What gross hourly pay is realistic for housekeeper jobs in the UK in 2026?

Many entry roles cluster around the legal minimum, while experienced hotel/residential housekeeping can sit higher. A practical gross range is £12.71–£14.50 per hour, depending on site standards, workload and shift pattern.

Do UK housekeeper roles usually offer visa sponsorship?

Sponsorship is typically uncommon for housekeeping roles. Eligibility depends on the employer, the role, and current immigration rules. If you do not already have the right to work, focus on employers that explicitly confirm sponsorship.

What level of English is required?

You need functional English for safety briefings, task coordination, guest requests (where applicable), and reporting issues. Customer-facing housekeeping requires stronger spoken English.

What should be in a strong UK-style housekeeping CV?

List sites worked (hotel/residential), room targets or workload, cleaning standards, laundry/linen handling, chemicals awareness, and reliability indicators (attendance, shift flexibility). Keep it concise and in English.

Home / Jobs / United Kingdom / Housekeeper

Housekeeper in the United Kingdom

A role built on pace, precision and pride: clean rooms, calm handovers, consistent standards.

Hospitality & Service Entry to Mid Low sponsorship likelihood (indicative) Gross pay focus

CV required: candidates without a CV are not considered.

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Work eligibility: non-UK candidates must already have the right to work in the UK, or apply only to employers who explicitly confirm sponsorship for the specific role.

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Typical pay (gross)

£12.71–£14.50 / hour

Indicative band. Site standards and workload can move the rate.

Reference week (gross)

~£476.63 / 37.5h

At £12.71/h. Overtime and weekends may differ by employer.

Common shift pattern

Morning / day shifts

Hotels often include weekends on rotation.

A realistic day rhythm

Shift start: trolley set-up, chemicals/PPE check, room list and priorities.
Turnarounds: bathrooms, beds, dusting, vacuuming, amenities, final check.
Mid-shift: linen runs, restocking, guest requests (where assigned).
Standards: spot checks, rework where needed, incident reporting.
Handover: lost property process, damage notes, supplies top-up.

Hotels tend to measure pace; residences tend to measure consistency and trust.

Quality checklist (what good looks like)

Bathrooms finished to a “white-glove” standard Edges, fittings, mirrors, drains, and floor corners are not skipped.

Bedding and surfaces reset consistently Same layout, same finish, same sequence — every room.

Problem spotting Damage, stains, leaks, pests, broken items — logged early, not hidden.

Candidate portrait

You work fast without looking rushed. You notice the small things (edges, corners, smells), and you follow a repeatable routine under time pressure. You are reliable on early starts, comfortable with physical work, and you keep standards even when the day gets busy.

Best fits

Hotel housekeeping / room attendant background
Residential cleaning with references
Warehouse-style discipline (process + pace) applied to service work

Requirements (detailed)

Must-have

CV in English with roles, dates, and duties.
Work discipline: punctuality, consistent output, safe handling of supplies.
Basic English for safety briefings and coordination.
Hygiene and safety awareness: chemical labels, PPE, slip/trip prevention.

Strong advantages

Hotel/resort experience (room targets, inspections, standards)
Laundry/linen handling and stock control
References from prior employers
Flexibility for weekends/peak seasons

Some sites may require background checks for specific settings (role-dependent).

Pay and conditions (gross / brutto)

Band (indicative)	Gross pay	Where it appears
Entry	£12.71/h	Legal minimum for age 21+ from 1 April 2026; often used as a base for new starters.
Standard	£13.00–£13.75/h	Hotels / serviced apartments with stable pace and consistent inspection outcomes.
High-standard sites	£14.00–£14.50/h	Complex workloads, premium guest expectations, strong autonomy and reliability.

All figures are gross (brutto). Net pay depends on tax and deductions; employers must provide a payslip showing hours where pay varies.

UK work rules (practical, current)

Minimum pay floor: the UK minimum wage changes annually (April). From 1 April 2026, the adult National Living Wage (21+) is £12.71/hour (gross).

Paid holiday: the statutory minimum is 5.6 weeks per year (pro-rated for part-time).

Rest breaks: if you work more than 6 hours in a day, you are entitled to at least a 20-minute break (timing is agreed with the employer).

Working time cap: the average limit is 48 hours per week (usually averaged over 17 weeks), unless you opt out.

Payslips: must show gross/net and deductions; if pay varies by hours, hours should be shown.

Accommodation deductions: if accommodation is provided, only the official “accommodation offset” can count towards minimum wage calculations (rates change each April).

This section is informational and reflects general UK rules; employer policies and role specifics still matter.

How MaViAl screening works

CV submission (English): we check duties, reliability signals, and setting (hotel/residential).
Fit check: pace expectations, shift pattern, and any site-specific requirements.
Matching: we align your profile with current UK demand and client standards.
Next steps: you get clear instructions for the role process and communication path.

Go to CV page (Required) Browse more Hospitality & Service roles

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FAQ

What gross hourly pay is realistic for housekeeping in the UK in 2026?

A practical range is £12.71–£14.50 gross per hour. Entry roles commonly anchor to the statutory floor, while higher rates usually require consistent inspection outcomes, speed, and reliability on rotations.

What makes a housekeeping CV “UK-ready”?

Employers want proof of setting and standards: hotel vs residential, typical workload, pace, chemicals/PPE awareness, and reliability (attendance and shift flexibility). Keep it concise, in English, and role-focused.

Do I need experience to start?

Some sites accept new starters if you can work at pace and follow a routine. If you are new, highlight transferable discipline (production, warehouse, cleaning), physical readiness, and willingness to learn standards fast.

What are common shift patterns?

Hotels typically run morning/day shifts with weekend rotations. Residential work can be more predictable but often expects high trust, consistency, and careful handling of belongings.

Is visa sponsorship common for housekeeper jobs?

Sponsorship is generally uncommon for housekeeping roles. If you do not already have work rights, focus only on employers that explicitly confirm sponsorship for the specific vacancy.

What are the biggest reasons candidates fail site trials?

Missing details (edges/corners), inconsistent routine, slow turnarounds, and weak communication on issues. Strong candidates follow a repeatable sequence and flag problems early instead of improvising.