Welcome to The Housekeeping Agency

Running since 2012, we specialise in sourcing the best candidates on the market, tailored to your households unique requirements.

We offer a personal service, aimed at client satisfaction, providing ongoing support throughout the placement and beyond.

What We Do

We will take a full brief from you or your representative and send over the most suitable CV’s for you to consider. Our background checks include -

• Interviewing candidates

• Identity checks

• Address Validation

• Eligibility to work in UK

• Reference checks

  
  

Replacement Guarantee

We offer a free replacement guarantee on permanent roles which provides peace of mind to our clients.

We look forward to working with you!

AGENCY PLACEMENT FEES (no VAT)

☏ Call Us
01252 246143 (24 hour answerphone)

Terms & Conditions of Business

Payment of agency fees: agency fees are non-refundable. An invoice will be raised once a job offer has been confirmed to the agency by the client either verbally or in writing and accepted by the candidate either verbally or in writing. Once this confirmation has been made, if the client then decides not to commence with the placement the full agency fee will remain payable by the client. Payments must be received in full either before the placement start date/move in date or within 3 days of the invoice date (whichever is the earliest). All fees must be paid by 5pm Friday for placements starting the following Monday. If payment is not received within this time the services of the candidate will be held until payment has been received. In the event a placement does not work out within 8 weeks of candidate start date the replacement guarantee will apply (subject to terms & conditions as set out in the replacement guarantee).

Candidate contact details: a candidate’s full name and contact details will be provided to the client when an interview has been agreed.

Trials: a free one day (or part of) trial can be taken with all live-out candidates before a job offer is made. Trial day to be used over one day only. There is no agency fee for this trial however clients would pay the candidate an agreed hourly rate of pay, paid directly to the candidate by the client on the trial day either via bank transfer or cash. Any work thereafter and the full agency fee applies. For live in trials (up to five consecutive days) an agency fee of £100 per day (or part of) applies. Note - candidates will not be taken off the market during trials.

Temporary Staff: temporary fees are non refundable. A non refundable search activation fee of £70 applies (VAT n/a) prior to commencement of search. Agency fees for the full placement duration are payable within 3 days of date of invoice or prior to the candidate start date, whichever is earliest. All fees must be paid by 5pm Friday for placements starting the following Monday. If payment is not received within this time the services of the candidate will be held until payment has been received. There is a minimum agency fee of £450 on temporary roles. One client interview - face to face or video consultation – is provided (two for nanny roles). If the client agrees to hire a candidate without having interviewed them themselves, the full placement fee will become payable. Trials are not provided on temporary roles. Temporary roles do not qualify for free replacement guarantee. Clients would pay the candidate directly an agreed hourly rate of pay.

Search Activation Fee: there is a non refundable £70 fee (VAT n/a) to activate a search on all roles. Once the search has commenced, if there are any changes to the job specification, a further search fee will apply.

DBS (Disclosure & Barring Services): where required the agency will apply for a DBS (criminal records check). The agency uses a DBS umbrella company for application and it would be either candidate or client who bears the expense of the DBS. The client is responsible for choosing whether they would like a DBS (the agency advises that you do) and if they do not the agency shall not be liable under any circumstances for any injury, damage, expense, claim or loss of any kind (whether direct, indirect or consequential) arising from result of candidate not holding a current DBS. In the event a DBS returns as unsuitable meaning client terminates employment, the replacement guarantee will apply.

Replacement guarantee: the free replacement guarantee is offered on permanent placements only. In the event of the placement terminating on or before the expiry of 8 weeks from the candidate start date the agency will offer one free replacement (subject to the conditions below). If the client does not request the replacement guarantee in writing within 2 days of the termination the replacement guarantee will become void. The replacement guarantee will commence immediately from when the agency confirms free replacement will be provided and if the client is unavailable to meet with candidates at the time the agency provides the profiles the replacement guarantee will become void. Up to 3 candidate profiles will be provided for replacement based on the original job specification agreed between the client and The Housekeeping Agency. If the client changes the job specification in any way once the agency has commenced the original recruitment search or if the agency believes the employee has been mistreated in any way the replacement guarantee will become void (The Housekeeping Agency reserves the right to decide what constitutes mistreatment of candidate & unsuitable working conditions). Trials are not provided with free replacement. Any breach of the T&C’s and the replacement guarantee will become void. There is no guaranteed timescale for replacement.

To qualify for the replacement guarantee the following conditions must be met:

• the agency is advised of the termination within 2 days of the employee either having been given notice, or giving their notice

• for employed positions there was a contract of employment supplied by client to employee prior to the start date, stating: name and address of client and employee; days/hours and location of work; rate of pay and how employee will be paid (employment basis); all duties; holiday/sick pay and notice period including any probationary period notice periods. This contract must be signed by both client and employee, and a copy emailed to the agency prior to the employment start date.

• the working conditions of the employee are reasonable (The Housekeeping Agency reserves the right to decide what is reasonable)

• the agency fee must have been received in full within 3 days of invoice date or by candidate start date (whichever is the earliest). Any late payment deems replacement guarantee void

• the Terms and Conditions have been read and agreed by the client prior to commencing with the search

The following definitions apply:

• the ‘agency’ is Samantha Cliffe trading as The Housekeeping Agency.

• the ‘client’ is the person or persons seeking staff.

• the ‘candidate’ is the person introduced by the agency to the client for a placement.

• a ‘placement’ is the hiring of a candidate by the client and commences upon offer of employment by the client to the candidate.

• an ‘introduction’ is (a) the passing of CV/pen picture of the candidate to the client, and (b) the interview of the candidate by the client via either phone call/video conference/face to face meeting.

The following terms & conditions apply:

• the agency is an introduction service only. The agency shall not be liable under any circumstances for any injury, damage, expense, claim or loss of any kind (whether direct, indirect or consequential) arising from introductions/placements made.

• clients are responsible for all payments regarding the employment of the candidate. This includes the provision of contracts and pay slips showing Income Tax and NI contributions where necessary. The agency does not employ candidates and does not issue contracts of employment (the agency will recommend a suitable domestic staff payroll bureau to take care of all employment matters).

• for self-employed applicants, the client is responsible for confirmation that the candidate is legally eligible for self- employed status and should request documentation confirming self-employed status.

• the client will inform the agency immediately when an offer of employment has been made.

• an introduction of a candidate by a client to another potential employer, that results in the placement of a candidate renders the client liable for the full corresponding placement fee. Current fees will apply.

• if the client withdraws from a placement after an offer of employment has been made by the client and accepted by the candidate, the full placement fee will be charged to the client.

• the client must agree with the candidate the contract of employment prior to commencement of duties.

• although the agency performs thorough vetting of candidates the client shall satisfy themselves as to the suitability of the candidate.

• the agency is not responsible for any investigations into the medical history of the candidate.

• the client is responsible during employment of a candidate for checking any legal implications of the employment including expiry dates on visa/work permits. The agency will perform the relevant checks prior to introduction to the client.

• should the employees’ position be extended in any way post placement, ie temporary staff offered a permanent position, temporary staff re-engaged, staff offered extra hours, or if the salary is increased, additional agency fees will be charged as applicable at the current rate listed on the website.

• the agency reserves the right to change the website, terms of business and privacy policy at any time. Current fees/terms/policies will apply.

• the client is entitled to one free replacement only (subject to the conditions set out in the replacement guarantee)

• should the client engage the services of a candidate introduced to them by the agency, without informing the agency, the client will be liable for the full current agency fee.

• the client will ensure that the candidate can drive to the standard expected by the client.

• the client will ensure that the candidate has relevant car insurance including ‘business use’ car insurance, if candidate is using candidates own vehicle for work and appropriate car insurance if driving car supplied by client.

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