The questions families
actually ask us.
From choosing the right role to salaries, checks, contracts and what happens after somebody starts.
We've grouped the answers by topic so you can get to the useful bit quickly. If your situation is more specific, talk to us — household recruitment rarely fits perfectly into one FAQ.
Finding the right Yaya.
Why does House of Yaya specialise in Filipino nannies?
Filipino nannies and household professionals are the candidate community House of Yaya knows particularly well. We use that specialist network to search for relevant experience and availability, while assessing every candidate individually rather than assuming nationality determines skills or personality.
How do I know whether I need a nanny, nanny-housekeeper or housekeeper?
Start with the actual week: children's ages, school or nursery hours, when hands-on childcare is needed and how much household work there is. A nanny is primarily childcare-led; a nanny-housekeeper combines childcare with realistic agreed household duties; a housekeeper is primarily focused on the home.
How long does it take to find someone?
Many searches take around 2–4 weeks. Allow up to two months where a candidate is working a notice period. Location, hours, salary, the role and who is available all change the timing. It is not a guaranteed timetable.
Can we have a trial?
Yes. A trial can run for up to two days before a permanent commitment. Pay, hours and duties for those days should be agreed with the candidate before they start. If the trial runs longer and does not become permanent, it is treated as a temporary placement. If you hire permanently afterwards, the balance of the placement fee is due. The full rules are in our terms of service.
Salary, agency fees & other costs.
What does House of Yaya charge?
For a permanent placement, we charge a £300 + VAT search fee to begin the search, followed by a £5,300 + VAT placement fee when you hire your Yaya. Temporary and babysitting placements are priced separately. Full details can be found on our Fees page.
What costs sit on top of salary?
Salary is not always the only employment cost to consider. Depending on how your Yaya is employed, you may also need to budget for employer National Insurance, pension contributions and other statutory employment costs or entitlements.For live-in positions, the family provides suitable accommodation. Any additional arrangements - such as travel expenses, meals or allowances - should be discussed and agreed clearly before the role begins. We recommend making the complete package clear from the outset so that both the family and candidate know exactly what has been agreed.
Is the nanny's salary included in the agency fee?
No. Your Yaya's salary and House of Yaya's agency fee are completely separate. The salary is paid by the family to the candidate for their work. Our agency fee covers the search and placement service. We do not take a percentage of the candidate's salary, which means we have no incentive to negotiate a higher salary in order to increase our fee. Our role is to help the family and candidate agree on a package that feels fair and sustainable for both.
One person shouldn't quietly become four jobs.
A good job description is ambitious enough to help the family and realistic enough for one human being to do well.
If childcare is intensive, there is less time for housekeeping. If children are at school for much of the day, a broader nanny-housekeeper role may be practical. We prefer to define that balance before interviews.
Who you meet — and what gets checked.
How does House of Yaya match candidates?
We start with the family's role, schedule, location and expectations, then look for candidates whose relevant experience, availability and working style align. The aim is a considered shortlist rather than a large volume of CVs.
What checks do you carry out?
For UK placements we verify right-to-work documentation. The candidate you hire has an Enhanced DBS check if they do not already have one.
Who checks references?
We recommend you speak with previous employers yourself, so you hear the detail first-hand. We can take the references if you would rather we do it.
Should we choose the candidate with the strongest CV?
Relevant experience matters, but the interview also tells you how someone communicates, approaches the role and feels around the family. A strong placement needs both suitable experience and a relationship that works in practice.
Hours, duties, travel & live-in arrangements.
What can a nanny-housekeeper be expected to do?
The balance should be defined around the children's ages and schedule. Childcare may include school runs, routines, meals and activities; agreed household duties may include laundry, ironing, organisation, family cooking or housekeeping. Full childcare and full housekeeping cannot realistically happen at the same time.
Can a nanny work a 10–12 hour day?
Many roles are built around a 10–12 hour day with proper breaks. The contract should separate working time, genuine breaks and any on-call time, and it has to follow working-time and employment law.
Can our nanny travel with us?
Travel can be part of a role where the candidate is willing and the arrangements are agreed. Hours, accommodation, days off, travel costs, insurance/visa requirements and duties while away should be clarified before the trip.
What should we provide for a live-in nanny?
A live-in nanny should have a private bedroom with suitable storage, and access to appropriate bathroom and kitchen facilities. They also need real privacy and clearly defined off-duty time.
Contracts, right to work & employer responsibilities.
Who employs the nanny?
In a typical placement the family employs the nanny or housekeeper directly. That means payroll, tax, pension, insurance and other statutory duties sit with the family. Take advice from a qualified adviser when you need it. Our employer's guide sets out the practical responsibilities.
What should be in the contract?
At minimum, the working arrangement should clearly document pay, hours, duties, holiday, notice, place of work and other agreed terms. Live-in, travel, babysitting, food allowances or other role-specific arrangements should also be explicit where relevant.
What about visas and right to work?
We check that a candidate has the right to work in the UK. You still need to confirm that permission covers the job you are offering. A private household cannot sponsor every visa route. Our domestic worker visa guide explains the overseas route.
Do we need to register with HMRC?
Families who employ a nanny directly often need to register as an employer and run payroll. This page is not tax advice. Current official guidance is on GOV.UK, and our salary calculator can show how gross pay breaks down.
A placement is a relationship, not a handover.
What happens if the placement doesn't work?
Permanent placements include one free replacement within three months, subject to the conditions in our terms of service. Read those conditions before you rely on the replacement.
Does House of Yaya stay involved after placement?
Yes. We stay in touch after the start date. If something is not working, contact us and we will help under the replacement terms. We are not a 24-hour emergency line.
What if the role changes later?
Children grow and household routines change. Discuss material changes to hours, duties or working arrangements with the employee rather than allowing the job to expand informally, and update written terms where appropriate.
Where can I ask something not covered here?
Contact House of Yaya with the specifics of your household and role. Questions about tax, immigration, employment law or medical care may also require the relevant qualified adviser or official guidance.
Ask us the
specific question.
Tell us about your family and the role you're considering. We'll answer what we can and point you to specialist advice where needed.