Housekeeper Duties, Skills Required and Types of Housekeepers We Offer

Housekeepers are responsible for all the household chores and general upkeep of the house. They are expected to use their own initiative to organise, manage and run the house, without much instruction from the employer.

Duties of a housekeeper may include:

keeping the house clean and tidy, dust, vacuum, mop floors, change beds, clean, do the laundry and ironing, wardrobe organisation and management, help with errands, shopping, cooking and looking after pets.

Skills required: 

the ability to use own initiative, be well organised, thorough and pay attention to detail, be flexible, open to change and able to adapt to a specific household, be able to prioritize what needs to be done, have good time management skills, patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations, have good knowledge of cleaning products, understanding of different fabrics and washing instructions.

Our restrictions and requirements: 

minimum of 2 years of paid experience and excellent references, the candidate may be also required to present a DBS from their country of origin.

Salary:

the salary of a housekeeper in London ranges from £11 to £15 an hour net, depending on the experience, family’s requirements and the number of hours they work per week. 

Types of housekeepers we offer:

Live out housekeepers

A live out housekeeper is a person who is employed and responsible to keep the house clean and tidy. They can also oversee the tradesmen, keep a record of supply and have a system in place to run the house smoothly. They may also be responsible for overseeing other housekeepers, performing spot checks, assisting with the recruitment of new staff etc. Live out housekeepers can be employed on a full time or a part time basis depending on the family’s needs. 

 Live in housekeepers

A live in housekeeper lives in the house instead of arriving and leaving each day. They are usually from another country without a partner and children and are more flexible to live in. They may be employed on part time or full basis, for a couple of hours every day or 10 hours each day with one or two days off per week depending on the number of hours they work.

Housekeeper nannies

Housekeeper nannies are more popular in households with families with school aged children. They split their duties between childcare and housekeeping. The split can be for example 70% housekeeping and 30% childcare, the other way around, or 50 – 50 split. It could also vary from week to week. Housekeeper nannies can be employed on a part time or a full time basis and be live in or live out of the house. They will need a minimum of 2 years of paid experience in both housekeeping and childcare to be considered for a housekeeper nanny position. 

Housekeeper cooks

Housekeeper cook on top of general housekeeping duties and may also be responsible for preparing and serving all the meals; breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, writing menus and following any specific dietary requirements. They may also be in charge of stock cupboards, food orders and receiving deliveries. To apply for a housekeeper cook position a candidate will need to have at least two years of paid experience in both housekeeping and being a chef either from a private household, restaurant or a pub.

Housekeeper carers

Housekeeper carers can be full time or part time, live in or live out. They can be live in for a few days a week or permanently, depending on the needs of the family. The family may need a housekeeper carer for a few hours a week or several hours a day and they can be temporary or long term. Housekeeper carers can provide assistance around the house and with daily life such as housekeeping, running errands, shopping, supporting someone’s mobility in and outside the house, attending various appointments together, providing support in bathing, dressing, personal hygiene and ensuring medications are taken appropriately. The rate of a housekeeper carer will depend on how much help is needed. A typical hourly rate for a carer is around £15 an hour net. All our housekeeper carers have a minimum of 2 years of paid experience, excellent references, valid First Aid certificates and DBS.

Housekeeper companions

Housekeeper companions can be live in or live out, temporary or permanent and work for a few hours a week or several hours a day. Their main responsibilities are housekeeping and providing companionship. Because they don’t need any specific skills like a carer their rates are lower, about £11 - 12 an hour net.