Home help services: everything you need to know before getting started
Hiring a home help: everything you need to know before getting started
It’s a decision many put off for months, even years. You tell yourself you should be able to manage alone. That it’s a luxury. That it feels odd to let someone into your home to clean. Then one day, between work, the kids, weekend activities, and a to-do list that never shrinks, you wonder why you waited so long.
Hiring a home help is one of the most in-demand services—and one of the least understood. This guide answers the real questions: what they do, what they don’t, how much it costs, how to choose the right person, and how to welcome someone into your home with peace of mind.
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Home help, cleaner, personal services: what’s the difference?
These terms are often used interchangeably, but they refer to slightly different realities.
Cleaner is the common, old-fashioned term. It usually refers to someone who comes in occasionally to clean. While widely used, it doesn’t say anything about the person’s professional status.
Home help is a broader term that includes cleaning but also other daily tasks: ironing, tidying, grocery shopping, preparing simple meals. This is the most common profile among independent providers.
Personal services is the legal and administrative framework (especially in France) that covers all services performed in a private home. This framework comes with specific tax benefits.
Caregiver refers to a more specialized profile, trained to assist elderly people or those with disabilities. It’s a profession with specific skills that goes beyond cleaning.
For the vast majority of households looking for help with home maintenance, the relevant profile is a home help or cleaner (depending on the terminology you prefer).
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What a home help does—and doesn’t do
One of the main sources of disappointment with this type of service comes from unclear expectations from the start. Here’s what a home help typically covers—and what usually falls outside their scope.
What they do
- Cleaning floors (vacuuming, mopping)
- Cleaning surfaces, countertops, shelves
- Cleaning the bathroom and toilet
- Cleaning the kitchen (oven excluded, unless agreed)
- Ironing and folding laundry
- General tidying
- Washing interior windows (if agreed)
- Dusting furniture and objects
- Grocery shopping (depending on profile and prior agreement)
- Preparing simple meals (depending on profile and prior agreement)
What they generally don’t do
- Cleaning outdoor areas (terrace, garden, façade)
- Deep cleaning without prior agreement and adjusted pricing
- DIY or plumbing work
- Childcare or elderly care (unless explicitly part of their profile)
- Medical or paramedical care
The golden rule: anything beyond routine home maintenance must be explicitly agreed upon and priced accordingly. Don’t assume—ask.
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How the first visit works in practice
The first visit is often the most nerve-wracking—and the one that sets the tone for whether the relationship will last.
Before the first visit
Clearly define what you expect: which rooms to clean, priority tasks, products to use (or avoid), and areas she doesn’t have access to. The clearer it is, the better for both parties.
Do a quick tidy before she arrives (not out of modesty, but so she can work efficiently). A home help cleans—they don’t declutter. If surfaces are clear, she can focus on what she’s there for.
Provide cleaning products and equipment unless agreed otherwise. Some home helps bring their own supplies, so specify this in advance.
During the first visit
Ideally, be present or easily reachable. If a question arises (where a product is stored, whether she can move an object), you want to answer quickly rather than leave her guessing.
After the first visit
Give feedback. What went well, what could be different, what you’d like adjusted next time. Most serious providers appreciate this feedback because it helps them tailor their service to your habits.
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How to choose the right home help
Choosing a home help is first and foremost about trust. You’re going to leave this person alone in your home, possibly while you’re at work. It’s not trivial.
Key criteria
Verified customer reviews. Look for detailed reviews that mention concrete elements: punctuality, quality of work, communication, respect for belongings. A profile with many specific reviews is far more reassuring than one with no reviews or generic comments.
Experience in situations similar to yours. A family with young children in a 40 m² apartment doesn’t have the same needs as an elderly person in a large house. Ask if the person has worked in configurations close to yours.
Clarity on pricing and terms. A serious provider gives you a clear quote, specifies what’s included, and explains how unexpected issues are handled. Avoid vague estimates.
Communication. Does she respond quickly to your messages? Does she ask relevant questions before starting? The quality of communication before the first job is often a predictor of the relationship afterward.
Don’t forget to ask
“Have you ever worked with families with [young children / pets / elderly people]?” This simple question tells you a lot about her experience and ability to adapt to your specific context.
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How much does a home help cost?
Prices vary depending on the provider’s profile, geographic location, and frequency of service.
Indicative rates for an independent provider
In Belgium (Tournai region—Wallonia)
Service Indicative range
Routine cleaning (per hour) 14 – 18 €/h
Ironing (per hour) 13 – 17 €/h
Deep cleaning 120 – 250 € (depending on size)
Cleaning + ironing combined 15 – 20 €/h
In France (Lille region—Nord)
Service Indicative range
Routine cleaning (per hour, gross) 19 – 23 €/h
Ironing (per hour, gross) 17 – 21 €/h
Deep cleaning 150 – 300 € (depending on size)
Cleaning + ironing combined 20 – 25 €/h
These rates are before any applicable tax benefits (see section below).
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Available financial aid
In Belgium: service vouchers
The service voucher system allows you to pay a certified home help at a subsidized rate by the Walloon Region. As of July 2026, a service voucher costs €10.60 for the first 175 purchased per year, €11.60 from the 176th to the 400th, and €12.60 from the 401st to the 500th. A tax deduction of €0.90 per voucher applies to the first 150 purchased, bringing the effective cost to around €9.70. Each service voucher corresponds to one hour of service.
Note: only home helps working through a certified service voucher company can be paid this way. Independent providers not certified under this system don’t qualify, but their rates remain negotiable and often more flexible. The service voucher rate is indexed up to twice a year in Wallonia, so check the current price when ordering.
In France—CESU and tax credit
The Chèque Emploi Service Universel (CESU) simplifies the process of employing a home help as a private employer. It makes it easy to declare employment and benefit from a 50% tax credit on personal services expenses, within an annual limit.
In practice: if you pay €1,000 for cleaning over the year, you get €500 back through your tax return. This brings the real cost down to €500.
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How to find a trusted home help via PAMBE
Finding a trusted home help often takes longer than expected, especially when you don’t know where to look or end up with profiles that are too vague to decide.
PAMBE simplifies this process for residents of Tournai and the Lille metropolitan area. You describe your situation in a few words (the size of your home, desired frequency, priority tasks, availability), and the platform identifies home helps whose profiles match your request.
Each profile includes verified customer reviews, skills, and service area. You can compare and contact providers directly, with no middleman or hidden fees.
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Hiring a home help means choosing to spend your time on what truly matters to you—rather than on tasks that can be entrusted to a competent and trusted professional. The decision takes time. Finding the right person? Much less so. 😊
