Part-time cleaner or live-in helper
These are different commitments, not two prices for the same thing. A live-in helper is an employment relationship: a work permit, a levy, medical insurance, a monthly salary regardless of how much work there is that month, and accommodation in your home.
A part-time cleaner is a service you buy by the hour. There is no permit, no levy, no insurance to arrange and no notice period. If you need four hours a fortnight, you pay for four hours a fortnight.
If you need daily childcare or elderly care alongside housework, a live-in helper may fit better. If your main need is scheduled home cleaning, a part-time cleaner keeps the arrangement focused on cleaning visits.
What HomeMaster handles for you
HomeMaster handles booking, regular scheduling, and cleaner cover requests through Helen. Check those details and any applicable fees before choosing a cleaning arrangement.
- No placement or agency fee, ever
- No work permit, levy, or MOM paperwork
- No monthly salary commitment, you pay per session
- Cover arranged for you if your cleaner is unwell
- A named, background-checked person, not whoever is available
Choosing an independent cleaner or a service
An independent cleaner can work well when you already know and trust the person. Before choosing, decide how you will handle scheduling, cover, payment, and any quality or damage concerns.
With HomeMaster, Helen coordinates bookings and cover requests. The service scope, price, and applicable terms are shown before you confirm.
How much should you pay a part-time cleaner in Singapore
A one-off visit is $27/hour for 2 hours or $25/hour for 3 or 4 hours. A regular 3 to 4 hour slot is $20/hour. A prepaid pack of 5 brings eligible 3 to 4 hour visits to $18/hour.
All rates include GST. Weekends and public holidays cost the same as weekdays, with no card or PayNow surcharge. Helen shows the exact rate for your selected session before you confirm.
Cleaner continuity on a regular slot
For a regular slot, we aim to keep the same cleaner where possible so they can learn your home and preferences.
If your cleaner is unavailable, HomeMaster arranges named cover and tells you who is coming before the visit. You can ask Helen to change your regular arrangement if you prefer.
How to arrange it
Message Helen on WhatsApp with the rough shape: how big the place is, how often, and which part of the week suits. She comes back with real slots and the exact rate.
Start with one session if you would rather try before choosing a regular schedule. If it suits your home, ask Helen about a weekly or fortnightly slot.
r/askSingapore on Reddit
A Singapore homeowner asks how often to book, how many hours are typical, and whether a regular clean is more suitable than an occasional deep clean.
Start with the condition of the home and how quickly it gets untidy. Weekly works better for homes with children, pets, frequent cooking, or little time between visits. Fortnightly can suit smaller or lightly used homes when you handle simple upkeep between sessions. A first 3 to 4 hour clean gives you a better baseline before choosing a frequency.
r/askSingapore on Reddit
Singapore residents discuss the privacy and commitment trade-offs between a live-in helper and a part-time cleaner who visits for a few hours.
A part-time cleaner is designed for households that want help without having someone live in. You choose a fixed session, prepare access and supplies, and keep the rest of the week private. A live-in helper can make more sense when the household also needs daily care, cooking, or childcare.
How much does a part-time cleaner cost in Singapore?
A one-off 2 hour visit is $27/hour; a 3 to 4 hour visit is $25/hour. Regular 3 to 4 hour sessions are $20/hour, and eligible sessions on a prepaid pack of 5 are $18/hour. GST is included, with no weekend surcharge.
Is a part-time cleaner the same as a live-in helper?
No. A part-time cleaner visits for scheduled cleaning hours. A live-in helper is an employment arrangement that may also cover daily childcare or elderly care. Choose based on the work your household needs.
Do I have to sign a contract or commit to a minimum period?
No. You can book a single session. A regular slot is cheaper per hour but you can stop it whenever you like, and a pack is simply three dates paid upfront.
Is there an agency or placement fee?
No. You are buying a cleaning service by the hour, not hiring an employee, so there is nothing to place and no fee to pay.
Do I need to handle a work permit or levy?
No. That applies to employing a migrant domestic worker. It does not apply to booking a part-time cleaning service.
What is the minimum booking?
Two hours. A 3 to 4 hour session gives more time for several rooms, a first visit, or a longer priority list. The one-off rate for that duration is $25 an hour.
Will it be the same cleaner every time?
For a regular slot, we aim to keep the same cleaner where possible. If they are unavailable, we arrange named cover and tell you who is coming before the visit.
What if I do not get on with my cleaner?
Tell Helen and she moves you to someone else. You do not need to give a reason or have the conversation yourself.
Are your part-time cleaners vetted?
Yes. Background checked and reference verified before their first job, and trained against our written 75 point housekeeping standard.
Do I provide the cleaning supplies?
Only a working vacuum cleaner and mop. Your cleaner brings colour-coded cloths, brushes, a scrub pad, bin bags and a multi-purpose cleaner.
Can I book weekends?
Yes, at the same rate as a weekday. There is no weekend or public holiday premium.
What is the difference between a part-time cleaner, a part-time maid and a part-time helper?
In everyday Singapore usage these all mean the same thing: someone who comes for a few hours to clean, rather than living in. We use cleaner because that is the work being booked.
