've never had a live-in so I'm not sure how it works either. I have one friend who lives in Bethesda who has a live-in for 3 children, 5 and under, and she pays $16/hr but that's all I can tell you.

Do you suppose she pays rent out of her 16/hr?

No she doesn't pay rent but my point wasn't that the OP was correct, my point was that there is a constructive way to give criticism vs the nasty way of 21:36. All you have to do is say "OP, your salary range is good but live-ins don't usually pay rent." I think that would be much more helpful both to OP and to anyone else contemplating a nanny at all.

[Anonymous]

Maybe I'm being woefully naive, but $500 is pretty cheap rent in this area, and the nanny can either pay $500 out of her $16/hr and live-in or $1000+ out of her $16/hr and live elsewhere. OP had a valid question, and good on her for asking and not just assuming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I'm being woefully naive, but $500 is pretty cheap rent in this area, and the nanny can either pay $500 out of her $16/hr and live-in or $1000+ out of her $16/hr and live elsewhere. OP had a valid question, and good on her for asking and not just assuming.

It's not just about the money. Yes, the nanny would save money, but they would also be living with their employer and subject to some major job creep as well as a host of other issues ( search the boards; can my nanny stay out all night? My nanny has friends over without asking and I think they are going to molest my children. my nanny doesn't like it when she has to change my son's wet sheets at 3 am, what is wrong with her?).
OP is not offering a separate apartment or coach house space, she is essentially charging $500 for a room/bathroom and using that as justification for offering a reduced wage as well. This would be a losing situation for most nannies.

[Anonymous]

OP, what you're describing sounds fine, its just the language that makes it sound bad. You don't charge your live in "rent" but you do lower her rate a reasonable amount. $500/month sounds like a fair middle ground between the market rate for the space, and the inconvenience of living with your employer. The way you would factor in the "rent" would be to lower her hourly rate a few dollars and advertise the position as a live-in position at that rate. Make no mention of paying rent. So in your case, you're offering $16-18/hour and want $500 for rent. For a 40 hour work week, you'd lower the hourly rate about $3, so offer your position at the $13-$15/hour range. This would be a VERY attractive offer if the space is nice. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Live in nanny here and live in nannies don't pay rent or for food or utilities.

[Anonymous]

I worked for four different families as a live-in nanny and have never been asked to pay rent. $16 an hour is a good starting rate for an experienced live-in nanny. If you don't mind someone less experienced, you can pay her less an hour. But no, you do not charge for rent.

[Anonymous]

I don't think OP is actually charging her rent. What she's saying (and what she said in her second paragraph) is that she's trying to figure out what a reasonable reduction in pay would be since she is providing living expenses. She is saying that she would typically be paying a live-out nanny $16/hour and asking if she should then estimate the value of the living space and subtract that from what she would pay the live-out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I worked for four different families as a live-in nanny and have never been asked to pay rent. $16 an hour is a good starting rate for an experienced live-in nanny. If you don't mind someone less experienced, you can pay her less an hour. But no, you do not charge for rent.

OP, $16 an hour can be a good starting rate for an experienced live-OUT nanny. There is a lot of disagreement on this board about whether or not you should offer a lower amount to a live-in as compared to a live-out. There are some very vocal nannies who feel that the rate should be the same for two reasons: (1) to make the offer more attractive to a nanny who is living with her boss and sharing public spaces in the house; and (2) because the employer wants a live-in for "flexibility" reasons (someone can clarify what they mean by that because I've never understood what that means as a benefit compared to live-out nannies).

Personally, from an employer perspective, anyone who I've ever known to be looking for a live-in nanny sees the major benefit as being hourly rate savings as compared to a live-out. I'm sure they are out there, but it seems like most employers would prefer a live-out, but need/want to save money and so are looking for a live-in. These employers see it as more of an inconvenience to live with someone, but that the savings would be worth it.

Are there any employers out there who would be happy to pay a live-in nanny the same rate as a live-out? I haven't heard from this person yet on what the major benefits of a live-in nanny are that make up for the fact that not only are you paying someone the same rate, but also providing living space.

Also, if you've had au pairs, you probably want to do some looking into on what will be different. Do you pay for phone, car, food for a live-in like you would for an au pair? Does the live-in want to be like a member of the family or do they want to be left alone when off duty? You probably lose the flexibility in the schedule that you've had with the au pair too. Things to consider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, what you're describing sounds fine, its just the language that makes it sound bad. You don't charge your live in "rent" but you do lower her rate a reasonable amount. $500/month sounds like a fair middle ground between the market rate for the space, and the inconvenience of living with your employer. The way you would factor in the "rent" would be to lower her hourly rate a few dollars and advertise the position as a live-in position at that rate. Make no mention of paying rent. So in your case, you're offering $16-18/hour and want $500 for rent. For a 40 hour work week, you'd lower the hourly rate about $3, so offer your position at the $13-$15/hour range. This would be a VERY attractive offer if the space is nice. Good luck!

Have any friends who might be interested? Maybe even you would consider this VERY attractive offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worked for four different families as a live-in nanny and have never been asked to pay rent. $16 an hour is a good starting rate for an experienced live-in nanny. If you don't mind someone less experienced, you can pay her less an hour. But no, you do not charge for rent.

OP, $16 an hour can be a good starting rate for an experienced live-OUT nanny. There is a lot of disagreement on this board about whether or not you should offer a lower amount to a live-in as compared to a live-out. There are some very vocal nannies who feel that the rate should be the same for two reasons: (1) to make the offer more attractive to a nanny who is living with her boss and sharing public spaces in the house; and (2) because the employer wants a live-in for "flexibility" reasons (someone can clarify what they mean by that because I've never understood what that means as a benefit compared to live-out nannies).

Personally, from an employer perspective, anyone who I've ever known to be looking for a live-in nanny sees the major benefit as being hourly rate savings as compared to a live-out. I'm sure they are out there, but it seems like most employers would prefer a live-out, but need/want to save money and so are looking for a live-in. These employers see it as more of an inconvenience to live with someone, but that the savings would be worth it.

Are there any employers out there who would be happy to pay a live-in nanny the same rate as a live-out? I haven't heard from this person yet on what the major benefits of a live-in nanny are that make up for the fact that not only are you paying someone the same rate, but also providing living space.

Also, if you've had au pairs, you probably want to do some looking into on what will be different. Do you pay for phone, car, food for a live-in like you would for an au pair? Does the live-in want to be like a member of the family or do they want to be left alone when off duty? You probably lose the flexibility in the schedule that you've had with the au pair too. Things to consider.

I'm not one of the vocal nannies you are referring to, but there are lots of reasons a family may choose a live-in over a live out beyond the savings.

-The parent(s) work odd or unpredictable hours
-The job requires exceptionally long/late hours
-They have no family or close friends nearby and want someone available in case of emergencies or unforeseen needs
-They desire a long term, familial relationship with the caregiver of their children
-They have special/high needs children and need the extra hands
-They have money to burn and like having help at their fingertips

If the only reason a family wants a live-in is to save money, they really should look at other options, because as you said it is inconvenient inviting someone into your home if you don't truly want them there, but its no walk in the park for the nanny either. She shouldn't be paying for your inconvenience any more than you should pay for hers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what you're describing sounds fine, its just the language that makes it sound bad. You don't charge your live in "rent" but you do lower her rate a reasonable amount. $500/month sounds like a fair middle ground between the market rate for the space, and the inconvenience of living with your employer. The way you would factor in the "rent" would be to lower her hourly rate a few dollars and advertise the position as a live-in position at that rate. Make no mention of paying rent. So in your case, you're offering $16-18/hour and want $500 for rent. For a 40 hour work week, you'd lower the hourly rate about $3, so offer your position at the $13-$15/hour range. This would be a VERY attractive offer if the space is nice. Good luck!

Have any friends who might be interested? Maybe even you would consider this VERY attractive offer.

Don't be a smart ass. You know damn well $13-$15/hour for a live in is a great rate. You can get a decent live-out for that rate. You can get a pretty awesome live-in for it.