Property Service Costs

[Matryx]

We purchased our property just over ten years ago at ADM. Along with the house, we continued to use the services of the housekeeper and her husband, who cleans to pool. The gardener is also covered by the monthly charges paid to the housekeeper. At the time, we were told that good housekeepers were like gold-dust, so we were advised to continue with the services. On top of the 12 monthly payments, we are also a charged a subsidy in June and December, so effectively paying for 14 months a year. The house is only occupied for probably 3 months a year and is never rented out.

The monthly charges amount to €650, including €130 paid to the gardener, which we have no way of validating. We’re pretty sure that we’re being stuffed here, but allowed it to continue in the early days, because we were concerned at leaving an empty property in a foreign country without anyone to respond to a problem. Time has drifted on and we haven’t been able to use the house as much as we had hoped, due to other commitments, so we haven’t really investigated whether the costs are realistic and fair. However, I received an email from the housekeeper, thanking me for the flowers that we had sent her for Christmas, but also asking for the extra subsidy payment, which I hadn’t made. I thought this was extremely cheeky, so I emailed a rocket back saying that I was going to review the costs, for all of the reasons mentioned above.

Am I being ripped off, or just unreasonable? I have nothing to compare against, so would appreciate any comments?

Thanks.

[logicbob]

Matryx, it depends on what the 650 is for or should I say the 520 after the gardener has been taken out?

[Matryx]

Housekeeping is probably 8 hours/week, when the house is occupied and the pool cleaning 1-2 hours a week. I’m not sure what happens when the house is unoccupied, although they state that they attend regularly. This is not substantiated by the activity report that I have just received from Securitas.....

[Alison]

Have sent you a PM.

[Algarve Eagle]

I too have sent you a PM

[steve]

Ball park figures -
maid services €10 an hour plus holiday pay and social security payments if on a regular contract
pool cleaning £80 a month
property management around €100 per month

[RichardHenshall]

... Am I being ripped off, or just unreasonable? ...

Possibly a bit of both. After 10 years of this arrangement it's possible that you need to review arrangements but I don't think that you can just withhold a routine payment because you've suddenly started wondering if you're getting value for money. Presumably your housekeeper will be aware that you are able to monitor activity?

[steve]

If you want to terminate or significantly change the current arrangement without their agreement you may run into the issue of having to declare them redundant with the costs associated with this. Something to check on. I know people who ran into difficulty over this.

[pato]

... Am I being ripped off, or just unreasonable? ...

Possibly a bit of both. After 10 years of this arrangement it's possible that you need to review arrangements but I don't think that you can just withhold a routine payment because you've suddenly started wondering if you're getting value for money. Presumably your housekeeper will be aware that you are able to monitor activity?

It's a frustrating situation owning a villa and not using it as a business, I constantly worry about being "ripped off" the problem is of course you have to trust people and that can be a problem, it's not a hands on situation unfortunately, I get periods of frustration when I get my monthly bills and feel like selling the place and cutting my losses, but it's not that easy it appears, good luck, just keep asking questions. I think I've had a place for 35 years or so.

[djprescott]

If you want to terminate or significantly change the current arrangement without their agreement you may run into the issue of having to declare them redundant with the costs associated with this. Something to check on. I know people who ran into difficulty over this.

Surely you would have to be employing the individuals with a contract of employment in place for redundancy payments to be due?!

[pato]

If you want to terminate or significantly change the current arrangement without their agreement you may run into the issue of having to declare them redundant with the costs associated with this. Something to check on. I know people who ran into difficulty over this.

Surely you would have to be employing the individuals with a contract of employment in place for redundancy payments to be due?!

It seems the agents hire the staff but if anything goes wrong, you the owners are responsible financially, y'know if the cleaners aren't declaring income, you get done.

[njc0607]

this what you should be paying...

Pool maintenance - 1 visit per week off season, 2 per week and as necessary peak. - €80-100 depending on size of pool - includes chemicals (very important, as I have heard of this being charged as extra)
Management - 12 month contract. includes all call-outs, service checks etc - €100-150/month depending on size of villa
Maids - €9-10/hour - as and when you need them - you will need to pay their insurance as well. approx. €50-70/year.
Full internet TV with all the channels and unlimited downloads etc - €50-75/month depending on system
Gardener - €100-175/month depending on size of garden and amount of visits etc.

TLC Properties is my recommendation. they do it all in house.
email: tlc@sapo.pt