What is a housekeeper?

If you’re looking to hire a housekeeper, it’s helpful to understand the breadth of what the role involves and how they might fit into the existing structure of your household.

Housekeeper duties include cleaning to a very high standard (vacuuming, mopping, polishing, dusting), overseeing the laundering of delicate fabrics and luxury pieces, travel packing and unpacking.

A housekeeper may also be required to take phone messages, greet visitors and prepare food / cook simple meals. Before committing to find a housekeeper, you should also consider if they will live in or live out, and if travel is necessary.

In larger households where there are more staff, the housekeeper typically reports to the household manager (or occasionally the estate manager) if the household has one. The household manager is a central point of authority, overseeing the entire household staff and making sure all operations run smoothly. The housekeeper will liaise closely with the household manager to provide updates on the home. Having a structure such as this in place ensures that there is effective coordination among the staff and a smooth living environment for the Principal and their family.

Tiger Private can help with household manager and head housekeeper recruitment, alongside finding housekeeping staff.

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Housekeeping recruitment

If you’re looking to find a housekeeper, Tiger Private can help. As a private housekeeping agency in London, we are experts in sourcing outstanding live-out and live-in housekeeper candidates for your household. With many years’ experience sourcing housekeepers, house managers and private household domestic staff, we take a tailored approach to ensure you find the right fit for your home.

In many cases, families prefer to take a candidate on a temp-to-perm basis which means that they effectively ‘temp’ with you first. Our agency payrolls the candidate, and we send you a weekly timesheet and invoice. Then, once you’re happy to take them on a long-term basis, they can convert to be under your employment.

All of our candidates are screened and reference checked, and we are also happy to sign non-disclosure agreements if required.

Finding the right housekeeper candidate

As a private housekeeping staffing agency in the UK, we can supply a full range of private housekeeper services, helping you hire a housekeeper in London, regionally and internationally. Our pool of housekeepers range from junior to senior and most come from a private house, yachting or five-star hotel background.

Our housekeepers are available for permanent, temporary and seasonal jobs in London, regional UK and around the globe. Our established referral system and innovative sourcing methods mean we have the very best housekeeper candidates on our books.

Housekeeper Job Description Template

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For more information on housekeeper recruitment, or for any questions, please get in touch.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a cleaner and a housekeeper?

The main difference between a cleaner and a housekeeper depends on their duties and nature of their tasks. A cleaner would primarily manage general cleaning duties, focusing on tasks like dusting, vacuuming, mopping and fully cleaning areas of a home or commercial space. A housekeeper’s role extends beyond a cleaner to include a wider range of duties related to household management. In addition to cleaning, a housekeeper may be responsible for tasks like laundry, grocery shopping, meal preparation, and even managing household budgets and schedules.

While cleaners and housekeepers both contribute to maintaining a clean and tidy home, the housekeeper role involves a more personalised approach to household management.

How much does a housekeeper cost in the UK?

There are various housekeeping options, and these vary depending on the duties and experience of the housekeeper. If you’re looking to hire a live-in housekeeper, for example, there will be other factors to consider such as accommodation and meals.

  • A head housekeeper average salary is around £60,000 p.a.
  • A housekeeper average salary is between £45,000-£50,000 p.a.
  • A weekend housekeeper average salary £1,260 per weekend
  • A housekeeper/cook position is approximately £45,000 p.a.

How much do most housekeepers charge?

Hourly, most housekeepers could charge between £33 – £41 p.h., depending on their experience and the duties the role requires. If you’re looking for help with head housekeeper recruitment, this might be slightly more depending on their skillset and experience.

How do I hire a private housekeeper?

Hiring a housekeeper requires careful consideration and a structured process to find the right candidate for your specific household needs. Firstly, you’ll need to consider the schedule and working hours you’ll require, alongside the main duties of your housekeeper. You can explore whether you want to hire independently, contact private housekeeper services to find potential candidates, or contact a recruitment or staffing agency who specialise in domestic private recruitment.

If you’re working with a housekeeping recruitment agency, they can help support you through the whole hiring process: from writing the job adverts, searching, vetting candidates and scheduling interviews through to offering your chosen candidate the role.

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