• Is there at least one child under 18 years living in your household?
• Can you give the au pair an own room at her/his disposal?
• Should your au pair take care of your children and take over a simple housework?
• Do you speak English in your daily life?
• Are you not of the same nationality as the au pair?

 

An au pair comes in the first place to you in order to take care of your children. However, in addition to that she/he takes over simple tasks in your household too.

 

Hiring an au pair means that your living costs will become higher because another adult person will be living in your household during the au pair´s stay.

 

The au pair receives for the total period of her/his stay with you a free board and lodging. That is valid also in the case of illness and during the time of holiday of the au pair. Next to that the au pair receives a pocket money from you.

 

Accoding to the Home Office´s official data the au pair´s pocket money in England, Scotland, Wales and the North Ireland amounts to 70 – 85 GBP a week.

 

In the UK au pairs have not the same employment status as the regular workers and employees. However, in accordance with the amount of their pocket money they must possibly pay an income tax and contributions to the state social insurance.

 

An au pair in England, Scottland, Wales or the North Ireland works as a rule 30 hours a week including the babysitting.

 

Free time
Au pairs in the UK get one day in a week off. Once a month it must be a Sunday.

 

In England, Scotland, Wales or the Noth Ireland the au pairs´ holiday is not uniformly regulated. The best way is to make an agreement with your au pair on the number of holiday days. We recommend: Should the au pair stay with you for 12 months she/he should get the four-week holiday. This number can be taken into account in a case of a longer or a shorter stay.

 

Your au pair should attend an English course in order to learn the language as goog as possible. Normally the costs for it are taken over by herself/himself. You as the host family could assist her/him to find something suitable in your neighbourhood.

 

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