MyHome Lifestyles · Useful Guides & Articles
Practical guidance from 20+ years of placing exceptional household professionals — on hiring, employment law, childcare, and the art of a well-run home.
Latest & most read
In Surrey's most distinguished residences — from the established homes of Guildford to the private estates of Virginia Water — housekeeping is not simply maintenance. It is stewardship. This guide explores what exclusive housekeeping means, what it requires, and how to find the right person.
Read the full guideNannies & childcare
A practical guide to the key differences between live-in and live-out arrangements, the questions to ask yourself, and how each model affects daily family life.
An important conversation handled with care. This guide covers how to prepare your child, manage the transition, and ensure the relationship gets off to the right start.
Every nanny on our register is personally interviewed, DBS checked and fully referenced. Here we explain each stage of our vetting process and why it matters.
Hiring guides, role types, salary ranges, live-in arrangements and what to look for in a great housekeeper.
Vetting, PAYE, live-in vs live-out, helping children adjust, and what sole charge really means.
PAYE, employer NI, contracts, right-to-work checks, DBS, maternity rights and everything the Employment Rights Act 2025 changed.
Household DNA, staff training, lifestyle management, discretion, and the standards of a truly well-run private home.
Housekeeping & employment
What discretion genuinely means in a private household, how professional staffing agencies protect your privacy, and why NDA arrangements are increasingly common for UHNW clients.
A parent's guide to the emotional and practical preparation that helps children start school with confidence — and how a well-matched nanny can be the most stabilising presence during the transition.
Current market rates for full-time, part-time, live-in and live-out housekeepers across Surrey and Sussex — with guidance on how to structure a fair and competitive offer.
A well-written brief produces a better match. This guide explains what to include, what to leave out, and how to communicate your household's character — not just its requirements.
Most families are surprised to learn that nannies are employees in law, not self-employed. This guide explains what that means, what it costs, and how to get it right.
Two very different roles, often confused. This guide explains the distinction, when each is appropriate, and what to look for when deciding which one your household genuinely needs.
Day one unfair dismissal rights, zero-hours contract reform, SSP from Day 1 — the 2025 Act changed the rules significantly. Here is what it means if you employ household staff.
18 sections covering everything a household employer needs to know — contracts, PAYE, DBS, right-to-work, maternity rights, the Employment Rights Act 2025 and salary thresholds for 2025/26. Written for families across Surrey, Sussex and Kent.