UK Couple Posts Job Listing for Babysitter and Requests Rs. 35,000 Instead of Payment

A South London couple who let out a cheap room with the catch that the renter had to watch their kids for three hours a day made headlines. Those looking for apartments responded negatively to the listing on SpareRoom, fiercely denouncing it as a criminal conduct.

The room in Clapham, south London, is priced at a mere £400 (about Rs 35,000) each month, making it an excellent deal, but occupants will have to give up a few hours of their free time.

The renter was expected to be present to watch the children for three hours every day, Monday through Friday, from 3 to 6 p.m. The fact that the room won’t be accessible on weekends suggests that the babysitter would only be allowed to use it to look after the kids.

“Hello, we are an Italian family seeking a student/au pair, preferably Monday to Friday, but we may consider the full week for the right person (respectful of privacy)” was the advertising that was taken down after it received a lot of attention.

We are looking for someone who can help us out on a regular basis with three hours of babysitting from 3 to 6 p.m. Our three-year-old children are extremely nice, but they need someone who is structured, tidy, and calm—not into parties. The family uses another bedroom, so you will get a 9 square meter room with largely private access to a bathroom. Rightmove deleted the listing, however we have published it again to Spare Room with an amended description.

The revised advertisement does not mention childcare, and the rent was raised to £600 (Rs 53,000) per month before being lowered to £500 (Rs 44,000) per month.

“Hello, a room in our family home is for rent. Together with common access to the kitchen and living area, you will enjoy a double room and bathroom. The new advertisement states, “We are looking for someone who is highly tidy, well-organized, and kind.

An internet user expressed their fury at the outdated advertising by saying, “It’s criminal how much care work, an essential industry, is devalued by people like this.”

It would not be regarded appropriate to require someone to pay rent in exchange for the ability to do any other task. Following the rental’s relisting at a higher price without the need for babysitting, a social media user made the following comment: “She saw the £200 (Rs 17,000) difference as her’wage.” In some ways, this seems much worse (and you’ll probably still have to watch the young ones in the end).