How to Hire Exceptional Household Staff in London: A Step-by-Step Guide for Discerning Families

Once you understand your household’s needs, it’s time to translate them into specific roles. Are you seeking a full-time housekeeper, or would part-time support suffice? Do you require a private chef skilled in plant-based cooking, or a nanny with a background in early childhood education?

Your household may benefit from one or more of the following services:

• Professional Chauffeuring
• Experienced Nannies or Governesses
• Private Chefs or Cooks
• Daily or Live-in Housekeepers
• Household Managers or Butlers
• Laundry and Wardrobe Specialists

Your consultant at Knightsbridge Household Staff will help you decide which roles best suit your lifestyle, budget, and household dynamic.

Exceptional candidates are selective, and rightly so. A thoughtfully written job description is your first opportunity to attract the right professional. The job brief should outline core responsibilities, working hours, required experience, and any specialist skills. It should also subtly convey the tone of your home: formal or relaxed, fast paced or structured.

At Knightsbridge Household Staff, our consultants will refine your job description to ensure it aligns with industry standards and appeals to the most qualified candidates.

Knightsbridge Household Staff represents many exceptional candidates but never takes short cuts so will always advertise a job just to ensure that our clients have the best choice of candidates available.

So once your job description is finalised, your consultant will craft a targeted and compelling advertisement that clearly outlines the role, your household’s expectations, salary range, location, and additional benefits.

Strategic advertising ensures that your opportunity is seen by the most qualified professionals – without compromising discretion. Your privacy remains protected, and your position gets the visibility it deserves.

With applications underway, your KHS consultant will meticulously review each CV prior to an in depth interview to shortlist only those candidates who meet your criteria. This screening process assesses:

• Relevant domestic experience
• Verified references from reputable households
• Skillset compatibility
• Personality and cultural fit with your home environment

The onboarding phase is crucial for setting clear expectations and ensuring a smooth transition, so take the time to introduce your new staff member properly.

This process may include:

• A full orientation of your property
• Clarifying schedules and routines
• Outlining household protocols and standards
• Providing access credentials and emergency procedures

For homes with senior staff such as butlers or house managers, onboarding and training can often be delegated to them, but it should still reflect your personal touch.

This stage sets the tone for the relationship. The more clarity you provide upfront, the smoother the integration will be.

Great staff deserve great (and ongoing) management. This is vital to maintaining high performance and job satisfaction. Regular reviews, open communication, and clear delegation of duties are key to long-term success.

As your household evolves, your staffing needs may shift. What began as a single hire could evolve into a larger team. At that stage, it may become necessary to appoint a house manager or chief of staff to oversee daily operations and personnel management.

Knightsbridge Household Staff (KHS) is a leading domestic staffing agency in London, known for total discretion, professionalism, impeccable standards and a very personal and tailor-made service. For over 20 years, we have specialised in sourcing and placing exceptional household staff who are not only experienced and highly qualified but also aligned with a household’s values and lifestyle – as successful placements are all about the ‘fit’.

Whether you require a full household team or a single outstanding housekeeper, we are here to support you at every stage of the recruitment process.

Please contact us today to begin your journey towards a more organised, calm and smoothly run household.