Thoughts of this arrangement and what would you expect to pay

[Anonymous]

Hi,

We have twins and one on the way. Twins will be 18 months old when new one arrives. We have the twins in daycare currently but with the addition of another, don't think that will be the best option. We have investigated and would love an au pair, but don't have a bedroom that would house them currently.

We do however own a 1 bedroom apartment in Rockville, MD about 15 minutes from us, that we could house the nanny in (can't do an au pair because they have to live on premises). My question is do you think that there would be a nanny that would be interested in free room and board (we own the property outright) at our apartment for a reduced hourly rate. Would this be legal to do if we paid them minimum wage + plus room and board? If yes to these what do you think might be the best way to try to find someone. We have not done anything with nannies so we are brand new to this, so please be gentle

[Anonymous]

List serves, and yes, someone out there will be interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:List serves, and yes, someone out there will be interested.

Thank you, can you expand on "list serves"? Are their particular ones that I could post on etc? If it helps we live in Cabin John, MD 20818.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:List serves, and yes, someone out there will be interested.

Thank you, can you expand on "list serves"? Are their particular ones that I could post on etc? If it helps we live in Cabin John, MD 20818.

Anyplace you have friends who'll post for you on their neighborhood list serves. For Cabin John you should find someone. Also if you know anyone who'll post for you in Rockville.

[Anonymous]

OP, write up an ad and then ask your friends in different neighborhoods to put it on their listserv.

[Anonymous]

No, I don't think what you're suggesting would be legal or attractive to a professional nanny. I don't doubt that you could find someone who'd be interested, but I doubt they'd be the professional that you need. You can only deduct room and board if you are offering lodging as a convenience to the nanny, not to yourself, and that's for a live in, which she wouldn't be.

You could offer a market rate for the nanny's skills and your job requirements, then deduct the rent you'd charge for the apartment, IF she is interested in the apartment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, I don't think what you're suggesting would be legal or attractive to a professional nanny. I don't doubt that you could find someone who'd be interested, but I doubt they'd be the professional that you need. You can only deduct room and board if you are offering lodging as a convenience to the nanny, not to yourself, and that's for a live in, which she wouldn't be.

You could offer a market rate for the nanny's skills and your job requirements, then deduct the rent you'd charge for the apartment, IF she is interested in the apartment.

Uh... Ignore this person, OP. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, I don't think what you're suggesting would be legal or attractive to a professional nanny. I don't doubt that you could find someone who'd be interested, but I doubt they'd be the professional that you need. You can only deduct room and board if you are offering lodging as a convenience to the nanny, not to yourself, and that's for a live in, which she wouldn't be.

You could offer a market rate for the nanny's skills and your job requirements, then deduct the rent you'd charge for the apartment, IF she is interested in the apartment.

Thank you for this suggestion. I would be fine with that arrangement of deducting from their regular salary.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think you would do better just renting out your apartment and then paying a competitive wage for your nanny.

If you don't need live-in flexibility it's cleaner to keep landlording separate from supervising a nanny. What if the nanny doesn't work out as your nanny and you need to make a change, or he/she gets a different job but wants to keep the apartment, or she damages the apartment but is a great nanny, or the nanny you really love for your kids/family doesn't need housing, or the nanny you want has pets and you don't want that in your apartment, etc...

I think you will limit the pool of prospective nannies quite dramatically if you advertise for minimum wage plus a 1 br apartment. With young twins and a newborn you will want someone pretty skilled and competent, so I don't think you should limit your hiring options that much off the bat.

I'm a mom to twins, who employs a nanny, and also rents out my former home. I can easily envision nightmare scenarios of conflicts or less than perfect fits with tenants or nannies, let alone when one person is both.

Good luck!

Oh - and put something on your neighborhood listserv, the nearby listservs if you know someone who will post for you, the MCPOM board if you're a member (if you're not - Montgomery County Parents of Multiples), etc...

[Anonymous]

I would also suggest keeping your rental property and your nanny employment separate. Eviction of a bad Nanny would be a nightmare.

Use the rental income to help pay Nanny a terrific wage.

Oh, and just because "someone" would take the deal doesn't mean that person would be a competent Nanny to 3 under 2.