Hire a Live-In Nanny

How Does a Live-In Nanny Differ from a Live-Out Nanny?

A live-in nanny is a professional childcare provider who lives in the family home and cares for your children during agreed hours.

The main difference between a live-in nanny and a live-out nanny is accommodation. Before you hire a live-in nanny, you will need to make sure you are able to offer suitable living space, which is typically a private bedroom with good storage, and where possible, a separate bathroom. This allows your nanny to have a comfortable and practical base within your home, and will support a professional and respectful working relationship.

This does not mean a live-in nanny is always working. The arrangement still needs clear working hours, agreed duties, time off and a proper nanny’s contract. Read our article for more information on requirements around hiring a live-in nanny.

Live-In Nanny Salary and Cost

The cost of hiring a live-in nanny will depend on the role, the nanny’s experience and the hours required each week. The number and age of your children will also affect salary expectations, especially if the role involves babies, school-age children or children with SEN.

If you need weekend care, regular travel with your family or occasional babysitting outside the agreed working hours, this should be discussed during the interview stage with your nanny and reflected in the pay and contract.

Because a live-in nanny is provided with accommodation and meals, salary is often discussed differently from a live-out role. Even so, the weekly wage is only one part of the overall cost. The full cost of employing a live-in nanny includes:

• The nanny’s salary
• Tax and National Insurance contributions
• Payroll support
• Employer’s liability insurance
• Pension contributions, where applicable
• Holiday entitlement
• Food, utilities and accommodation
• Any agreed travel or work-related expenses

For a detailed explanation of the things parents need to consider about pay before hiring a nanny, you should read the NannyTax nanny salary guide.

When you work with Nannies Matter, we will take the time to understand your full needs, so we can use our experience and knowledge of the market to set realistic salary expectations. We will also support you with guidance on tax, National Insurance and payslips once you have employed your nanny.

Working Hours and Duties

A live-in nanny’s working schedule should be agreed before employment begins. Many live-in nannies work full-time, often across Monday to Friday, with hours set around the family’s daily routine.

Some families need help from breakfast through to the end of the school day. Others need support with early mornings, school runs, after-school activities, bath time or occasional babysitting. Any additional evening or weekend work needs to be agreed separately and included in the contract.

Typically, a live-in nanny will take on duties including:

• Getting children ready for school or nursery
• School drop-offs and pick-ups
• Preparing nutritious meals and snacks for the children
• Planning age-appropriate activities
• Helping with homework and reading
• Arranging play dates and outings
• Supporting daily routines, naps and bedtime
• Taking children to clubs, appointments or activities
• Keeping children’s bedrooms and play areas tidy
• Children’s laundry and light household duties linked to the children

A nanny is not usually responsible for general housekeeping unless this has been agreed in advance. If you need broader household support, a nanny housekeeper may be a better fit.

Accommodation Requirements

A live-in nanny needs a comfortable and private space in your home. There is no single legal checklist for what the room must include, but the accommodation should be suitable for the arrangement and clearly agreed before the role begins.

Most families provide:

• A private bedroom
• Suitable storage
• Wi-Fi access
• Space to relax when off duty
• Access to a bathroom, preferably a separate bathroom where possible
• Meals as part of the arrangement

Some households provide a bedroom and shared bathroom. Others offer a separate annex, floor or self-contained space. How you approach this will depend on your home, but privacy and clear boundaries are important for both you and your nanny.

Accommodation can also affect pay, tax and National Minimum Wage calculations, so the arrangement should be reflected clearly in the contract and payroll setup. The team at Nannies Matter can guide you on these matters.

House rules should also be discussed early. Families should create sensible boundaries around privacy, use of shared space and time off. This could include use of the kitchen, guests, pets, parking and what happens during weekends or family holidays.

Qualifications and Experience

A good live-in nanny should have relevant childcare experience, strong references and the right temperament for working closely with a family.

Depending on the role, you may want a nanny with experience in early years education, school-age children, babies, SEN support, travel, sole charge care or working with two children of different ages.

Nannies Matter looks carefully at experience, qualifications and fit. We want to understand what a candidate has done before, and how effectively they work with children, communicate with parents and support the rhythm of a household.

Our Vetting Process

As a specialist nanny recruitment agency, Nannies Matter takes care of the search, checks and shortlisting process for you. This process starts when we speak with you and establish your exact needs. Once we understand this, we will find suitable candidates.

When we shortlist nannies for you to interview, you can be sure we review their background and suitability for the role. This includes:

• Face-to-face interviews
• Background checks, including identity verification and criminal history
• Right-to-work checks
• Disclosure and Barring Service checks
• Review of qualifications and previous experience
• First Aid training and certification
• Discussion of working style, communication and expectations

We will then introduce candidates who match your brief. You meet the nannies we recommend and choose the person who feels right for your family.

Your Responsibilities as an Employer

When you hire a live-in nanny, you will become their employer. Live-in roles are generally more straightforward when employment terms, pay, and working hours are clearly documented from the start. Because of this, there are employment, tax and payroll responsibilities to consider.

These include:

• Checking the nanny has the legal right to work in the UK
• Providing an employment contract or written terms
• Registering as an employer where required
• Running payroll or using a payroll provider
• Deducting Income Tax and National Insurance
• Providing payslips
• Paying at least the legal minimum wage
• Providing holiday entitlement and other statutory rights
• Having employer’s liability insurance

This can feel unfamiliar if you have not employed someone in your home before. Nannies Matter will make sure you understand what needs to be in place, and connect you with specialist support where needed.

How to Hire a Live-In Nanny Through Nannies Matter

The process starts with a conversation. We ask about your children, home and working schedule, alongside the support you need and the type of nanny who would suit your household.

From there, we build a clear job brief. This includes duties, hours, accommodation, salary expectations, location and any specific requirements such as travel, pets, babies, early years experience or support for school-age children.

We then search for suitable candidates, complete the relevant checks and prepare a shortlist. The benefits of using Nannies Matter include stronger matching and practical support at each stage of the process. You can speak with the candidates, arrange a trial where appropriate and make the final decision.

If you’re ready to hire a live-in nanny, don’t forget to read our guide on how to interview your nanny.

Frequently Asked Questions About Live-In Nannies

What accommodation do I need to provide for a live-in nanny?

A live-in nanny should have a private bedroom that gives them space to rest properly when they are off duty. This should usually include suitable storage, Wi-Fi access and enough privacy for the arrangement to feel comfortable and professional.

A separate bathroom is preferred where possible, although some households provide a shared bathroom. Meals are usually included as part of the role. It is also helpful to agree house rules early, including use of the kitchen, guests, parking, pets, family holidays and what happens during evenings or weekends.

What hours does a live-in nanny usually work?

Many live-in nannies work full-time hours, often Monday to Friday, but the exact working schedule depends on the family’s routine. Some families need help from breakfast through to the end of the school day, while others need support into the early evening with meals, homework, bath time or bedtime.

Living in the home does not mean the nanny is always available. Working hours, time off, babysitting, weekend work and travel should be agreed before the role begins and set out clearly in the nanny’s contract.

What duties are included in a live-in nanny role?

A live-in nanny’s duties are usually focused on the children. This may include school runs, preparing children’s meals, planning age-appropriate activities, helping with homework, supporting daily routines and keeping parents updated on the children’s day.

Nursery duties are also often part of the role. These may include children’s laundry, keeping bedrooms and play areas tidy, packing school bags and helping to organise children’s appointments or activities. General housekeeping should only be included if it has been discussed and agreed clearly from the start.

What is the difference between a live-in nanny and an au pair?

A live-in nanny is an employed childcare professional with agreed duties, working hours, salary and responsibilities. They may have several years of childcare experience, relevant qualifications and sole charge experience, depending on the role.

An au pair is usually a younger person who lives with a family as part of a cultural exchange and provides lighter childcare support. An au pair should not be treated as a replacement for a professional nanny, especially where a family needs full-time care, sole charge responsibility or support for younger children.

How long does it take to find a live-in nanny?

The timescale depends on your location, requirements and candidate availability. A straightforward search may move quickly, while a more specific brief can take longer, especially if you need certain qualifications, language skills, SEN experience, travel support or a nanny who is happy around pets.

The process usually starts with a conversation about your children, home, duties, hours, accommodation and salary expectations. Nannies Matter then searches for suitable candidates, completes the relevant checks and prepares a shortlist. You can then interview candidates and arrange a trial where appropriate before making a final decision.

Start Your Nanny Search

If you are ready to hire a live-in nanny, or you would like to talk through whether a live-in arrangement is right for your family, we would be glad to help. 

Call 07736 337065 or fill in our contact form to start the process. We support families across Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the wider Home Counties, helping them find experienced nannies who fit their home, routine and children.