United Kingdom
Household Staffing Agency
in London
Morgan & Mallet (M&M) finds trusted and proven household staff for London’s most exclusive families.
We place nannies, estate managers, private chefs, housekeepers, and personal assistants into London homes.
Every candidate we submit has worked at least three years in a comparable domestic staff role. No exceptions.
Our household staffing agency in London only introduces you to professionals with prior, proven, fully verifiable experience in high-net-worth environments.
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 UHNW 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.
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
Domestic Staff Recruitment ServicesTailored to Your Needs
Three-month guarantee period on all placements.
Over a decade of experience.
World's deepest luxury staffing database.
Three years minimum experience level for all placements.
Why Hire Household Staff in London With M&M?
Before starting M&M, 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 household staff agency in London and quickly grew to cover Paris, Monaco, and Switzerland.
We’re now the only international household staffing agency with offices worldwide, including London.
Our global network and local knowledge let us find the best multilingual candidates while handling international contracts and compliance.
96% of our placements succeed long term.
Every candidate is verified with reference and background checks, backed by a three-month guarantee. If employment ends during that period, we provide a free replacement.
We’re trusted advisors, not just recruiters.
We offer ongoing support with contract and tax law guidance through legal partners.
We help with work permits and visas, post-placement check-ins, and advice on salaries and staff management.
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.”
London's Luxury Districts: Where We Place Household Staff
Below are the primary areas where we place household staff, each with distinct wealth profiles and staffing expectations.
Mayfair Domestic Staffing: Historic Elegance
Wealth
We place staff in properties here range from £2 million to over £200 million, featuring luxury mansions and heritage townhouses. Some of the most expensive properties in the UK.
Staffing Needs
Nannies, housekeepers, estate managers, and private chefs are in high demand.
Families expect staff who can always be private, know about formal service traditions, and work with family offices.
Our London recruiters note that many Mayfair families asks for private chefs trained in traditional silver service and French dining.
Kensington household Staff: Royal Connections and Cultural Sophistication
Wealth
We staff properties here typically valued between £1.5 million and £50 million, featuring historic estates and modern developments.
Staffing Needs
Butlers, chauffeurs, and housekeepers are common here.
M&M recruiters have observed that over half of housekeepers placed in the UK are experienced head housekeepers, many with expertise working in older properties.
Rachel Dixon based in our London office mentioned a recent Kensington placement where the family required a butler trained at a recognized butler school, specifically requesting someone familiar with traditional English service standards who could also manage modern household technology.
Chelsea Private Staff: Riverside Living and Social Prestige
Wealth
Our placements in Chelsea have been in a variety of properties, ranaging in size and value.
Staffing Needs
House managers, security personnel, and domestic couples are typical in Chelsea.
Our London office recruiters have seen Chelsea families ask to hire private staff such as chauffeurs who combine driving expertise with local knowledge.
Knightsbridge Household Staff: Luxury Retail and Diplomatic Quarter
Wealth
We have recruited for homes valued from £2 million to £20 million, offering luxury apartments and townhouses.
Staffing Needs
Nannies, private chefs, and estate managers are in demand, particularly for families.
Recruiters from our London office recall placement searches where Knightsbridge families specifically requested nannies with British EYFS qualifications who could prepare children for entry into prestigious London schools, demonstrating the area’s focus on educational excellence.
Hampstead: Village Charm and Intellectual Heritage
Wealth
We place staff in this leafy residential area popular with celebrities and sports people, with elegant townhouses and apartments. Homes typically range from £3–£12 million.
Staffing Needs
Housekeepers and personal assistants are typical in Hampstead, with families wanting staff who can manage household tasks and managing lifestyles.
One London recruiter shared that Hampstead and Notting Hill families often look for personal assistants who can balance household management with supporting the family’s involvement in local events.
We also serve Belgravia, Notting Hill, St. John’s Wood, and Wimbledon, each with its own staffing needs.
The Staff London Families Request Most
Our London recruiters say that for butler roles in the UK, Principles often request traditional English training from recognised butler schools.
Morgan Richez, co-founder of M&M, 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. However, butler schools still train for both approaches because sometimes families organize formal dinners and want traditional service standards.
M&M Agency Data (London Office):
- 30.46% of our UK-based butler profiles are currently located in London.
- 22% of our clients request a traditional English butler certified by a recognized butler school.
- 9% of all M&M butler profiles are females.
Rachel Dixon, our lead recruiter in London, has seen demand increase for candidates experienced with narrow-format layouts and antique furniture.
M&M Agency Data (London Office):
- 52% of M&M housekeepers in the UK are experienced head housekeepers who can manage entire estates and larger teams.
- 26% of our housekeepers located in the UK have cooking experience.
- 31% of UK-based housekeepers perform combined maid duties.
- 207 housekeeper profiles are actively based in London within our candidate pool.
A common request in London is families who want nannies who can travel internationally with them during school holidays, this requires experience travelling with children obviously. Strong passports are essential as most families need visa-free travel for holidays abroad.
M&M Agency Data (London Office):
- 51.67% of housekeepers located in the UK are experienced head housekeepers capable of managing properties and teams.
- 31.36% of UK-based profiles in our network are currently located in London.
- 39.91% of childcare specialists in our database also perform housekeeping duties, offering flexibility for London families.
Morgan Richez, co-founder of M&M, noted that in capital cities like London, traffic has become very complicated. People don’t want to drive anymore and don’t have the time to drive, so they want a very good chauffeur to work in the back of the car.
They’ve got their computer, they can work, and the driver handles the navigation. When it comes to chauffeurs, families love security chauffeurs who can protect the family, know the city, understand which roads to take, and handle emergencies.
M&M Agency Data (London Office):
- 29% of chauffeur profiles located in the UK are currently based in London.
- 26% of our private chauffeur network is based in the UK.
- Over 869 professional chauffeur profiles are located in the UK within our candidate database.
- 1.15% of our professional chauffeur profiles are female.
Jonathan de Vanderbilt, a M&M recruiter, noted that clients often struggle with defining exactly what they want from a private chef. Some say they want a Michelin-star level chef but are only prepared to pay a basic salary.
He always advises families to be clear about their expectations regarding dietary plans, whether that’s micro-dieting, keto, or gluten-free, and to include a trial period so they can see how the chef works in their home and with the family.
M&M Agency Data (London Office):
- Private chefs in the UK earn between £80,000 and £200,000 annually depending on experience and household requirements.
- Michelin-trained chefs or those with royal household experience attract premium compensation.
- London-based placements represent a significant portion of UK chef requests.
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.
M&M Agency Data (London Office):
- 27% of our property caretaker profiles located in the UK are currently based in London.
- 93% of M&M property caretaker profiles in the UK are house managers.
- 17% of our property caretaker network is correctly located in the UK.
Household Staff Salaries in London
The table below shows typical annual salaries for 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: M&M Annual Salary Report 2025/2026.
Job’s taken from M&M’s own household job listings site (2026).
What Makes London Domestic Staffing Unique
British Educational System and Prep School Admissions
London’s educational landscape creates unique staffing demands.
Many families prioritize prep school admissions, requiring nannies who can prepare children for entry into Wetherby, Thomas’s Battersea, and The American School in London.
Multi-Residence Management and Countryside Estates
Many London families have multiple homes, including townhouses, Surrey countryside estates, and international properties in France, Switzerland, or the UAE.
Property managers need to handle staff across locations.
Formal Service Traditions and Royal Household Standards
London’s aristocratic and diplomatic community creates demand for staff with formal service training.
Our London recruitment team has seen that families specifically request private chefs with diplomatic or royal household experience.
Congestion Zones and Private Club Access
London has a lot of traffic.
Recruiters from our London office mention that chauffeurs in London need familiarity with West End theatre and private club transport, dealing with discreet evening drop-offs at venues like Annabel’s or The Arts Club.
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 M&M requiring three verified references. |
How M&M Helps | M&M 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 maintain offices and recruiter networks across London, Geneva, Monaco, Dubai, New York, and Los Angeles, ensuring smooth service for internationally mobile families.
Our vetted candidate database tracks over 56,300 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 British service, including knowing how to work in Royal household type homes.
We understand the nuances of formal French service education, as well as the traditional British way of doing things.
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.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Am I required to pay overtime for domestic workers 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.
M&M 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 neighborhoods in London does M&M serve?
A housekeeper is one of the most common examples of a household worker. 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 handle specialized linen care, light cooking, and fine household management that you’d typically 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 M&M 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, organized home and reduces the financial cost of bad hires that disrupt household stability.
Talk to London Recruiters Who Know the Market
Hiring the wrong staff in London can disrupt children preparing for competitive school admissions or compromise discretion in heritage properties where privacy is paramount.
One poor placement creates problems that ripple through your household for months.
M&M 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 handle reference checks (three verified former employers), criminal background verification, and contract structuring so you avoid the mistakes that derail placements.
Our Track Record:
– Over 10,000 candidates placed globally since 2010.
– Candidate database tracking over 56,300 profiles worldwide.
– Three-month guarantee period with check-ins every 10 days to ensure placement success.
Contact our London office to discuss your household staffing requirements with recruiters who understand heritage properties, multi-residence management, and the discretion London’s UHNW families expect.