Hiring Live-In Domestic Staff for Your Private Household

Hiring live-in domestic staff is a big decision. The right person — or couple — can transform the way your household runs. The wrong appointment can be costly, disruptive, and difficult to resolve. This guide is here to help you understand your options clearly, without pushing you towards any particular route.

Whether you're looking for a domestic couple, a housekeeper, a nanny, a carer, or a live-in chef, the process is broadly the same. What changes is the skillset you're recruiting for and the accommodation you're able to offer.

Your Three Main Options

1. Recruit Directly Yourself

You advertise the vacancy, manage the applications, and handle all vetting and interviewing yourself. This is the most cost-effective route, and it puts you in full control from start to finish.

You can post your vacancy on Live-In-Jobs.co.uk for a flat fee and receive applications directly. Our platform is built exclusively for live-in roles — every candidate registered here is specifically looking for a position with accommodation included. You won't be sifting through applications from people who haven't read the brief.

Your personal contact details are never shared. Candidates apply through our secure messaging system, and you can also choose to receive applications via your own email address, by post, or through your own website — entirely your choice.

2. Browse Registered Candidates Directly

Rather than waiting for applications to come to you, you can search our CV database and approach candidates yourself. Filter by role type, location, and experience. Request CVs and contact details for anyone who looks like a good fit.

Search registered live-in candidates →

3. Use a Specialist Domestic Staffing Agency

If you'd prefer someone else to handle the entire process — advertising, initial vetting, interviews, references, DBS checks — a specialist domestic staffing agency will manage all of that for you. You'll pay more, but you'll receive a shortlist of pre-vetted candidates and ongoing support if a placement doesn't work out.

We have a directory of specialist domestic staffing agencies if you'd like to explore this route.

Browse our agency directory →

Cost Comparison

To put the agency fee in context: if you're hiring a domestic couple on a combined salary of £50,000, an agency fee at 15% would be £7,500. Advertising directly on our platform costs from £79.

That said, agencies earn their fee. If you're filling a senior role, you need a watertight vetting process, or you simply don't have the time to manage recruitment yourself, an agency is worth considering.

Posting Your Own Job: What Makes an Effective Advert

If you choose to advertise directly, the quality of your advert makes a significant difference to the quality of applications you receive. Here's what works:

Be specific about the accommodation. Live-in candidates need to know what they're coming home to. Describe the accommodation clearly — self-contained cottage, annexe, staff flat, rooms within the main house. Include whether bills are included. Vague descriptions attract vague applicants.

List the key duties clearly. Don't just write "general housekeeping." If you want someone who can cook family meals three nights a week, manage laundry, and supervise contractors, say so. Candidates who can't meet those requirements will self-select out.

State the working hours honestly. Live-in roles are different to office jobs — boundaries matter more, not less. Be upfront about hours, days off, and whether the role is sole charge or supported by other staff.

Include the salary or a clear range. Adverts without salaries consistently receive fewer applications. Candidates who are experienced and in demand will simply move on to adverts that respect their time.

Mention any specific requirements upfront. DBS check required? Must drive? Non-smoker household? Get these in the advert so you're not filtering them out at interview stage.

Your contact details stay private. You don't need to put a phone number or personal email in your advert. Applications come through our platform, so your privacy is protected throughout.

Ready to Get Started?

Post a job vacancy now →
Register for a free recruiter account →
Search registered candidates →

Hiring Guides by Role

Every role comes with its own considerations — duties, typical salaries, what to look for, and common mistakes to avoid. We're building out individual guides for each staff type below.

• How to Hire a Live-In Domestic Couple (coming soon)
• How to Hire a Live-In Housekeeper (coming soon)
• How to Hire a Live-In Nanny (coming soon)
• How to Hire a Live-In Carer (coming soon)
• How to Hire a Live-In Chef (coming soon)

Live-In-Jobs.co.uk is run by Craig and Kirsten Bruun — 20 years as a live-in domestic couple, seven years in estate management for high-net-worth households across the UK. We built this platform because we know this sector from the inside.