‘It’s criminal,’ critics say as family advertises for babysitter who will have to pay THEM £400

A FAMILY sparked outrage after advertising for a live-in babysitter for their toddlers - but expecting the poor soul to pay £400 for the privilege.

London renters were shocked by the low rental in a central area - until they saw the catch.

They were expected to be available for three hours of babysitting from 3pm to 6pm every day Monday to Friday.

But the room in Clapham South was not available at the weekend - implying that the live-in au pair should not be around unless it was looking after the children aged one and three.

shortly removed the listing before the family tried to re-upload with the description edited.

“Hi we are an Italian family looking for a student/au pair preferred Monday to Friday but we can consider full week for the right person (respectful of privacy),” the ad said.

“We are looking for someone who can help regularly with babysitting 3 hours per day 3-6pm.

“Our children are very sweet but very young 1-3 years old so we are looking for a calm, clean and organised person/no party.

“You will have a mostly for your self. The family uses another bedroom.”

One outraged child carer reacted: “Host family boards their au pair (as in provides a free place to live and at least 3 meals a day) and pays a small allowance.

“A bet that family are not registered au pair hosts and just use the word because they’ve heard it somewhere and liked how fancy it sounds.”

Another said: “It’s criminal how much care work, an essential industry, is devalued by people like this.

“Wouldn’t ask someone to pay them rent for the joy doing any other job.

"Carers of all kinds have so much duty and it’s treated like nothing important.”

The mum, ‘Carla’, soon relisted the ad with the childcare portion removed but asking for more money, £600.

One commenter said: “She obviously considered the £200 difference a ‘wage’.

"This, somehow, is worse (and I bet you’ll be left with the little cherubs anyway...).”