There is a moment, usually a few weeks after the keys change hands, when the romance of owning a villa on the Côte d'Azur meets the reality of running one. A 600-square-meter property with a pool, a garden that drinks water like a thirsty traveler, and a kitchen built for entertaining does not maintain itself. For my American clients arriving from Atherton, Pacific Heights, or the Upper East Side, the question shifts quickly from "Did we buy the right house?" to "Who is going to run it?"
Having lived on both sides of the Atlantic, I can tell you that staffing a luxury home in France is both easier and more delicate than it is in California. Easier, because the Riviera has a deep, professional service culture built over a century of catering to visiting royalty, industrialists, and film stars. More delicate, because French employment law treats a household employee very differently from the way an American "contractor" relationship works. Getting this right from day one protects your peace, your privacy, and your investment.
The Household Roles That Matter Most
Every family's needs are different, but on the Riviera a handful of positions come up again and again. Understanding what each one actually does helps you build a team that fits your lifestyle rather than someone else's template.
The Private Chef
This is almost always the first hire my clients ask about, and for good reason. The Riviera is one of the great culinary regions of the world, and a talented private chef transforms your villa into a destination. The best chefs here are fluent in Provençal and Mediterranean cooking — the sun-ripened tomatoes from the Forville market in Cannes, the day-boat fish from the fishermen of Golfe-Juan, the olive oil from the hills above Grasse — yet many have also trained in Michelin kitchens and can pivot effortlessly to the lighter, dietary-conscious cooking that Californian families often prefer. A full-time chef is common for larger households; many families instead retain a chef on a part-time or event basis, bringing them in for dinner parties and weekends when they entertain.
The Estate Manager or Majordome
For larger properties, the estate manager (or majordome) is the keystone hire. This person coordinates everyone else — the gardeners, the housekeeping team, the pool technician, the security provider — and acts as your eyes and ears when you are back in the United States. A good estate manager handles the French paperwork, liaises with your syndic if you are in a gated domain, schedules the seasonal maintenance, and ensures the house is warm, stocked, and flower-filled the day you step off your flight at Nice.
Housekeeping and Grounds Staff
Housekeepers (femmes de ménage) and gardeners (jardiniers) are the backbone of daily life. On the Riviera, where properties often feature extensive terraces, mature olive and cypress trees, and demanding Mediterranean gardens, grounds staff are not a luxury but a necessity. Many families employ these roles part-time or through a specialized agency rather than directly.
The French Way of Employing Staff
Here is where my American clients most often need gentle recalibration. In the United States, you might hire a nanny or a housekeeper on an informal, cash, or 1099 basis. In France, that approach ranges from inadvisable to illegal, and it exposes you — the employer — to significant liability.
French law generally treats household workers as formal employees with real protections: a written contract, a defined number of hours, paid holidays, social security contributions, and notice periods if the relationship ends. As the employer, you are responsible for declaring the employment and paying the associated charges sociales, which fund the French social system. The upside is a loyal, protected, professional workforce. The downside, for the unprepared, is a web of obligations that can feel foreign.
The good news is that France has built tools to make this manageable. For directly employed household staff, the CESU (Chèque Emploi Service Universel) system dramatically simplifies declaring wages and paying social contributions. Many high-net-worth families, however, prefer to work through a reputable household-staffing agency or a conciergerie, which can handle contracts, payroll, replacements during holidays, and compliance on your behalf — a structure that will feel familiar to anyone who has run an estate elsewhere.
Because the rules around employment contracts, social charges, and termination are specific and change over time, I always recommend that clients confirm their particular situation with a licensed French expert-comptable (chartered accountant) or an employment-law specialist before signing anyone on. Treating this as a professional matter from the outset saves enormous stress later.
Where to Find Trusted People
The Riviera's service industry runs largely on reputation and discretion. The finest private chefs and estate managers rarely advertise; they move between families on the strength of referrals. This is one of the quiet advantages of working with an agent who lives here year-round rather than one who parachutes in for the season. Over the years I have built relationships with the agencies, the independent chefs, and the household managers who serve the best addresses in Cap d'Antibes, Saint-Tropez, and the hills above Cannes, and I am glad to open those doors for my buyers.
When you do interview candidates, prioritize three things: verifiable references from families of a similar profile, genuine English-French bilingualism if that matters to your household, and a demonstrated respect for privacy. The last point is non-negotiable at this level. The people who work inside your home will know your schedule, your guests, and your habits. Discretion is as valuable as any culinary diploma.
Building a Household That Feels Like Home
The families who settle most happily on the Riviera are the ones who approach staffing not as a transaction but as the assembly of a small, trusted team. Start modestly — perhaps a part-time housekeeper and a chef for weekends — and expand as you understand how you actually live in the house. Invest in the relationships. French household staff, treated with respect and employed properly, often stay with a family for decades and become, in the truest sense, part of the home.
Setting up a household here is one of the most rewarding parts of the move, because it is where the dream becomes daily life. If you are preparing to take possession of a property and want to think through the right team — and meet people I trust — this is exactly the kind of transition I help my clients navigate. Reach out, and we will build it together.
This article offers general guidance only and does not constitute legal, tax, or employment advice. French employment and social-security rules are specific to each situation and subject to change; please consult a licensed French chartered accountant (expert-comptable) or employment-law professional regarding your circumstances.
