Au pairs

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• What are au pairs expected to do?
  
  
• Who can be an au pair?
  
• What qualifications do you need to be an au pair?
  
  
• How much do au pairs cost?
  
  
• Do au pairs live with you?
  
  
• What hours do they work?
  
  
• What if the arrangement doesn't work out?
  
  
• How long do au pairs stay?
  
  
• Can men be au pairs?
  
  
• How do I find an au pair?
  
  

What are au pairs expected to do?

The prospect of an au pair to help around the house, babysit when needed, and look after the children during the day, can be very appealing. Au pairs are single people, between the ages of 17 and 27, who come and stay with a family in order to study English. In return for their board and lodging, and pocket money of approximately £55 per week, they can help you in the home with light housework, such as ironing, cooking and cleaning, as well as childcare duties.

Who can be an au pair?

The au pair scheme allows nationals of Andorra, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Republic of Bulgaria, Croatia, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Macedonia, Monaco, Romania, San Marino and Turkey to come to the UK to study English. They can live as a member of an English-speaking family for up to two years. Nationals of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Turkey must get a visa from the British Embassy or Consulate before they travel to the UK. Nationals from the European Economic Area can work in the UK without employment restrictions; for example, they are not limited to a two-year stay.

What qualifications do you need to be an au pair?

An au pair doesn't need any formal qualification. The requirements are that they are single, have no dependants, and are coming to the UK to study English, stay for up to two years, and help in the home.

You can't assume that your au pair will be able to speak fluent English, or that she or he will have any previous experience of looking after children, or even of living away from their family home.

So make sure that your au pair is going to fit your needs, by finding out as much as possible before committing yourself.

How much do au pairs cost?

Au pairs are expected to work for five days a week, up to a maximum of five hours per day. They should have two days off a week, but be available to babysit for two nights a week. In return for this, they get their board and lodging and a recommended allowance of £55 per week. EEA nationals are allowed to work up to 35 hours per week as "au pairs plus" and earn correspondingly more (£80-85).

In addition to the cost of paying this pocket money, remember that you will have another mouth to feed. Some host families provide televisions in the bedroom, and of course, there is the phone bill to think about too! Transport could be another expense. Will your au pair need a car to pick up the children from school? If so, you will need to pay for their inclusion in your insurance policy. You may want to supply a car for their use while they are with you, but again, you will need to pay for it.

Your home will be used by the au pair when you are out, so include calculations about heating and electricity. And you should always pay for them if you are all going out for a family lunch or outing.

Do au pairs live with you?

Yes. The arrangement is a reciprocal one: the au pair lives in the house and receives pocket money. In return they do some housework and help with childcare.

Very often, au pairs are just 18 or 19 years old, perhaps taking a gap year to improve their English before going to university. They should be treated as part of the family, rather than an employee. One of the benefits of the au pair system is that the au pair gets a picture of life in the UK, as part of a family unit.

What hours do they work?

All au pair arrangements are flexible and for the family and au pair to agree on an individual basis. Having said that, they should not be expected to work for more than five hours a day, five days per week, plus two evenings of babysitting. You can always pay for an extra evening of babysitting if you want to and your au pair is willing. If you choose an au pair plus, you can expect them to work for up to seven hours per day, and you would pay them correspondingly more. The finer points of the arrangement can be finalised when your au pair arrives, but you should make your requirements clear about working hours, and which days you will need the help. For example, say at the outset if you are likely to need help at the weekend rather than just during the week.

Some families take advantage of au pairs. This can be easy to do because they are staying in your house, visiting an unfamiliar country, with a limited amount of English. For example, parents sometimes expect au pairs to care for very young children during long hours while they are at work.

However, if the relationship is abused, there is a risk that the au pair will move in with another family who does not make unreasonable demands on them. And because there is no contract, there is very little that you can do about it.

What if the arrangement doesn't work out?

There are times when, for one reason or another, the au pair arrangement breaks down. Perhaps the family has asked too much, perhaps the au pair is not prepared to fit in with the family, and conflicts arises. This can be difficult and upsetting for everybody and it is important to try to resolve the problem.

There is no contractual arrangement with an au pair, so in theory you could ask them to leave immediately, or they could simply walk out, with no notice. However, it's far better to avoid this kind of extreme response unless there are reasons which might affect your security or the safety of your children. Try to give notice of two weeks if you feel that the situation can't continue.

If you do have problems, contact the agency that you used to find them; they may be able to act as mediators.

How long do au pairs stay?

The time limit on an au pair visa is set at two years. Not all au pairs stay that long - an average stay might be between 6 months and a year. Sometimes it's possible to extend the stay. Information about visa requirements is available from:

UKvisas
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH

An electronic enquiry form is available at the website: www.ukvisas.gov.uk

Can men be au pairs?

Of course, although, as with other forms of domestic work and childcare, they are still in the minority.

How do I find an au pair?

You can do this yourself, especially if you have contacts overseas, and someone who can vet the au pair before you make any offers. Otherwise, the most common way is to use an agency, which you can find in your local telephone directories, in magazines, or on the internet. UK agencies will have contacts abroad who should vet and interview candidates, then they will pass the information on to you. Normally, the au pair will initially write to you about themselves, then telephone you. You will make an offer based on this information.

Further information about au pairs is available from the Home Office Border and Immigration Agency.

Reviewed October 2007.