Relocating the UK: How Families Find the Right Nanny or Housekeeper
Moving to the UK with your family, or even just your pets, is exciting, but it can feel like a lot all at once. New schools, a new job, new routines, a new home. It’s a big change, and getting the right support in place early makes such a difference to how quickly everyone settles.
This guide explains how things work in the UK when it comes to household staff, and how to find the right nanny, housekeeper, or blended role such as a nanny housekeeper or housekeeper nanny, with confidence.
I’ve lived and raised a family in the USA, Canada and Sweden, and each place does home life a little differently. That experience shaped how we do things at Home Organisers. Since 1970, we’ve been helping families find trustworthy support, so life runs smoothly again. It’s about calm, organisation and that sense of ease that comes when your home just works.
Sometimes families tell me they don’t even realise how much weight they’re carrying until things start to flow again. That’s the bit I love, seeing the relief once it all clicks.
How household roles work in the UK
Most British homes don’t have big household teams. It’s usually one or two reliable people who quietly keep everything together. Jobs here are professional, clearly defined and fairly structured, with proper hours and contracts.
A nanny focuses on the children. A housekeeper looks after the home. But lots of families want someone who can cover both sides, what we call a combination or hybrid role. The key is deciding what matters most, the children, the home, or a bit of both. Once that’s clear, everything else falls into place.
When families understand how employment works here, it’s usually simpler than they expected.
Daily (live out) and live-in roles
Daily, or live-out, roles are by far the most common. Monday to Friday, clear hours, a regular pattern. Sometimes there’s flexibility for evening babysitting, an overnight stay, or travel. The main thing is to agree it in advance and make sure it’s paid fairly.
You’ll find the largest pool of candidates for weekday hours. Early mornings, late finishes or weekends are still possible, but those roles need planning and a slightly higher salary to attract the right person.
Live-in roles suit families who travel often or prefer a bit more flexibility. There should always be a private bedroom and access to a bathroom, ideally private, so everyone’s comfortable. Privacy and rest time matter.
Some families mix it up, with a weekday nanny housekeeper and a weekend housekeeper or nanny. It keeps the week flowing nicely, and everyone gets proper time off. We help shape those setups, so they work well for both sides from day one.
Understanding the roles
Nannies
A nanny’s main focus is the children. For babies and toddlers, that means nursery duties: feeding, changing, naps, play, early development and keeping their rooms and clothes in order. With older children it’s school runs, homework, and that calm consistency that holds the day together. The best nannies work hand in hand with parents. You’ll quickly notice the difference when the routine feels steady again.
Housekeepers
A good housekeeper is often the quiet centre of a household. They handle cleaning, laundry, wardrobes, organisation, errands and sometimes family cooking. Many also take care of pets, feeding, walking, vet visits, the everyday things that make life easier. When the right housekeeper is in n place, the house just feels right.
Combination or hybrid roles
Some families prefer someone who bridges both worlds. These roles can look different from house to house:
- Nanny Housekeeper: childcare first, with house duties fitted around the children’s day.
- Housekeeper Nanny: home first, with lighter childcare.
- Housekeeper Cook: home-led with a focus on family meals.
- Family Assistant or Nanny-PA: a great fit for older children or busy parents who need extra organisation and travel help.
There isn’t one formula that suits everyone. Some households need more childcare; others need someone to focus on the house or pets. A proper chat at the start saves a lot of adjustment later. I’ve had many families tell me that one early conversation made everything else feel easy.
Pay and expectations
Rates vary by experience, duties and location. We work with experienced candidates and salaries are annualised. Generally, part time and blended roles command a higher salary. As a rough guide: -
- London: £23 to £25+ per hour
- Surrey and the Home Counties: £20 to £23 per hour
Daily and live-in roles are usually paid at similar hourly rates, with accommodation included for live-ins. Salaries rise for extra skills like cooking, pet care or travel. We’ll guide you through payroll, pensions and holidays so everything’s set up properly from the start. It’s often much simpler than people think once we go through it together.
Safety, trust and checks
Trust is everything in a private home. Everyone has verified ID and right-to-work documents, references from previous private employers and a recent DBS check. We check other documents such as driving licence and make sure that First aid etc is in place, if required.
We are a a proud member of the Association of Nanny Agencies (ANA), and we follow their safer-recruitment standards from the very first interview through to placement. Once an offer’s made, you’ll get a full vetting pack so you can welcome your new employee with confidence.
How we’ve helped relocating families
From New York to Surrey
A family arrived from Manhattan expecting a team like they’d had in the US. We explained how the UK model works and designed a setup that made sense here: a daily nanny housekeeper for childcare and household organisation, with a weekly cleaning service for deep cleaning. Within a few weeks, everything clicked into place.
From Madrid to Cobham
Both parents were heading back to full-time work and needed someone steady at home. We found a wonderful housekeeper cook who managed the house, laundry and family meals. She brought calm to the home, which changed everything for them.
From Dubai to Knightsbridge
This family was used to round-the-clock help and needed to adjust to UK hours. We set up two complementary roles: a weekday nanny housekeeper and a weekend housekeeper, each with clear duties and proper rest. It worked beautifully and everyone was happier.
From Geneva to Hampstead
A professional couple with two Labradors wanted reliable live-in help. We placed a housekeeper cook who also loved dogs. She managed walks, feeding, vet visits and kept the home spotless. They could travel knowing everything was cared for just as they liked.
Each story is different, but the aim’s always the same, structure, calm and trust. I still get updates from some of those families years later, which is the best part of this work.
Questions families often ask
How much does a nanny cost in London?
Most full-time daily nanny roles in London range from £23 to £25 per hour or more, depending on experience and duties.
When should we start hiring?
Four to six weeks before you’d like someone to start is ideal, though we can often move quickly if needed.
What’s the difference between a Nanny Housekeeper and a Housekeeper Nanny?
A Nanny Housekeeper focuses on childcare first with household support fitted around that. A Housekeeper Nanny focuses more on the home with lighter childcare. We’ll help you find what balance works best.
Does a live-in nanny or housekeeper need their own room?
Yes. A private bedroom is essential, ideally with a bathroom or respectful access to one.
Can one person cover weekdays and weekends?
Sometimes, yes, but often two people sharing the week works better for rest and consistency. We can arrange that easily.
Do we have to handle contracts and payroll ourselves?
We’ll guide you through it. You can manage it directly or use one of our trusted payroll partners. Either way, we’ll make sure everything’s clear and compliant.
Before you start your search
Before you begin, it helps to think through what kind of help really suits your household. Every family is different, and the more detail we have, the better the match will be. A housekeeper isn’t just a housekeeper; she’s the right housekeeper for your family. That’s why our searches are personal, not one-size-fits-all.
Here are a few things to consider before we start:
- Daily or live-in support
- What hours and days need covering?
- Will weekends be part of the role?
- What duties will make the biggest difference to your home life?
- Do you need someone who drives?
- How old are the children, and what are their routines?
- Are there pets to care for?
- What’s your preferred start date, or do you need someone to start quickly?
- What matters most to your family?
Think, about personality and fit. Do you prefer someone warm and chatty who’ll feel part of the family, or someone who keeps things running quietly in the background and finishes the day with everything in order? There’s no right or wrong answer, the best match is the one that fits your household rhythm.
If you’re relocating to the UK and want a smooth, well-guided start, we’d be happy to help. Get in touch with Home Organisers to talk through what you need and the kind of support that’ll help your family settle quickly and comfortably.
Home Organisers has supported families across Surrey, London and the Home Counties for over fifty-five years. Established in 1970, we’re known for professionalism, discretion and a real understanding of private family life. Every introduction we make is thoughtful, carefully matched and built to last.