25 AUGUST 2001, Page 55

Q. I share a large house in Islington with three

friends, and, as most of us are very busy, we are not keeping up to date with our cleaning duties. The obvious solution is to hire a cleaner, but when I raised the issue at a recent house-meeting one of my housemates piped up that he would be willing to undertake all the household chores for £20 per week. This seems very reasonable for North London. but I can't help feeling that trouble lies ahead. What happens if he doesn't do the job to our mutual satisfaction?

by email A. Take him on 'on trial', as would be the norm in the outside world.