How to Vet Domestic Staff Before Hiring

Hiring domestic staff is a decision that requires careful consideration. A CV may show experience, but it does not always reveal how a candidate performs inside a private household.

For private, HNW and UHNW families, professional screening is particularly important. Domestic staff may have access to the family home, personal information, valuable possessions, children, vehicles and private schedules.

Knowing how to vet domestic staff before hiring helps employers make more informed recruitment decisions and reduce the risk of a poor placement.

At Fully Staffed, we provide discreet domestic staff recruitment for private families across London, the UK and internationally. Our approach focuses on experience, suitability, professionalism, references and the specific requirements of each household.

What Does Vetting Domestic Staff Involve?

Vetting domestic staff means assessing a candidate beyond their CV.

A thorough process can include reviewing:

• Previous private household experience
• Employment history
• References
• Professional skills
• Qualifications where relevant
• Right to work
• Communication and presentation
• Discretion and confidentiality
• Role-specific experience
• Suitability for the household
• Availability and working arrangements

However, vetting should not be treated as a simple checklist.

The key question is whether the candidate is genuinely suitable for your household.

A professional who performed exceptionally well in one residence may not necessarily be the right fit for another.

Why Domestic Staff Vetting Matters

Domestic staff work in an environment that is highly personal.

A housekeeper may have access to bedrooms, wardrobes and personal belongings. A nanny may care for children without the employer being present. A chauffeur may know family schedules and travel arrangements. A House Manager may have responsibility for multiple members of staff and external suppliers.

Therefore, trust is an essential part of the recruitment process.

Professional vetting can help employers identify inconsistencies, verify experience and understand how a candidate has performed in previous positions.

It also gives the employer an opportunity to establish expectations before making an offer.

1. Review the Candidate’s Employment History

Start by looking beyond job titles.

Ask what the candidate actually did in each position.

For example, a candidate may describe themselves as a housekeeper. However, their previous responsibilities might have included only general cleaning.

Another housekeeper may have managed laundry, wardrobe care, household supplies, entertaining preparation and junior staff.

These are very different levels of experience.

Look at:

• Types of properties
• Household size
• Number of staff
• Principal’s requirements
• Length of employment
• Main responsibilities
• Reporting structure
• Reason for leaving

The objective is to establish whether previous experience is relevant to your household.

Our guide on choosing the right domestic staff for your family’s lifestyle explains why experience should always be considered alongside household compatibility.

2. Check Professional References

References are one of the most important parts of domestic staff recruitment.

A CV tells you what a candidate says they have done. A reference can provide an employer’s perspective on how they actually performed.

Useful reference questions can cover:

• Reliability
• Professionalism
• Responsibilities
• Quality of work
• Communication
• Independence
• Discretion
• Relationship with the family
• Reason for leaving
• Overall suitability

Where possible, references should come from relevant previous employers or senior household contacts.

For a detailed approach, see our guide on how to conduct references for private household staff.

3. Verify the Candidate’s Experience

Do not rely only on general statements such as:

“Experienced in UHNW households.”

Ask for specific examples.

What was the property like?

How many people lived there?

How many members of staff were employed?

What exactly was the candidate responsible for?

Who did they report to?

Did they work independently?

Did they travel with the family?

Did they manage other staff?

Specific questions make it easier to understand the candidate’s real level of experience.

4. Assess Discretion and Confidentiality

Discretion is essential when hiring domestic staff.

Private household professionals may learn about family routines, travel plans, guests, business matters and personal relationships.

During the recruitment process, ask candidates how they approach confidentiality.

You can also ask practical questions such as:

“What would you do if a friend asked you about your employer?”

“Would you discuss your employer’s private life outside work?”

“How would you handle photographs taken inside the property?”

“What are your views on posting about employers on social media?”

The answers can provide valuable insight into the candidate’s understanding of professional boundaries.

For more guidance, see How to Set Clear Boundaries With Domestic Staff.

5. Conduct a Structured Interview

Vetting should include a detailed interview.

The purpose is not simply to confirm information already written on the CV.

A good interview should explore how the candidate thinks, communicates and responds to real household situations.

Ask about previous employers, responsibilities, difficult situations, teamwork, feedback and professional expectations.

Our detailed guide explains how to interview domestic staff.

You can also use our practical Domestic Staff Interview Questions guide when preparing for an interview.

6. Match the Candidate to the Household

This is one of the most important parts of private household recruitment.

The right candidate needs to match the household’s actual requirements.

Consider:

• Family lifestyle
• Household size
• Property type
• Existing staff
• Children
• Pets
• Travel
• Entertaining
• Working arrangements
• Management structure
• Level of formality
• Required communication style

For example, a family with young children and frequent international travel may require a very different nanny from a family with older children and a quiet London routine.

Likewise, a large staffed residence may require a House Manager who has previously managed a complex household team.

7. Consider Personality and Working Style

Professional experience is important, but personality can also affect the success of a placement.

A private household is a close working environment.

Domestic staff need to communicate appropriately, respect boundaries and understand the family’s expectations.

Consider whether the candidate is:

• Calm under pressure
• Discreet
• Reliable
• Organised
• Adaptable
• Professional
• Comfortable working independently
• Comfortable working within a team

The strongest candidate is not necessarily the person with the longest CV.

It is the person whose experience and working style are appropriate for the role.

8. Check Role-Specific Skills

Every position requires different expertise.

Private Housekeeper

Assess experience with:

• Luxury fabrics
• Laundry and ironing
• Wardrobe care
• Fine finishes
• Household organisation
• Formal entertaining
• Cleaning standards

For more information, see our guide to hiring a private housekeeper.

Nanny

Consider:

• Relevant childcare experience
• Children’s ages
• Education and activities
• Travel experience
• Emergency awareness
• Communication with parents
• Experience with similar family structures

Explore our Nanny Agency London service for professional nanny recruitment.

Butler

Assess:

• Service standards
• Guest management
• Formal entertaining
• Table service
• Household etiquette
• Discretion
• Attention to detail

See our Butler in London recruitment page for more information.

House Manager

For a House Manager, look beyond individual household tasks.

Assess experience with:

• Staff management
• Household administration
• Contractors
• Suppliers
• Scheduling
• Maintenance coordination
• Reporting
• Multiple properties

Our House Manager London service covers senior household management recruitment.

9. Verify Right to Work and Relevant Documentation

Before employment begins, employers should ensure that the appropriate documentation and legal requirements are addressed.

Depending on the role and circumstances, this may include right-to-work documentation, qualifications, driving documentation or other relevant checks.

The exact requirements depend on the position and applicable UK rules.

A specialist domestic staff agency can help employers understand which checks are relevant to a particular placement.

10. Consider Background Checks Where Appropriate

Some positions may require additional screening.

This can be particularly relevant when a candidate will work closely with children, drive family members or have extensive access to the household.

The appropriate checks depend on the role and circumstances.

For employers, the important point is to establish the required checks before making a final hiring decision.

Common Mistakes When Vetting Domestic Staff

Even experienced private employers can make recruitment mistakes.

Relying Only on the CV

A polished CV does not replace proper verification.

Choosing the Most Experienced Candidate Automatically

More experience does not always mean better compatibility.

Skipping References

References can reveal important information that an interview cannot.

Asking Only General Questions

Specific examples provide much more useful information.

Ignoring Household Compatibility

A candidate can be excellent professionally but unsuitable for a particular family.

Rushing the Recruitment Process

Urgency can make employers overlook important checks.

Even when a household needs staff quickly, quality should remain a priority.

Our guide on replacing domestic staff quickly without compromising on quality explains how employers can approach urgent recruitment more systematically.

How a Domestic Staff Agency Can Help With Vetting

Professional vetting can be time-consuming.

Employers may need to review multiple CVs, conduct interviews, contact references and assess whether each candidate has genuinely relevant experience.

A specialist domestic staff agency can manage much of this process before candidates are presented to the family.

At Fully Staffed, we recruit domestic professionals for private, HNW and UHNW households across London, the UK and internationally.

Our recruitment process can include:

• Understanding the household requirements
• Candidate sourcing
• CV screening
• Experience assessment
• Interviews
• Reference checks
• Suitability assessment
• Shortlisting
• Interview coordination
• Recruitment support

The result is a more focused shortlist of candidates who are relevant to the household.

Learn more about our Domestic Staff Agency UK services.

Vetting Domestic Staff for HNW and UHNW Households

For HNW and UHNW families, domestic staff recruitment can involve additional considerations.

Households may include several employees, multiple properties, international travel and complex schedules.

Staff may also interact with children, guests, business associates and external professionals.

Therefore, experience in a comparable household can be particularly valuable.

For families building or restructuring a larger team, our guide on how to build a private household staff team for a UHNW family provides further guidance.

What Should You Do After Vetting a Candidate?

Once the candidate has been assessed, the next step is to establish clear expectations.

Before employment begins, make sure both sides understand the role, responsibilities, working arrangements, confidentiality requirements and household procedures.

A clear employment agreement is essential.

You can read our guide on what private employers should include in a domestic staff contract.

It is also useful to prepare the household before the employee starts. Our guide explains how to prepare your home before a new member of household staff starts.

Final Thoughts

Vetting domestic staff should never be reduced to checking a CV.

The strongest recruitment decisions combine relevant experience, detailed interviews, professional references, appropriate checks and genuine household compatibility.

For private families, the objective is not simply to find someone who can perform the duties.

It is to find a professional who can become a trusted and reliable part of the household.

At Fully Staffed, we provide discreet domestic staff recruitment for private, HNW and UHNW families across London, the UK and internationally.

Whether you need a private housekeeper, nanny, butler, private chef, chauffeur, House Manager, estate manager or domestic couple, we can help you identify suitable professionals for your household.

Contact Fully Staffed to discuss your recruitment requirements confidentially.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you vet domestic staff before hiring?

A professional vetting process can include reviewing employment history, assessing relevant experience, conducting interviews, checking references and completing appropriate documentation and background checks.

What should I check before hiring domestic staff?

Employers should consider experience, references, professional skills, right to work, relevant qualifications, discretion, communication and suitability for the specific household.

Are references important when hiring domestic staff?

Yes. References can help verify a candidate’s previous responsibilities, reliability, professionalism and suitability for private household work.

How do I check if a housekeeper is experienced?

Ask about previous properties, responsibilities, household size, staff structure and specific housekeeping duties. Detailed examples are more useful than general claims about experience.

Should I conduct a second interview with domestic staff?

For senior or long-term positions, a second interview can be useful. It allows the employer to explore practical scenarios and household-specific expectations in greater detail.

Can a domestic staff agency handle the vetting process?

A specialist agency can support candidate sourcing, screening, interviews, references and shortlisting. The exact recruitment process varies between agencies and roles.

How do I hire discreet domestic staff in London?

Work with a specialist private household recruitment agency that understands confidentiality, professional boundaries and the requirements of HNW and UHNW households.