Whether you’re based in London, Surrey, or the Home Counties , or relocating to the UK from abroad, finding the right household staff can transform daily life. In this guide, we compare the differences between a nanny, a nanny-housekeeper and a housekeeper-nanny to help you decide which role truly fits your family’s needs in 2025.
Making the Right Decision for Your Home
Hiring professional domestic staff is about more than ticking off a list of duties. It’s about trust, structure, and the confidence that your children and household are in calm, capable hands. Whether you’re navigating school logistics, managing a busy home, or seeking more time to simply enjoy family life, the right support can make all the difference.
One of the most common questions we hear from families is:
“Should we hire a nanny or a nanny-housekeeper?”
While both roles bring valuable support, the best choice depends on your children’s ages, your daily rhythm, and how much help you need with household tasks alongside childcare.
What You’ll Find in This Guide
- The difference between a nanny and a nanny-housekeeper
- Typical responsibilities and weekly structure
- How each role handles school holidays
- Salary expectations in 2025
- Tips for deciding what’s right for your family
What Does a Nanny Do?
A nanny provides one-to-one childcare tailored to your child’s age, stage and needs. They may be live-in or daily, and can work part-time or full-time depending on your schedule.
Typical nanny duties include:
- School and nursery runs
- Planning age-appropriate play and learning
- Helping with homework and after-school routines
- Managing nap times and daily schedules
- Preparing meals or bottles for children
- Tidying children’s rooms and play areas
- Liaising with schools, nurseries and clubs
This role is ideal for families with babies or younger children who need consistent, focused care. Many nannies naturally build structure and confidence through thoughtful routines and developmental support.
What Does a Nanny-Housekeeper Do?
A nanny-housekeeper blends childcare with practical household support. They’re often the steady, all-round presence in homes where both parents work or where school-age children are out of the house during the day.
Typical duties include:
- School drop-offs and morning childcare
- Cleaning, tidying and laundry during the day
- Simple family cooking or children’s meals
- Homework help and evening routines
- Childcare during holidays or illness
- Keeping the home calm, organised and welcoming
This role is perfect for families seeking flexible support across both childcare and domestic tasks.
Looking for Help After School and Around the Home?
If your children are independent and at school full-time, a housekeeper-nanny may be ideal. This household-led role focuses on daily cleaning, laundry, and organisation, with light childcare such as school pick-ups and help with supper and homework. It’s an excellent solution for homes that need structure and a responsible adult presence after school, without requiring full-day childcare.
Comparing Nanny, Nanny-Housekeeper and Housekeeper-Nanny Roles
Not sure what the difference is between these roles? Here’s a simple comparison:
| Feature |
Nanny |
Housekeeper-Nanny |
Nanny-Housekeeper |
| Best for |
Babies, toddlers and multiple children |
Homes needing daily support and after-school care |
School-age families and busy households |
| Main duties |
Childcare, routines, learning support |
Housekeeping-led with light childcare support |
Childcare plus housekeeping and cooking |
| School holiday cover |
Full-day childcare |
Flexible home help with light childcare |
Flexible childcare and household support |
| Household support |
Focused on children only |
Home-focused with some childcare duties |
Balanced support across home and children |
How to Decide What You Need
Ask yourself:
- Do you need full-day childcare, or help around school hours?
- Are your children under five, or more independent?
- Would help with laundry, meals or general tidiness ease the pressure?
- Is your home fast-paced, structured or more relaxed?
- Will this role be full-time, part-time, live-in or daily?
Top tip:
If you need focused care for young children, a nanny may be the best choice. If your children are older and you’d benefit from help around the home as well, a nanny-housekeeper or housekeeper-nanny may offer more value and flexibility.
What Happens During School Holidays?
This is an important conversation to have from the start. Here’s how typical arrangements work:
- Nannies usually offer full-day childcare during school holidays, ensuring continuity and peace of mind.
- Nanny-housekeepers take a flexible approach. Some families adjust household tasks to focus more on childcare; others use a cleaner or rely on grandparents and clubs.
- Housekeeper-nannies may offer light childcare in the afternoons and maintain the household routine throughout.
Salary Expectations in 2025
Salaries continue to reflect strong demand for experienced, flexible household staff, particularly in blended roles.
Rates vary based on duties, hours, location, and candidate experience, such as newborn care, languages, or SEN training. Live-in roles now command similar rates to daily placements, especially when hours are long or expectations are high.
Typical gross hourly rates in 2025:
- London: £20 to £22+ per hour
- Home Counties: £18 to £20+ per hour
If you're unsure what to offer, we’re happy to provide market-led advice tailored to your specific needs.
Why Families Choose HomeOrganisers
We help families across London, Surrey and the Home Counties find trusted, long-term household staff. Whether you need full-time childcare, a reliable housekeeper or a flexible, blended role, we offer expert advice and carefully matched placements.
We specialise in:
- Nanny-housekeepers
- Housekeeper-nannies
- Professional housekeepers (live-in or daily)
- Housekeeper-cooks and companion-housekeepers
- Nanny-PAs and housekeeper-PAs
- Traditional nanny roles
Real Family Example
A family in Cobham with three school-age children recently transitioned from a full-time nanny to a nanny-housekeeper. With the children at school all day, they no longer needed full-day childcare, but still wanted after-school help and practical support around the home.
Their new nanny-housekeeper now handles school pick-ups, helps with homework, prepares simple meals and keeps the house in order during the day. The parents shared:
“She’s transformed our evenings. The house is calm, the children are settled, and we’re not spending our time catching up on laundry or clearing the kitchen. It’s made such a difference to how we enjoy family time.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Do nanny-housekeepers do deep cleaning?
Not usually. A nanny-housekeeper supports the day-to-day running of the home, such as laundry, general tidying, and light vacuuming. Deep cleaning tasks like ovens, windows or bathrooms are typically handled by a separate cleaner.
What if I need someone focused on the house, with light childcare after school?
A housekeeper-nanny may be the ideal solution. This is a household-led role that includes cleaning, laundry, organisation, and simple meal prep, with afternoon childcare such as school pick-ups and homework supervision.
Can I hire someone part-time?
Yes. Part-time placements are common, especially for school-age children or homes that need flexible support across both household and childcare duties.
What should I budget for 2025?
As a general guide:
- Home Counties: £18 to £20+ gross per hour
- London: £20 to £22+ gross per hour
We’ll always advise on current market rates and role expectations to ensure a fair, successful placement.
Looking to Hire?
Whether you're seeking full-time childcare, flexible household support or a combination of both, we’ll help you find the right fit for your home and routine.
This guide is written for UK-based families considering a nanny, nanny-housekeeper or housekeeper-nanny in 2025. It reflects current market trends and offers practical advice to help you make an informed, confident hiring decision.