She’s woken up (by her children, as she’s no morning bird) and immediately jumps into mom mode. First breakfast, then bags, get them dressed, brush their teeth, and go to the front door. She throws on a sweater and some shoes, and out of the home she goes to bring them to school.
She returns at 9:10 to a house of chaos. No one cleaned up their plates, put their pyjamas in the hamper, and their toothbrushes are strewn on a coffee table or kitchen island. No beds have been made, no crumbs swept… it is now time for her first job of the day, “housecleaner”.
Spending an hour each morning, she puts the house “back together”. Not leaving time for actual cleaning. She does the bare minimum before dressing up for her professional life.
Out the door by 10:30 and only available until 4:30, she must make the most of these treasured 6 hours before she returns to her third position, “chauffeur”. While carting children to tennis, to music, to Math, all while small mouths voice their desires for extra snacks, she is, of course, not rewarded any gratitude or payment for her services.
This is your modern woman and her life. This is what it looks like for most of us out there. And many of us are commuting to work or battling downtown traffic. We also have aging parents, pets that need to be walked, parent council meetings, birthday party planning, gift buying, doctors appts, ACTUAL HOUSE CLEANING, the nagging thought of the illicit “date night”, and so so much more.
I know exactly how the above scenario feels, that’s why I’m one of the top real estate agents for busy medical professionals.
Something Has to Give
But some of us have it figured out: It can not be done alone for long – eventually something has to give; and the worst case scenario is the forgetting of the romantic relationship that brought this all together in the first place.
What this woman desperately needs is either 1. A housekeeper 2. A nanny 3. A live-in nanny, an Au pair (and some zoloft if you ask me). Or a second wife. Polygamy seems absurd to a 30-year-old in love and a genius idea for those of us at 40+.
But many people don’t know how to go about accessing cleaning services in Toronto, or they’re intimidated by something they didn’t grow up with.
Repeat after me: asking for help, paying for it yourself, or just not doing it all is healthy and necessary.
Let’s lay out the differences, the worries, and the payoffs from giving in so you don’t give up.
Housekeepers
Bringing someone into your home is deeply personal. Whether part-time or full-time, you want reliability, discretion, and alignment with your household rhythm. Putting an ad on Kijiji or Facebook will bring you in applicants, but a personal referral is always best.
Questions to ask a housekeeper:
- How many years have you worked in private homes?
- Do you specialize in daily upkeep or deep cleaning?
- Are you comfortable with laundry, ironing, meal prep, or organizing?
- Can you provide references from Toronto families?
- Are you insured?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- Do you supply your own cleaning products?
- Are you comfortable working around children or pets?
For high-end homes or upper-class families:
- Experience with natural stone, hardwood, specialty finishes
- Organization systems (closets, playrooms, kitchens)
- Discretion and confidentiality
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Housekeeper in Toronto?
The Typical cost of an independent housekeeper is somewhere between $25-50 an hour. Through an agency, you will pay more at $35-55/hr and full-time salaries lay anywhere from 55 to 75k a year. Full-time salary employees tend to stay longer and have more responsibilities than part timers.
Should you hire a house cleaner? You should if you:
- Are a person with a busy, yet flexible schedule who likes to see their children and enjoys attending their extra curricular activities.
- A person who does not like cleaning their own home
- A person who’s family doesn’t pick up after themselves well ( cue mine).
What about hiring a housekeeper from an agency? What does that look like?
Hiring a housekeeper through an agency in Toronto is often the safest and most efficient way to find reliable household help. Agencies specialize in screening candidates and matching them with families based on lifestyle, schedule, and household needs. The process typically begins with a consultation where the agency asks about the size of your home, the duties required (cleaning, laundry, cooking, household management), and whether you want someone full-time, part-time, or live-in. Once your requirements are clear, the agency searches its network of pre-screened candidates and presents several options for interviews. Most agencies conduct extensive background checks, verify references, and confirm legal work status before introducing candidates to clients, which significantly reduces the risk of hiring someone privately.
In terms of cost, agencies usually charge a placement fee once you successfully hire a housekeeper. In Toronto, this fee is often structured as 15–20% of the employee’s annual salary, with minimum placement fees typically starting around $3,000 to $6,500, depending on the agency and the seniority of the staff member. Some agencies also charge a small registration or interview booking fee of roughly $250–$500 before arranging interviews, which may later be credited toward the final placement fee. Temporary placements may instead be billed weekly or monthly. Once hired, you pay the housekeeper’s salary directly and become their employer, which means handling payroll taxes, vacation pay, and employment standards compliance.
For many Toronto households, especially busy professionals or large families, the agency fee is worthwhile because it saves time, ensures proper vetting, and increases the chances of finding a long-term, trustworthy housekeeper.
Looking for more Toronto amenities? Read these posts next:
- Toronto’s Top Private Clubs
- Toronto’s Most Prestigious Neighbourhoods
- Where to Find the Best Private Schools in Toronto
Now, a housekeeper is one thing – a Nanny is another.
I went through 2 nannies before I decided that having a Toronto nanny wasn’t for me. I was grateful for their time when my children were very young – but ultimately I hated telling them what to do, and these two were insufficient cleaners.
Busy families where parents need to be out by 8 and home by 6 absolutely benefit from having a nanny – but Sohail and I can manage our children’s schedules with our flexibility. It’s not a secret that in Toronto, there’s a “Nanny Mafia” and you’re playing by their rules.
How to hire a nanny in Toronto?
You usually can find a good one from word of mouth or by hanging out at your local playground during the day. Look for the gaggle of Filipino women dishing out snacks to their kids and chatting in Tagalog.
Using an agency for a nanny is a similar process to finding a housekeeper. The agency will screen candidates, run background checks, certify references and match their personality to yours.
The agencies will charge 10-20% of the annual salary or charge a flat placement fee of $3,000-$8,000.
How much does a full-time nanny cost in Toronto?
Nanny pricing can vary depending on the hours they work and the neighbourhood you live in. You’ll need to buy them a Metro Pass if they live farther, and many of them will want some “cash” on the side. If you own your own business, you can probably find a way to include them in tax deductions.
The cost of a full-time nanny is $20-$30/hr or $50-70k annually for experienced full-time nannies. You may pay more if they have an ECE certification, newborn experience or bilingual skills (French or Spanish).
As an employer, you will be required to pay CPP and EI contributions, vacation pay and overtime after 44 hours a week.
Is it smarter to have a live in Nanny? How much does a live-in nanny cost in Toronto?
If you’re a busy family that travels, that works late, that has many children and a big enough house, a live-in nanny might be the right fit for you.
A live-in nanny will have a private room (or suite), meals and a salary. The salary will be lower because accommodation and most meals are paid for. A live-in nanny will typically charge $40,000 a year, but she’ll likely be doing more.
The thing about the live-in is that privacy changes for you and for them, for your marriage and for your kids – this arrangement isnt for everyone. If you’re mature, great with boundaries and are used to having others in your space, it works well.
But what about an au pair? Au-pair vs. Nanny
Oh, we’ve all seen the movies where the family hires a younger ( often beautiful) woman to take care of their children. The wife trusts the woman, the husband and his friends oggle her.
Films aside, an au pair is a younger person, usually between the ages of 18 and 30, who is here on a cultural exchange. They have fewer hours, work for less money and have fewer responsibilities. I had an au pair from Australia for a few months and paid her $20/hr while she worked three days a week. She was responsible for keeping my son alive and making sure the dishes were put away – pretty easy stuff. A nanny is a more complex position that is expected to last multiple years, not a season.
In a big city, you have the choice of what type of help you need. There are agencies to help, and more than enough workers to fill the spots. Having an agency help you find the right person costs more but gives you a better fit; finding your own saves you money but leaves the responsibility to you.
Reach out if you need help finding a nanny, a housekeeper, an au pair (and most importantly) a house. Woman to woman – I’m here for you. Get in touch today by filling out the form on this page. You can also call me, text me, or email me directly.
