Employing an au pair in United Kingdom
Employment Rights Act — employing someone in your home
Last reviewed
This is general guidance, not legal advice.
Employment law changes, varies by region and depends on your exact arrangement. Figures below are researched from official sources but go out of date — always confirm the current position with the official body linked on this page, or with a qualified labour adviser, before you rely on it.
If you employ a nanny in your home you are an employer with legal duties. (A live-in “au pair” cultural-exchange arrangement can differ — but if the person is genuinely working set hours for pay, treat it as employment.) See GOV.UK and confirm details with HMRC.
Pay floor
Varies — check the rate that applies to you
The UK National Minimum / National Living Wage varies by age band and changes each April — confirm the current rate for the employee’s age at GOV.UK.
What to get right
Written terms
Employees are entitled to a written statement of the main employment terms from day one. Use the contract template in the NannyTank app as a starting point.
Minimum wage
The National Minimum Wage / National Living Wage applies, by age band. If you provide accommodation, only a limited “accommodation offset” can count toward it. Confirm the current rate at GOV.UK.
PAYE payroll (HMRC)
If you pay above the threshold, register as an employer with HMRC and run PAYE payroll — deducting Income Tax and National Insurance and paying employer’s NI.
Leave & sick pay
Statutory paid annual leave (5.6 weeks pro-rata) and, where eligible, Statutory Sick Pay apply. Auto-enrolment into a workplace pension may also apply.
Official sources
Check these for the current position — they are the authority, this page is not.
An editable contract template for United Kingdom
NannyTank includes a downloadable employment contract template that references Employment Rights Act — employing someone in your home — you fill in the agreed pay and hours. Available in the app, along with hours, overtime and claim tracking.
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NannyTank is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page is a starting point to help you know what to look into; it may be incomplete or out of date, and it does not account for your specific circumstances. Confirm anything you rely on with the official bodies above or a qualified adviser.