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Home Within a Home: Getting Staff Accommodation Right
In this episode of the Morgan & Mallet luxury household staffing podcast, Ben W sits down with co-founder Morgan Richez to talk about staff accommodation.
Morgan has spent more than 12 years finding live-in staff for private families and reviewing the contracts that come with them, and he worked as a butler himself before building the agency.
Together they cover what the law really requires, what belongs in the contract, and how good communication keeps families and live-in staff happy under one roof.
- Learn exactly what to put in the accommodation article of a live-in contract, from size and furnishings to who pays for internet and electricity.
- Understand why French law treats staff accommodation as private space, and why a “no guests” clause is only a strong wish, not something a court will enforce.
- Pick up real recruiter tips for avoiding conflict, including how to handle an empty property and link a domestic couple’s contracts together.
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This episode gives families a clear, practical picture of how to house live-in staff the right way. You will come away knowing what the law allows, what to write in the contract, and how to set expectations on privacy and guests before anyone moves in.
You will also hear how an experienced recruiter spots problems early and helps both sides talk through stress before small things turn into big ones.
Key Takeaways
- The accommodation is an article inside the employment contract, not a separate rental agreement, so the live-in staff member never pays rent.
- French law treats the accommodation as private space, so a clause banning guests will not hold up in court. Treat it as a strong wish backed by good faith, not a rule.
- A proper check-in and check-out of the accommodation protects both the family and the staff, the same way a rental inventory would.
- Offer decent, clean, furnished accommodation with good size and natural light. It shows respect for the candidate and helps you keep good staff for longer.
- For a domestic couple, link the two contracts so that if one role ends, the family can review both together.
- Organization prevents most problems. Prepare dinners the day before, buy household products in twos, and run tests in advance so busy summers stay calm.
- Beautiful, well-designed staff housing is a genuine draw. It is one of the perks that attracts experienced candidates to a role.
Full Transcript:
Transcript
A Busy Week Across the US, Dubai and France
Ben W
Welcome to the Morgan & Mallet luxury household staffing podcast. Today we are discussing staff accommodation, how to get it right, and the common mistakes families make. Guiding us is co-founder Morgan Richez. How was your week? Was it busy?
Morgan
Very busy. We had a lot of requests in the US, in Miami, New York and California, and Dubai is coming back now the war is over. Even in the south of France demand is high. The most popular request in the south of France is the domestic couple. In New York it is the PA, in Miami nannies, governesses and maternity nurses, and in the Middle East butlers, French or English nannies, and housekeepers.
What French Law Says About Staff Accommodation
Ben W
What does French law require or recommend when an employer provides accommodation to household staff?
Morgan
The most important thing is the contract. Everything about the accommodation has to be clear, the description, the size, the windows, and it must be clean and furnished. My advice is to offer decent accommodation, because you need to respect the candidate, and this is going to be their home. The law is also clear. With a live-in position the accommodation is private, so the employee can do what they want there. That creates tension, because some families between Saint-Tropez and Monaco are not comfortable when a domestic couple invites friends over, so the real skill is finding the right balance.
How Morgan & Mallet Advises on the Contract
Ben W
Are the recruiters at Morgan & Mallet involved at this level?
Morgan
Yes. Some clients have had a domestic couple before and know the laws, others are employing for the first time, so we advise on what to put in the contract. We are not lawyers, but after 12 years we know how it works. We help families plan for things like an empty property when they are away, or whether staff can have friends or family over. The accommodation is an article in the employment contract, not a separate rental contract, so the staff never pay rent. You should detail what is included, since sometimes internet or electricity are not, and always do a check-in and check-out. For a domestic couple you can link both contracts, so if one role ends the family can review both together.
Why a No-Guests Clause Is Only a Strong Wish
Ben W
What happens if the client does not want extra people in their property?
Morgan
You can write what you want in the contract, but if it goes to court you will lose, because the accommodation is private. So it is a strong wish, not an enforceable rule. Our job is to explain the family’s wish to the candidate and rely on good faith. Honestly, in 12 years I have never had this go to a dispute, because we introduce candidates with at least five years of experience who understand the practice as well as the law. They know summers mean long hours in a holiday home, and they respect the private life of the employer.
The Saint-Tropez Butler and Summer Traffic
Ben W
Can you give a specific example of a conflict and how it was resolved?
Morgan
An employer asked one of a domestic couple to buy something in Saint-Tropez. The summer traffic was heavy, the butler came back late, and the guests had already arrived, so the employer was upset. Both sides were stressed, and it was nobody’s fault. The butler texted our France recruiter, Gilles Kuhn, for advice. We never simply tell one side they are right. We helped them have a calm conversation the next day, and the couple, Monsieur as butler and Madame as housekeeper, are still in the role. We stay in close contact after a placement, especially in the first months, because people who do not know each other yet are often scared to say what they think.
Organization Beats Most Problems
Ben W
How are accidents and property damage handled? I am guessing the answer is communication.
Morgan
Communication, and organization. Most mistakes are avoided by preparing in advance, the way you would prepare a dinner the day before in a holiday home. A small example: when you buy a housekeeping product, buy it twice, so the moment one runs out you already have the next. It sounds simple, but it comes with experience, which is why we work only with experienced staff. So going back to Saint-Tropez, the lesson is to flag in advance when guests are coming and something is needed from town.
Balancing Practicality and Privacy
Ben W
How can employers balance practicality with privacy when staff live in the same property?
Morgan
Many properties are designed so the accommodation sits in a separate part, which keeps rooms private. The family can also be clear from the start, for example that only the housekeeper enters their bedroom, or that they want no staff around the pool between two and five. Technology helps too. In many homes the family just sends a WhatsApp when they need the butler or housekeeping. Experienced staff understand this. In my own time as a butler I sometimes did not see my employer for a month and still got paid, but you have to stay available and be ready the moment they call.
Why Beautiful Homes Attract the Best Staff
Ben W
How can well-designed housing become a real retention and motivation tool for attracting candidates?
Morgan
A beautiful, well-designed property is one of the most attractive parts of the role. It is why I chose this industry. You see some of the most beautiful homes, cars and yachts in the world, and I even traveled by private jet. I tell candidates to keep it in perspective, this is not your life, but you can enjoy a little of it, improve your skills, and learn about art. Sometimes you build a good connection with the family. You stay in your place and you are there to serve, but you can still have a good time.
Ben W
That is everything for today. You can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Deezer in France, and YouTube. If you would like a topic covered, email [email protected]. Morgan, thank you, you have been a star.
Morgan
Thank you, Benjamin. Have a lovely day, and thank you for the podcast today.