Domestic Couple
Domestic Couples are responsible for the overall care and upkeep of the interiors and exteriors of all structures on a property. This includes but is not limited to all amenities and grounds. Domestic couples are generally comprised of one individual who manages the interior cleaning and / or cooking while the other manages exterior upkeep and minor interior repairs. The couple is also generally responsible for co-managing all service and entertaining within residence.
Domestic working couples are commonly defined as; ‘Two persons employed in the capacity of a unit working different roles but striving for the same outcome.’ Generally, a married couple or persons of long-term partnership who have worked as a couple in the past bearing excellent recommendations are suitable candidates.
They are available to work in the city, countryside or overseas and are an especially popular option for country homes/weekend properties where there is a need for two people to provide security and maintenance when the property is unoccupied and to help out with a variety of tasks when you are in residence. A resident couple can also take care of animals for you allowing the luxury of having pets at a part time residence.
- Museum-quality deep & maintenance cleaning; polishing fine surfaces
- Wardrobe management; laundry and ironing services
- Meal planning and cooking for daily meals and special events
- Setting formal tables; serving meals and drinks; polishing glassware, silver and china
- Running errands, procuring supplies, and managing inventories
- Seamlessly working as a team and willingness to handle overlapping responsibilities; previous experience working together in a professional capacity
- Execution of housekeeping, cooking, laundry, grounds maintenance, and general household repair
- Chauffeuring principals, children, and guests to requested destinations
- Overseeing construction projects, vendors, and additional staff
Here are some Domestic Couple combinations to consider. This is not an extensive list, there are many more combinations that we can find for you and most of our couples are very multi skilled and work together as a team helping one another with their tasks.
- Housekeeper, Cook / Handyman, Gardener.
- Housekeeper / Butler, Chef
- Housekeeper / Chauffeur, Handyman
- Housekeeper / Gamekeeper
- Housekeeper, Nanny / Handyman, Gardener
- House Management Couple
- Estate Management Couple
- Starting salaries are from £800 to £1200 and above net per week per couple.
- The annual salary depends on the actual role, credentials, experience, and duties, as well as previous salaries had.
- Room & board to be provided by the family.
- Weekly wages above are presented to you as a guide. Final salary always varies depending on the overall package offered.
Butlers are a specialised type of household staff responsible for efficiently running a formal household and meeting the employer’s personal needs.
House or Estate Managers coordinate the smooth operation of your household, anticipating and managing daily family challenges.
A good housekeeper provides the client with a wide variety of professional domestic services and takes on the responsibilities of cleaning, laundry, cooking and running errands. Each household is unique therefore the duties and responsibilities are usually discussed at interview stage.
A Live-In Housekeeper gives a wide range of support and care to your family. It gives you the flexibility to call on them for additional hours if you need extra support. Live-In Housekeeper is a favourable option for many clients.
A Housekeeper Nanny is required when duties involve the household and not just the children. The duties are wide ranging, depending on the needs of the family.
For clients with large homes, estates or gardens, a domestic couple may be the most suitable choice.
Hiring a houseman is fantastic solution for many households, a houseman ensures the general upkeep of a home, offers versatility and added security for the household.
A private personal chef can be an excellent option for a household that require a high standard of cooking while also tailoring the meals to specific personal preferences.
In home Elderly Carers and Companions help makes aging at home possible, by running routine errands, doing light housekeeping and providing a helping hand with the everyday tasks that often become more difficult for the elderly.
An estate manager is required when there are large, multi-property estates owned by a family. An estate manager’s focus is largely on a bigger picture, making sure that each home runs consistently and efficiently.
A Lady’s Maid is hired to serve as a lady-in-waiting to her female employer. This means she serves as a personal maid to the lady of the house. The valet is a manservant to the gentleman of the house.
How We Work
Once you’ve decided what type of services you’re looking for, you need to register with Forbes Private Staff by filling out our client registration form. This will ask you to list your candidate preferences and unique requirements, as well as you will be able to read our Term of Business and familiarise yourself with our fees. Once registration is received, your information will be carefully reviewed by a member of our staff who will then contact you directly to discuss all your specific requirements in a greater detail, to note down all the final information we need to start your perfect candidate search.
The Steps We Follow
- Understanding Your Needs
- The Matchmaking Process
- Interview
- Contract
- Follow Up and Ongoing Support
Placement Fees
At Forbes Private Staff it is crucial that the candidate you choose is the right match for your family, and to ensure this we provide 12 weeks of free replacement and ongoing after-placement support.
UK Placements
- Client registration Fee – FREE
- Permanent Full-Time Placement in Childcare (52 weeks + ) - 15% of the Annual Salary
- Permanent Full-Time Placement in Private Household (52 weeks +) – 15% of the Annual Salary
- Full-time Governess or Tutor Placements – 17% of the Annual Salary
- Full-Time Dual Residency Placements - required to work in the UK and Overseas - 18% of the Annual Salary
- Part-Time Governess or Tutor Placements – 19% of the Annual Salary
- After School Childcare Placements – 18% of the Annual Salary
- Part-Time Placements in Childcare and Private Households – 18% of the Annual Salary
- Maternity Nurses - £170 per week, min 2 weeks.
- Temporary Placements – £100 per day or £450 per week.
- Trials - £450 per week, up to 4 consecutive weeks; or fixed daily fee of £90.
Overseas Placements
- Client Registration Fee - FREE for Permanent Placements
- Client Registration Fee - £100 for Temporary or Holiday Placements
- All Permanent Placements – 20% of the Annual Salary
- Maternity Nurses - £230 per week, min 2 weeks
- Temporary Placements – £100 per day or £500 per week.
- Trials - £500 per week, up to 4 consecutive weeks.
To our loyal returning clients and our current client referrals, we offer a 10% discount on your placement fees.
Our Registration is FREE of charge to all our candidates.
For more information, please contact us or register online, and we’ll contact you to discuss your requirements and answer any questions you might have.
What our clients say about us?
‘Impeccable staff, trustworthy and punctual. A great company to deal with who consistently deliver. Highly recommended.’
‘I’d like to say how pleased I and my wife have been with the service we received from you and from our housekeeper who has been reliable and efficient throughout the several years she’s been with us. All the best for the future.’
‘You were more than helpful at arranging the service I wanted and it was executed perfectly. I will most definitely be using your services again. Thank you.’
