The role of the House Manager
A House Manager is a senior private household professional responsible for the smooth day-to-day running of a luxury home or private estate. Their role typically includes overseeing household staff, managing daily operations, coordinating external contractors, and ensuring service standards are maintained consistently and discreetly.
While the position has roots in traditional private service roles such as the butler, the modern House Manager role has evolved significantly. Today, many House Managers also oversee budgets, staffing structures, supplier management, property maintenance, schedules, and operational planning — often across one or multiple residences.
A successful House Manager must be highly organised, proactive, and exceptionally discreet, with the ability to anticipate household needs and adapt quickly to changing priorities. They usually act as the main point of contact between the Principal, the household team, and third-party contractors, ensuring clear communication, seamless coordination, and a calm, well-managed environment at all times.
Quality of Our House Managers in London and Internationally
Every House Manager represented by Bespoke Bureau is carefully selected and personally assessed by our consultants. Many are personally known to our team and introduced through trusted networks, former clients, or established candidates already on our books.
Our House Managers typically bring 10+ years of experience in UHNW households, private estates, and multi-property environments. All candidates are fully reference-checked, hold the correct right-to-work documentation, and, where applicable, maintain up-to-date DBS checks. Fluent English is standard across all placements.
Many of our House Managers have also completed professional training through the British Butler Academy, supporting exceptional standards in leadership, service, and household operations.
Only 12–20% of applicants meet our screening and vetting standards for senior household management roles.
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Private household client, London
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They get it right the first time. Sara listens and understands. Highly recommended.
Private client
The best butlers!
We hire all our butlers from Bespoke Bureau and train our staff with the British Butler Academy. They are the best.
Five-star hotel, London
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No fuss, efficient service, and excellent candidates. Thank you!
UHNW private household
Duties of a House Manager
A House Manager holds a senior operational remit, overseeing the smooth running of a private household and ensuring that daily life, staff management, and service standards are coordinated seamlessly.
House Managers represented by Bespoke Bureau are experienced in managing complex UHNW households and adapting to each client’s lifestyle and expectations. Typical responsibilities may include:
- Acting as the primary point of contact for principals, staff, contractors, and guests
- Overseeing property maintenance, repairs, and day-to-day household operations
- Managing, supervising, and coordinating household staff, including housekeepers, chefs, and butlers
- Supporting recruitment, onboarding, and staff integration where required
- Training and guiding domestic staff to maintain consistent service standards
- Managing household budgets, payments, and administrative tasks
- Overseeing procurement, inventories, and stock control of household goods
- Coordinating events, private entertaining, and special occasions
- Organising guest arrivals, stays, and VIP requirements
- Ensuring smooth operations across one or multiple residences
A great House Manager provides calm leadership, discretion, and structure — allowing the household to function efficiently while maintaining exceptional standards at all times.
House Manager Roles and Working Arrangements
We recruit House Managers for a wide range of household structures and working arrangements, including:
- Full-time and permanent roles
- Temporary and fixed-term positions
- Live-in and live-out roles
- Combined House Manager / Butler roles
- House Manager / Personal Assistant roles
- House Manager / Chauffeur roles
Top Skills Required for a House Manager
A great House Manager combines operational leadership with emotional intelligence and discretion. In UHNW households, the role requires calm judgement, polished communication, and the ability to manage multiple priorities without disruption.
Key skills include:
- Strong leadership and people management
- Exceptional organisation and prioritisation
- Discretion, confidentiality, and professional judgement
- Clear communication and diplomacy
- Problem-solving and decision-making under pressure
- High attention to detail and service mindset
- Accountability, reliability, and consistency
- Adaptability and flexibility in changing environments
- Initiative and anticipation of household needs
- Composure and resilience in high-demand settings
These qualities ensure the household remains structured, calm, and impeccably managed at all times.
Step by step
How it works
Initial Consultation
Contact us by phone or email to discuss your House Manager recruitment requirements. We take the time to understand your household structure, expectations, and priorities before preparing a tailored job specification. You will then receive our agency information and terms for review.
Candidate Shortlist
Once terms are agreed, we present a carefully selected shortlist of suitable House Manager candidates. Interviews can be arranged in person or via video, depending on your preference. Trial periods may also be arranged where appropriate.
Offer & Appointment
After you have selected your preferred candidate, we support you through the offer stage. This can include assistance with drafting the offer, employment contract, and guidance on practical and contractual arrangements..
Ongoing Support
We remain in contact with both client and candidate throughout the placement period, providing ongoing support and advice to ensure a smooth transition and a successful long-term arrangement.
Why Choose a House Manager in London Through Bespoke Bureau?
Bespoke Bureau specialises in the recruitment of experienced House Managers in London and internationally for UHNW private households and estates. Our approach is discreet, consultative, and fully tailored to the operational needs, staffing structure, and service expectations of each home.
We take the time to understand your household dynamics before presenting candidates. Instead of sending volume-based shortlists, we use a fully manual matchmaking process, selecting only House Managers who align in leadership style, professionalism, and long-term suitability.
All House Manager candidates are thoroughly screened and assessed for senior-level capability, discretion, and experience in comparable private household environments. From initial consultation to placement and aftercare, we provide ongoing support to ensure smooth onboarding and a successful long-term arrangement. Clients also benefit from the longest replacement guarantee in the industry.
We hold a 4.9/5 Google rating in 2026, based on feedback from clients following hundreds of successful domestic staff placements.