Nanny Share in the UK: What It Is and How It Works

What Is a Nanny Share?

A nanny share is when two families hire the same nanny to care for their children – either at the same time or on different days. The nanny might care for all children together in one home, or rotate between both households.

It’s not a new concept, but it’s becoming more common – especially in cities where childcare is expensive and flexible arrangements are harder to come by.

What Are the Benefits?

For many families, a nanny share offers the best of both worlds: the personalised care of a nanny, at a cost closer to nursery rates.

• Lower cost: You split the nanny’s salary and associated costs between two households. This can reduce your total monthly spend by up to 30–40%. Social interaction: Children get to play and interact with others, which can be a plus if you're looking for a more social setting.
• High-quality care: You still get the 1:1 attention and flexibility that comes with having a nanny – it’s just shared.
• Better value for the nanny: In many cases, the nanny earns slightly more per hour because they’re caring for more than one child — which can make the arrangement more attractive and sustainable.

That said, it does require a bit more coordination – and legally, it’s important to get it right.

Use our Nanny Cost Calculator to calculate the complete costs of your nanny.

How to Set Up a Nanny Share

Setting up a nanny share takes a bit of upfront planning, but it’s entirely doable — especially if both families are on the same page.

Here’s what needs to happen:

1. Each family becomes a legal employer

Even though the nanny works for both households, each family must register separately with HMRC and operate PAYE. You’ll both need to handle contracts, payslips, tax, and pension contributions.

Learn more about employing a nanny legally

2. Agree on logistics early

This includes:

• Work schedule and location (alternating homes or one host family)
• Who provides meals, supplies, transport
• What happens when one family is on holiday
• How to handle sick days and emergency cover

Put everything in writing to avoid misunderstandings.

3. Use a shared or mirrored contract

You can either create one joint contract (if the nanny agrees) or two separate ones that mirror each other. Either way, be clear on responsibilities and rights from both sides.

4. Set up a shared payroll service

To make admin easier, use a service that can handle two employers working with one nanny. We support nanny share arrangements and ensure that each employer stays compliant, even with the extra complexity.

We Handle Payroll and Paperwork for You

Hiring a nanny legally can feel like a full-time job: Registering with HMRC, calculating tax, running payroll, creating a contract, paying pension contributions, managing holidays…

That’s exactly what we take care of – start to finish.

• Registering with HMRC
• Creating a legal employment contract
• Calculating and paying tax, NI and pension
• Sending payslips and making salary payments
• Tracking holidays, sick days or maternity leave
• Verifying an Enhanced DBS check
• Ensuring valid employer’s liability insurance is in place
• Staying compliant with changing employment laws

You focus on your family. We’ll handle the paperwork.

Learn more about nanny payroll service