Could a professional 'life admin' service make your life easier?

Life admin can be overwhelming at the best of times – and as you get older it can feel even more so. But there are a range of services that can help minimise the stress and hassle of tasks that require more time or energy than you have to spare.

Just 11% of Which? members are even aware that such services exist, according to a survey we ran earlier this year. However, when asked, 40% of members told us they would be interested in making use of these kinds of service.* 

Here we explain the types of service that are available, how much they cost, and whether they're worthwhile.

Make your money go further

Find the best deals, avoid scams, and grow your savings with our expert guidance. From only £4.99 a month.

Join Which? Money

Cancel anytime.

How professional admin services can help

There are two broad categories that these paid-for services typically offer help with – moving home, and general life admin. Some services are specifically tailored towards older people, while others are available for anyone that wants to free up their time for less mundane matters:

Support with general life admin

This category covers a wide range of tasks that, quite frankly, life is often too short to deal with yourself. You can get help with, for example:

• Decluttering a home, whether in preparation for a house move or simply to clear out junk and make some space. Life admin firms can help organise your possessions, identify which objects could be sold, and even sell them for you through platforms such as eBay or Shopify (some firms take a commission from these sales). 
• Setting up and managing utilities such as phone, broadband, energy and water.
• Digital upskilling, if you need a hand to get up to speed with the latest tech. This can include laptop, tablet and phone tutorials, as well as guidance on using the internet safely.
• Basic daily chores, such as light cleaning and laundry, or grocery shopping and meal preparation.
• Sourcing tradespeople.

Some firms also offer companionship for older people. Firms often have a range of contacts in the finance and social care sectors, so even if they can’t offer help directly, they can point you in the right direction – to help you find a professional to set up your will or power of attorney, for example.

• Find out more: How to plan for retirement.

Get help organising a home move

Moving house is often cited as one of life's most stressful events – even trumping starting a new job or having a child, in some studies. And, as you get older, the physical and mental effort involved in shifting a lifetime of belongings from one place to another may be too much to handle without help. 

Admin services can take the load off by managing part or all of the process on your behalf. Depending on the provider, services may include:

• packing and labelling possessions (then unpacking at the other end)
• arranging the move and the movers
• rearranging utilities
• managing changes of address
• finding solicitors and estate agents
• support with filling in forms
• decluttering. 

Pamela Townshend, whose husband has Alzheimers, found the home-moving support offered by One Stop Organisers invaluable when downsizing from their large five-bedroom home in west London to a two-bed property in Oxford. ‘All my problems melted away,’ says Pamela. ‘Ashley [from One Stop Organisers] labelled everything that was coming with us to the next house, she did all my utility rearranging, and she organised the move and movers.’

• Find out more: use our moving house checklist to help prepare for a home move.

Who offers life admin services?

In the table we list a selection of the organisations operating in this space and where in the country they typically operate. However, even if they don't operate in your area, it may still be worth contacting them. They'll often be able to point you in the direction of someone more local who is in a position to help.

How much do life admin services cost?

Life admin services don't come for free, of course, so you'll need to weigh up the cost of using a service against the time and hassle it will save you. 

Costs vary depending on your needs and personal circumstances, as well as the provider you use. 

With One Stop Organisers, life admin help starts from around £35 an hour, a declutter plan costs around £100, and a full home move support package will cost at least a few thousand pounds.

The Homemover Specialist gave a similar figure for a full home move, saying that a fully managed downsize can cost anything between £5,000 and £15,000, depending on its complexity.

Good Life Sorted, which specialises in life admin and help around the home, told us most of its workers charge £20 per hour.

Firms generally employ freelancers, but the majority we spoke to confirmed their helpers are fully Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked, and their qualifications and references are verified to ensure they have the right experience. 

Several of the firms we spoke to also hold affiliate status with the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA).

It’s a good idea to search for online reviews to see how other customers have rated their experiences.

• Find out more: 5 major pitfalls in retirement and how to deal with them.

Where else can I get help with life admin?

Paid-for life admin services offer tailored, hands-on support, but there are other sources of support available, particularly if you're looking for general guidance. 

• Age UK and Independent Age offer free and independent advice over the phone, which ranges from guidance about benefits such as Attendance Allowance to information on accessing social care.
• If you’re interested in hiring a financial adviser to help manage your finances in retirement, The Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) is a good starting point. The society was established as a not-for-profit organisation, and SOLLA-accredited financial advisers specialise in the financial needs of older people.

Get 1-to-1 money guidance

Which? Money members can get impartial guidance from our experts, based on 350 years’ combined financial services experience.

Find out more

4 tips to get your affairs in order

As well day-to-day life admin, there are a few important tasks that it's worth getting on top of sooner than later, to save headaches for your family down the line. 

1. Arrange power of attorney. This legal document gives another person the right to make decisions on your behalf. You can only set it up while you still have the ability to make decisions for yourself – so don’t put it off. 
2. Make sure your records are up to date. Keeping on top of your paperwork and telling your loved ones where to find important information about your finances will help avoid any confusion or misunderstandings in future.
3. Make or update your will. An invalid or unclear will can lead to family conflict. Make sure you review yours from time to time and update it after any big change in circumstances.
4. Consider using a financial adviser. An independent adviser can help you come up with a financial plan that matches your circumstances and goals. They can also assist with estate planning and navigating the tax system.

* Based on an online survey of 1,180 Which? members in July 2024.