United Kingdom
Household Staff Agency
in London: Hire Experienced Domestic Staff
Morgan & Mallet is a luxury household staffing agency in London, placing housekeepers, butlers, nannies, private chefs, and estate managers with families across Mayfair, Belgravia, Knightsbridge, and the Home Counties.
Our household staff agency in London handpicks every candidate for your household’s specific requirements.
Morgan Richez and Laurine Mallet, the founders, started in service first, then built the agency. Morgan started as a chauffeur and Laurine as a nanny, both for high-net-worth households in London.
They know what principals expect because they delivered it themselves.
We provide bespoke services to help principals hire household staff in London with technical expertise and the right temperament.
We only introduce candidates who have already proved they can work quietly, loyally, and capably in similar environments.
Domestic Staff Recruitment in London Tailored to Your Needs
Three-month guarantee period on all placements.
Over a decade of private staff agency London experience.
World's deepest luxury staff database.
Three years minimum experience level for all placements.
Why Hire Household Staff in London With Morgan & Mallet?
Before starting Morgan & Mallet, our co-founders worked in London households themselves. Morgan was a chauffeur. Laurine was a nanny in Clapham South. This experience gives us insight most agencies simply don’t have.
They then launched the domestic staff agency in London and quickly grew to cover Paris, Monaco, and Switzerland.
We’re now the only international household staff agency in the UK with offices worldwide, including London.
London's Luxury Districts: Where We Place Household Staff
Below are the main areas we place household staff in London. We find that each area has slightly different needs.
- Mayfair – Nannies, housekeepers, estate managers, and private chefs are in high demand. Families we speak to when they are looking to hire domestic staff in Mayfair talk about discretion, formal service traditions, and experience working with family offices as things they are looking for.
- Kensington – Butlers, chauffeurs, and housekeepers are common. We often place experienced head housekeepers, and butlers trained at recognised butler schools here. They need to understand modern technology too.
- Chelsea – House managers, security personnel, and domestic couples are the main roles we place here. Chauffeurs in Chelsea need to really understand London and its traffic, as well as be experienced drivers.
- Knightsbridge – Nannies, private chefs, and estate managers are in demand. Staff here often need to be used to working with diplomats.
- Hampstead – Housekeepers and personal assistants are common in this area popular with celebrities and sports people that has a village feel. Staff with strong family experience are placed here often.
We also commonly place household staff in Belgravia, Notting Hill, St. John’s Wood, and Wimbledon. Just outside London, Surrey is an area that we staff too.
The Staff London Families Request Most
For butler roles in the UK, Principals often ask for traditional English training from recognised butler schools.
Especially for those from overseas, if they are in Britain, the home of the traditional butler, they would like to have a real British butler.
However, Morgan Richez, co-founder of Morgan & Mallet, explained that the old-fashioned butler dedicated only to table service, managing wine and silver, is changing.
Now families are looking for very modern butlers who can drive the car, perform PA duties, and remain flexible.
Butler schools do though still train for both approaches because sometimes families organise formal dinners and want traditional service standards.
Housekeepers are our most popular role in London, the demand seems to keep consistent. Especially for the live-in type.
A common request in London is families who want nannies who can travel internationally with them during school holidays, this needs experience travelling with children obviously. A travel nanny is ideal for this.
Strong passports are essential as most families need visa-free travel for holidays abroad.
Chauffeurs are important to our clients in London. In capital cities like this traffic is a problem.
Our chauffeurs help you get from A to B with no fuss, easily.
Another popular role in London, it’s important to be clear what you want a private chef to do. Cook for certain diets, entertain for guests, or just be an all round family cook, preparing daily meals.
House Managers are ever increasing in popularity in London. They can manage staff in the house and carry out other duties as the numbers of staff grow.
Household personal assistants in London have become crucial for our clients who lead busy lives. Helping them to keep a balance between family life and work. Many of our clients in the city are entrepreneurs with extremely full calendars.
A really growing role, we are placing more domestic couples in London than ever before. Typically more common in our continental European markets, property owners in London are realising the benefits themselves.
What Our Experts Say
What should clients know about the London luxury staffing sector in 2026?
“Many clients are genuinely surprised by what experienced domestic staff are earning in London today. If they’re remembering what they paid a few years ago, the gap can feel quite significant. The market has shifted considerably, and salary expectations reflect the high cost of living and the level of expertise required.”
Household Staff Salaries in London
The table below shows typical annual salaries for private household staff roles in London, alongside current job listings and their locations across the city.
Role | Typical Salary Range (Annual, GBP) | Client and Role Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
Full time Domestic couple job in Hampstead (M/F) London UK | £70,000 – £120,000 | A dynamic and trustworthy domestic couple is needed to maintain a Hampstead primary residence with complementary skills in housekeeping, property maintenance, and driving. The role includes five-star standard cleaning, smart home systems management, garden supervision, and household budgeting. | |
Full-time live-out Private Chef job in Knightsbridge (M/F) | £80,000 – £200,000 | A food-loving Knightsbridge household seeks a dynamic private chef with expertise in diverse cuisines and keen eye for presentation. The role includes preparing daily meals catering to refined palates, designing bespoke menus for private dinner parties, and crafting nutritiously balanced recipes with seasonal ingredients. | |
Full-time Live-out Nanny (M/F) job offer in St John’s Wood, London, UK | £50,000 – £80,000 | A professional, nurturing nanny is sought to care for a six-month-old baby in St John’s Wood with rotating day and night shifts. The role includes monitoring sleeping patterns, introducing solid foods, daily bathing, park walks, attending medical appointments, and participating in international travel with the family. | |
Full-Time Live-Out Private Chauffeur (M/F) job in Mayfair, London, UK | £50,000 – £90,000 | An executive in Mayfair seeks a discreet private chauffeur for daily driving services including business meetings, social events, and airport transfers. The role requires exceptional knowledge of London streets, impeccable driving record, and experience handling luxury vehicles with flexibility for evenings and weekends. | |
Full-Time Live-Out Housekeeper/Cook (M/F) job in London, UK | £40,000 – £70,000 | A prestigious VIP household seeks a highly experienced housekeeper/cook for their Holland Park residence with exceptional skills in laundry care and home cooking. The role focuses on Mediterranean and international cuisines, expert care of fine garments, and maintaining multi-story residence to the highest standards. | |
Full-Time Travelling Butler (M/F) job in London, UK | £50,000 – £100,000 | An exceptionally skilled travelling butler is needed for a high-profile principal with international travel to Italy, Ibiza, Uruguay, and Venice. The role includes providing impeccable personal service, overseeing staff across multiple residences and yachts, managing wardrobes, organizing events, and maintaining discretion and security at all times. | |
Personal Assistant/House Manager (M/F) job offer in London, United-Kingdom | £60,000 – £135,000 | A dynamic and highly organized PA/House Manager is sought to support a high-profile individual based across London, Dubai, and Monaco. The role requires energy, fluency in English, extensive travel willingness, excellent communication skills, and proactive approach to managing both personal and household affairs. |
Salary data source: Morgan & Mallet Annual Salary Report 2025/2026.
Job’s taken from Morgan & Mallet‘s own household job listings site (2026).
UK Household Employment Laws Made Simple
Legal Topic | Employment Guidelines and Regulations |
|---|---|
Minimum Wage and Working Hours | The minimum wage in the UK is £12.71 per hour (from April 1, 2026) for workers aged 21 and over, with variations for younger workers. |
Domestic Couple | Employment can be individual or joint contracts, but clarify shared duties, hours, and liability in writing; overtime beyond one spouse’s 48-hour limit requires opt-out or adjustment |
Right To Work Checks | In the UK, right to work rules were expanded in late 2025, now extending further to non-traditional arrangements beyond standard employment. |
Insurance and Protection | Employers must provide workers’ compensation insurance for household staff. The UK has specific protections for domestic workers under the Employment Rights Act, which outlines rights related to contracts, working conditions, and dispute resolution. |
Background Checks | DBS (criminal record) checks are required for household staff in the UK. The cost is approximately £30 per employee. Reference checking is also standard practice, with Morgan & Mallet requiring three verified references. |
How Morgan & Mallet Helps | Morgan & Mallet assists families in navigating these employment laws by providing contracts, payroll services, and DBS clearance guidance to ensure compliance with local regulations. We work with legal and HR partners to keep administrative burdens light while ensuring families meet their obligations. |
Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Families should consult legal or HR professionals for definitive guidance.
Six Reasons to Partner with Morgan & Mallet
We have offices and recruiter networks across London, Geneva, Monaco, Dubai, New York, and Los Angeles, which means we offer a smooth service for families who travel internationally.
Our vetted candidate database tracks over 50,300 profiles worldwide, with real-time information sharing across all office locations.
Our three-month guarantee period in London includes regular check-ins every ten days with both clients and placed candidates, performance feedback, and one-time free replacement if needed to ensure long-term placement success.
This structured followup is built into our client management system to fulfill our service commitments.
We specialise in serving aristocratic families, diplomatic households, and international business leaders with demanding household structures.
Family offices in London regularly partner with us for their domestic staffing needs, with some clients managing 25 to 40 properties worldwide.
Every candidate undergoes mandatory reference checks (minimum two to three former employers), criminal background verification, and identity document verification before being presented to clients.
This process is written into our recruiter employment contracts and tracked through our proprietary applicant tracking system.
Our candidates are vetted for working in British households, including knowing how to work in Royal household type homes.
Our team includes recruiters who speak English, French, Arabic, and other languages.
We place French-speaking nannies in the US, English-speaking nannies in France, and serve Middle Eastern families looking for both English and French language help for their children.
Meet Your London Team
London
office address
Level 1, Devonshire House, One Mayfair Place, W1J 8AJ, London, United Kingdom
phone
+44 20 4578 6249
opening hours
Monday - Thursday : 9AM - 6PM
Friday : 9AM - 5PM
Saturday & Sunday : Closed
Frequently Asked
Questions
How do I legally pay a housekeeper in London?
To legally pay a housekeeper in London, you must register as an employer with HMRC and enroll in the PAYE system. This allows you to deduct income tax and National Insurance contributions from their wages each month.
You’ll need to provide monthly payslips, maintain payroll records, and submit reports to HMRC. If your housekeeper earns over £123 per week, you’re also required to pay employer National Insurance contributions on top of their salary.
Morgan & Mallet offers a payroll service that handles all of this for you. We manage HMRC registration, monthly payslips, tax deductions, and compliance with UK employment law. You receive one simple monthly invoice while we take care of the administrative details.
Which household roles are most requested in London?
A housekeeper is one of the most requested roles we have in London. This role consistently ranks among the most requested positions in the UK and globally.
In London, housekeepers often bring a high level of expertise beyond standard cleaning. Many do specialised linen care, light cooking, and fine household management that you’d normally find in five-star hotels.
The housekeeper is one of the top five most requested positions in the UK, accounting for approximately 20% of all Morgan & Mallet staffing requests in the region. Around 31% of our UK-based housekeeper profiles are currently located in London.
Is household staffing worth the cost?
Yes, for high-net-worth families, household staffing is a necessary investment that provides significant value beyond the salary cost. The primary benefit is getting back your time so you can focus on professional, family, or personal priorities.
Professional staff bring expertise you can’t easily replicate. London’s high-end market offers candidates with five-star training in areas like fine art care, formal service, and complex household management that directly improves your quality of life.
A professional housekeeper’s annual salary in the UK typically falls in the £50,000 to £80,000+ range. This investment creates a well-run, organised home and reduces the financial cost of bad hires that disrupt household stability.
Talk to London Recruiters Who Know the Market
Morgan & Mallet places trusted household staff into London’s most demanding homes, from Mayfair townhouses to Kensington estates and Hampstead properties.
Our recruiters understand Right to Work compliance, DBS clearance requirements, and British formal service traditions.
We do all the reference checks (three verified former employers), criminal background verification, and write contracts so it’s a simple process for you.
Our Track Record:
– Over 10,000 candidates placed globally since 2010.
– Candidate database tracking over 50,300 profiles worldwide.
– Three-month guarantee period with check-ins every 10 days to ensure placement success.
Contact our London office today.