Picture it. It’s Sunday morning and a gentle, warm breeze wafts through your bedroom window. You doze to the sound of the kids playing happily outside and savour the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

It’s the stuff of dreams perhaps, but it doesn’t have to be. Catching up on a little sleep is one of the benefits that having a live-in nanny or au pair can bring. There are plenty more. Find out what they are as we weigh up the benefits for you.

It’s a Win, Win Combination

Au pairs are typically young, single people from overseas looking for a taste of adventure. Many come from northern Europe or North America and are seeking a way to improve their English while earning some money to pay for their travels.

Another common scenario is when a person is studying, living in a family home and giving a helping hand around the house.

The term au pair is French and means "at par" or "equal to." It, therefore, indicates a relationship between equals. The au pair becomes a member of the family, even if only on a temporary basis rather than you seeing them as a traditional domestic worker. It often happens that au pairs and host families will stay in touch for years afterwards.

Most au pairs are girls, but it’s becoming more and more common for boys to become au pairs too. There’s the chance for a culturally enriching experience for both the au pair and the family.

The au pair learns about life Down Under and the family, especially the kids get to experience a new language or accent. They also have the chance to learn some extra geography and history. All of this can improve your kids’ understanding of diversity and the wider world.

Having a live-in au pair is an affordable option. It offers greater childcare flexibility for hard-pressed families. Au pairs provide a mix of child care and light housework in exchange for board and pay.

Au pairs tend to travel on short-term visas. Placements typically last 6 months or more, so that the au pair has time to travel and experience their new host country before their visa expires.

Greater Flexibility and Convenience

Live-in au pairs are able to deliver childcare in the best location of all: your home. You can wave goodbye to taking days off work because your child has a bug, for example. You call the shots and your au pair is there to help you when you need a hand most.

Au pairs offer one-on-one childcare but at the same time can help with other household duties. These are some of the tasks you could assign to an au pair:

• Helping your kids look after their belongings and tidying their rooms
• Running your kids to playgroups, school and sports activities
• Washing and organising the kids’ clothes during the working week
• Preparing children's meals and occasional mid-week dinners for the family
• Keeping areas in the house where the kids play clean and tidy

House rules and duties must be clear at the start of any placement. Families should spend time when their au pair arrives to explain and set out all the family’s expectations when on and off duty.

When Is an Au Pair Not an Au Pair?

Wherever you live, au pairs have an entitlement to receive at least the minimum wage. This can be offset through the benefit of board and lodging.

If you are taking on an au pair as opposed to a fully qualified, experienced live-in nanny, it’s always best to seek advice. Instances of exploitation are not the norm but they have led to a tightening up of some of the rules around payments and taxes.

If you’re at all unsure about au pair or nanny payroll issues, talk to us and one of our experienced accounting team will be able to help and guide you.

The main point is this: a genuine au pair helps out with a number of household tasks and watches over the children, often by playing with them. In return, they receive room, board, and some pocket money.

The role is not a professional one. You must give your au pair plenty of time for study and outings. This is so that they have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a new way of life.

A live-in professional nanny, on the other hand, typically works under an employer/employee relationship. When families engage the services of an experienced, professional nanny/educator, the relationship is very different.

As an employee, the nanny would still live with the family to deliver childcare in their home. But, this is a far more formal relationship, and with that comes a long list of obligations that, as an employer, you would have to fulfil.

A Summary of the Benefits of a Live-in Au Pair

• Au pairs provide cost-effective childcare
• There’s the opportunity for flexible working hours
• They offer an affordable solution to before and after school care
• You will get help around the home
• Au pairs can prepare meals, get the kids ready for school, help at bath-time, etc
• Your kids will get exposure to new languages and cultures
• The kids are able to remain for longer in their own home

Some au pairs will be able to drive. That means you might be able to ask them to run errands and drop off and pick up the kids when they’re at school. If both parties agree to this, you must check their driving licence and ensure that your car insurance policy will cover them.

Talk to Pay the Nanny

We are experts in our field, covering everything from contracts to payroll and taxes. Helping families understand how to pay and look after nannies and au pairs is what we do.

We take over all the admin and red tape for you so that you can relax knowing that you have all your I’s dotted and T’s crossed. Get in touch with us now to set up a time to talk. 

We’ve plenty more useful articles in our blog section to help on your nanny journey. Read more here.