Role & Responsibilities
Housekeeper
Entrusted with the most private rooms and the most precious things. The professional who keeps a fine home exactly as it should be. What the role involves, the standard it is held to, the package it commands, and the positions open now.
Understanding the role
The care of a fine home.
In a residence of this calibre, a Housekeeper is entrusted with far more than rooms. Couture wardrobes, fine art, antique textiles and the family’s most private spaces are in their care. These are the responsibilities that fill the day, and the depth each one brings to a private household.
Presentation to a five-star standard
Keeping every room ordered and ready to the standard of a fine hotel, with the warmth of a family home.
Couture and wardrobe care
Laundering, pressing and storing couture, delicate fabrics and fine linen correctly.
Art, antiques and fine materials
Caring for antiques, marble, silk and works of art, and working alongside specialist conservators.
Opening and closing residences
Preparing homes ahead of the family’s arrival and securing them on departure, across every residence.
Inventories and records
Keeping detailed, often photographic, inventories of wardrobes, linen, silver and household contents.
Confidentiality and security
Working within the family’s most private spaces, under confidentiality agreements and security protocols.
The Benchmark
The Benchmark for a Housekeeper
Every Housekeeper we represent is measured against The Benchmark – our standard for character, capability and discretion. Three years is simply the minimum to join our network; most bring far more. Our professionals step into a role ready to excel, never to be trained. For this role, that means:
- Training in luxury hospitality or private household housekeeping
- Three years in private households of comparable standing or five-star hotels
- Expert care of couture, fine fabrics, antiques and specialist materials
- Practised in opening and closing residences and keeping exact inventories
- References from private households of comparable standing, and a commitment to confidentiality
- Basic DBS or a police clearance certificate from each country of residence
Experience, references and background checks are verified before any introduction is made. We do not forward CVs – we shortlist and select, so a client meets only the professionals we would place with confidence. See our full standards.
Typical Package
What to expect, from either side of the placement.
A guide for clients and professionals alike. Packages reflect the professional’s experience and the scope of the household, across every residence and every country. All figures are gross per year.
- Housekeeper Private residence
- £45,000 – £60,000 per year
- Presentation and care of one residence, often within a larger household team.
- Senior Housekeeper Couture and collections
- £50,000 – £75,000 per year
- Full responsibility for wardrobes, fine materials and collections within the residence.
- Travelling Housekeeper Multiple residences
- £60,000 – £85,000 per year
- Preparing and caring for several residences, travelling ahead of the family. Packages typically add accommodation, meals and flights.
- Head Housekeeper Senior appointment
- £65,000 – £85,000 per year
- Leading a housekeeping team across a large residence or estate – standards, rotas and inventories.
Every package is agreed privately between family and professional. We review this guidance each year against the placements we make.
Opportunities
Housekeeper Roles Open Now
A live selection of the housekeeper positions currently open across the households, estates, and families we serve worldwide. Registered professionals can apply in a click.
View all Housekeeper rolesThe questions we are asked most
What is the difference between a housekeeper and a head housekeeper?
A housekeeper cares for the presentation of the residence and its contents. A head housekeeper leads the housekeeping team, sets standards and rotas, and holds the inventories across one or several homes.
What experience does a housekeeper need?
At least three years in private households of comparable standing or five-star hotels, with proven care of couture, fine fabrics and antiques.
Does a housekeeper live in or live out?
Both arrangements are common. Live-in roles suit travelling households and clients with several residences; live-out roles are typical in city homes in London and Dubai. The arrangement is agreed at the outset.
What hours does a housekeeper work?
Usually a set daily schedule, extended around arrivals and events. Hours and days off are agreed in the contract before placement.
How is the salary agreed?
Every package is agreed privately between client and professional, with our consultants guiding both sides to a figure that reflects experience and the scope of the role. Salaries are quoted gross, and live-in or travelling roles typically include accommodation, meals and flights.
How long does it take to place a housekeeper?
Where the professional is free and available, the process from first interview to offer can be completed within seven days. We select from an established network rather than advertising, so the pace of every placement is set by the client’s needs – and we work to match it.
Register Your Interest
Begin the Conversation
Join our selected network, or tell us what your household needs. Either way, a senior consultant will be in touch personally.