December brings guests, events, travel, and back-to-back logistics. Many principals, family offices, and private households bring in temporary staff for two to six weeks to keep the home running to standard across the peak December Holiday period. This guide covers the roles that add the most value, typical rates and rotas, a 15-minute briefing checklist, interview prompts, onboarding, and the compliance items to finalise before start dates. If you would like 19 London to take your notes and begin shortlisting, email hello@19london.com or call +44 (0) 203 576 3976.
This guide helps UHNW households hire temporary Christmas/Holiday staff quickly and safely.
When temporary household staff make the biggest difference
Entertaining at home. Private dinners, drinks, and children’s parties often cluster across two or three key weeks. Short-term service support takes the pressure off and lifts standards for hosts and guests.
Back-to-back travel. Arrivals and departures create setup and reset work. Temporary cover lets the core team focus on principals and family while the home keeps running.
Guests staying longer than usual. Extra rooms, laundry, and pantry load build quickly. Short-term support maintains standards without overstretching the permanent team.
Year-end projects. Inventory, wardrobe rotation, light redecoration, storage changes, or a pantry reset pair well with temporary hires who can work to a clear list.
The five roles most often requested for Christmas cover
1) Personal Assistants & Housekeepers
For homes that need a steady hand on daily operations. Typical scope: supplier coordination, a daily plan for staff and contractors, standards checks before events, and quick fixes when small issues appear.
Rotas. Five days per week with a floating day off. Evenings as required by prior agreement.
Rates. £250 to £500 per day for senior profiles.
Add-ons. Light event support, pantry resets, and basic inventory reporting.
2) Private Chef or Chef de Partie
For small dinner parties, holiday lunches, or ready-to-serve food for family and guests across a week.
Rotas. Service-led. Chefs often work a sequence around shopping, prep, service, and clean-up.
Rates. £400 to £600 per day for experienced private chefs, plus ingredient costs.
Add-ons. Menu planning, allergen matrix, supplier bookings, and plating style guidelines.
3) Butler or Front of House Lead
For homes hosting multiple events or receiving frequent guests. Typical scope: table service, drinks, cloakroom, place settings, and coordination with the chef and house team.
Rotas. Evenings and event days, often on a split shift.
Rates. £200 to £400 per day.
Add-ons. Glassware checks, tablescape setup, written service plan for the team.
4) Nanny or Children’s Entertainer
For school holidays, visiting families, and travel days. Focus on safe activities, tidy routines, and a calm handover back to parents or core nannies.
Rotas. Daytime blocks or early evening coverage.
Rates. £30 to £40 per hour for nannies, higher for specialist entertainers.
Add-ons. Activity kits, local outings plan, travel bags packed and ready.
5) Chauffeur or Driver
For heavy movement days, airport runs, and late finishes. Typical scope: safe transport, vehicle readiness, route planning, and coordination with security where required.
Rotas. Split shifts around airport windows and evening events.
Rates. £30 to £45 per hour, higher for licensed security drivers.
Add-ons. Guest pickup cards, luggage coordination, and route alternatives.
Compliance and privacy to confirm before start dates
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Right to work in the UK. Verify and record.
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References. Speak to two recent referees and keep short notes.
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Screening. Level of vetting depends on role and environment. Standard checks may include basic DBS or enhanced DBS+ for child-facing roles, plus reputation or social checks if appropriate. 19 London can arrange all of this and carry out most checks as standard.
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NDA. A short non-disclosure agreement that covers confidentiality, devices, and handling of guest information.
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Safeguarding and boundaries. Clear rules for children’s areas, guest rooms, and devices.
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Key handling and access. Simple policy for keys, codes, and contractor supervision.
19 London can tailor screening to your requirements and document the final checks before a temporary hire begins.
Interview prompts that surface judgement under pressure
Short, practical prompts reveal how candidates think and act under pressure.
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You have 40 minutes until a drinks party. Glassware is short, the florist is late, and the doorbell keeps ringing. What is your order of operations
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A child’s friend has a severe nut allergy and an event starts in two hours. How do you adapt menus, service, and kitchen controls
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The flight lands one hour early and the driver is across town. Walk me through your plan to recover the timeline
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A guest breaks a glass in a corridor and cuts a hand. Who does what, and how do you reset the area without disrupting service
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A principal’s coat is marked at the cloakroom. What is your immediate response, how do you report it, and what do you change to avoid repeats
Frequently asked questions about temporary Christmas hires
How soon should we book?
As early in October or November as you can. Premium dates fill first. If you are late to it, send the brief and we will advise on availability and realistic coverage.
Can temporary staff stay overnight?
Yes, if you have live-in space or nearby accommodation. Agree rules on hours, privacy, and guest areas.
Can a temporary hire become permanent?
Sometimes. If you intend to explore this, declare it early so the candidate knows it may be an option and inform 19 London so you are aware of the contractual obligations in this instance.
What if plans change?
Write a simple change policy into the agreement. Many homes use a 24 to 48 hour cancellation rule during peak dates.
Do we need separate insurance?
Most households rely on standard home and employer policies. If you are unsure, ask your broker to confirm coverage for temporary workers and contractors.
Ready to book temporary Christmas staff
If you are planning events, travel, or longer guest stays, short-term support protects standards and keeps December calm. Share your dates and scope with hello@19london.com or call +44 (0) 203 576 3976. 19 London will refine your brief, confirm rates, and introduce vetted candidates who fit your home and expectations.