House Manager Jobs: Duties, Pay and How to Get Hired

A private house manager runs a high-end home so the family does not have to. You lead staff, keep the property working, hold the budget and stay one step ahead of the principals. Browse current house manager jobs when you are ready. This guide covers duties, live-in vs live-out, pay from live listings, skills families ask for, and how to compare two offers side by side.

What a house manager does

In a private household the house manager is usually the person who makes the residence run: staff, suppliers, maintenance, presentation and the principals' day-to-day requests. Exact boundaries depend on the job description. Some homes keep childcare with a nanny or governess and cooking with a chef; others want a blended role with housekeeping, light cooking or family support. Read each listing rather than assuming a fixed split.

Scope also depends on the property. A fully staffed London residence may need someone to lead a large indoor team; a dual-home overseas post may need someone autonomous who can open and close houses around family stays. In a multi-property household the next step up is often an estate manager. Many candidates move from nanny, butler or head housekeeper roles — see from nanny to household manager.

Daily and weekly duties checklist

No two households match exactly. Current house manager listings on Jobs in Childcare ask for work along these lines:

• Staff leadership. Leading, managing and motivating household staff, including recruitment, training and day-to-day HR where the home is fully staffed.
• Property and systems. Planned and reactive maintenance; oversight of systems such as air conditioning, heating, security, AV and integrated technology; opening and closing the house around travel.
• Suppliers and contractors. Liaising with contractors and service providers so works are completed to the standard the principals expect.
• Presentation and upkeep. Keeping residences ready for arrival, including housekeeping to a high standard where that is part of the brief.
• Principal liaison. Acting as a clear point of contact for requests, guests and household decisions.
• Hands-on cover. Stepping in wherever needed — service, errands, light housekeeping, light cooking or receiving deliveries, depending on the post.

A working week often includes staff briefings, a property walk-through, supplier follow-ups and a short update for the principals. Busy periods follow the family's diary — travel, guests and time in residence — so plan from the listing and handover, not a generic calendar.

Managing staff, suppliers and budgets

Where the home is fully staffed, leadership is core: you own how the team performs, not only your own tasks.

• Staff. Shortlist with the family where asked, set standards, resolve friction early and arrange cover for leave and travel.
• Suppliers. Hold preferred contacts, compare quotes, book around the diary and check quality before approving invoices.
• Budgets. Track spend, flag overruns, raise tenders for larger works and keep a clear paper trail.

A current West London UHNW listing asks the house manager to lead a large household team, oversee maintenance and refurbishment, and develop, manage and authorise household budgets, tenders and proposals. Treat that as one senior post's brief, not a template for every role.

Live-in vs live-out

• Live-out. You commute and leave when the working day ends. Accommodation is not part of the package. Check the rota — a current West London role is five days a week including every other weekend.
• Live-in. Accommodation comes with the job. You stay closer when the family is away or guests arrive. Some posts relocate between homes, as in a current Saint-Tropez role that also covers a French Alps winter residence.
• Hybrid. Only where the listing says so — for example live-out as default, with a room when the principals are in residence or when you travel with them.

Choose on lifestyle as much as pay. Confirm the rota, weekend pattern, overnight expectations and what accommodation includes.

Pay

Pay depends on the post. Check whether a figure is labelled gross or net, and whether accommodation, flights or a car are included.

Current house manager listings on Jobs in Childcare:

• A full-time House Manager for a UHNW private residence in West London is advertised at £90,000 to £100,000 per annum, depending on experience, five days a week including every other weekend. The listing does not state whether that figure is gross or net.
• A live-in Housekeeper / House Manager covering Saint-Tropez and a French Alps winter residence is advertised at about €3,000 net a month, depending on experience, plus accommodation.

That is two roles, so treat it as a snapshot of what is on the board now, not a market rate. There is currently no Dubai or UAE house manager listing with a stated salary on the board.

For UK posts, if you are unsure about employment status, use HMRC's Check Employment Status for Tax tool.

Skills and backgrounds families hire

Families want proof you have already run a private home or comparable luxury operation. The live listings above ask for:

• Prior house manager or housekeeper / house manager experience in a UHNW or formal private household
• Leadership of household staff, including recruitment, training and ongoing HR where the team is large
• Clear communication with principals, staff, guests, contractors and suppliers
• Technical understanding of household systems and property operations
• Service standards, including food and beverage knowledge and overall presentation where relevant
• Budget work — developing, managing and authorising household budgets, tenders and proposals where that is listed
• Autonomy and reliability for posts where you are the sole household lead when the family is away
• Willingness to relocate seasonally between residences when the job requires it
• Right to work in the country of the role, and references available on request

A hospitality background can help when the house is run to a hotel standard; a nanny or governess background can help in a family-led home. Current senior listings also want someone willing to roll up their sleeves.

Comparing two offers

When two roles appear at once, in London, Dubai or anywhere else, compare the contracts side by side rather than the headline figures:

• Pay and currency. Is the figure annual or monthly? Gross or net? What is included (accommodation, flights, transport, medical cover)?
• Accommodation. Live-in, live-out or hybrid? Who pays utilities? Is a private room or separate staff housing provided?
• Hours and rota. Days on and off, weekend pattern, on-call expectations, and whether the schedule changes when the principals travel.
• Work authorisation. Right to work already in place, or sponsorship / visa handled by the employer? Who pays fees and how long does clearance take?
• Scope. One residence or several? Size of team? Hands-on only, or budgets and contractor authority as well?

For London household openings more broadly, see household staff jobs in London. For UAE household openings, browse jobs in Dubai and the house manager category. For multi-property oversight, use the estate manager comparison linked above.

How to apply

1. Create or update your Jobs in Childcare profile with clear dates, household types and team sizes you have managed.
2. Lead with leadership evidence: staff numbers, budgets held, properties covered and systems you owned.
3. State that references are available on request — share referee details only when the employer asks.
4. State live-in or live-out preference, weekend availability and right to work.
5. Apply through the listing on the site to the advertising employer (that may be a family or an agency posting on their behalf).

Short, specific applications beat long generic ones. Name the property type you know and the team size you have led.

FAQ

What does a private house manager do?

They keep the household running — staff, suppliers, maintenance, budgets and principal liaison — to the brief in each job description. Some posts are pure management; others blend housekeeping or light cooking.

How much do house manager jobs pay?

Current Jobs in Childcare listings include a West London UHNW House Manager at £90,000 to £100,000 per annum (gross/net not stated on the listing), and a live-in Housekeeper / House Manager in Saint-Tropez at about €3,000 net a month plus accommodation. There is no current Dubai house manager salary on the board to quote.

Is house manager the same as estate manager?

Not usually. A house manager often runs one residence; an estate manager typically oversees several properties and a wider team. See our estate manager vs household manager comparison, and still read the individual listing.

Can I move from nanny to house manager?

Yes, if you can show leadership, budgeting and vendor management beyond childcare. Read from nanny to household manager for how to make that shift.

Jobs in Childcare is a job board. Agencies and other employers post vacancies here, and you apply through the site to the advertising employer for each role.

Ready to look? Browse live house manager jobs and apply through Jobs in Childcare.