Position : Live-in Domestic Couple
Location : Private Home near Banbury, Oxfordshire
Accommodation : Newly renovated 3-bedroom cottage
Start Date : ASAP
Overview:
A lovely family, based in a private home near Banbury, is seeking an experienced Live-in Domestic Couple. This full-time role offers excellent accommodation in a newly renovated cottage with the opportunity to join a happy, well-run household. The ideal Couple will have experience in both household management and grounds maintenance, with a love of animals and a proactive, professional approach to a variety of tasks.
The Family & Household:
* Family of four, including two adult children
* Six family dogs, including four Dachshunds and two additional Labradors on occasion
* Horses on site with a resident Groom
* Additional staff include a daily Housekeeper, Groundsman, Security Guard, Horse Groom and Gardener
Key Responsibilities:
Housekeeper Duties:
* Maintain a high standard of cleanliness throughout the household, working alongside the daily Housekeeper
* Laundry, ironing, and wardrobe management
* Food shopping and occasional meal preparation
* Running errands and managing household supply shopping
* Liaising with suppliers, contractors, and service providers
* Assisting when the family is entertaining, ensuring smooth and professional hospitality
* Anticipating household needs and displaying a high level of attention to detail
Groundsman Duties:
* Maintain, care for, and enhance the estate grounds, gardens, and outdoor spaces
* Operate and maintain estate machinery, including tractors, ride-on mowers, and garden equipment and family cars
* Hold appropriate licenses or certificates for machinery operation
* Perform general property maintenance, repairs, and supervise external trades when necessary
* Oversee the security and smooth running of the house and land in the family’s absence
* Ensure all outdoor areas are kept to the highest standard year-round
Animal care responsibilities include:
* Daily walking, exercise, grooming etc of the dogs; there is a separate, enclosed dog exercise field
* Supporting horse care as needed, including feeding, grooming, mucking out, and turnout/bringing in (riding with the resident Groom is possible) covering holidays and days off
* Monitoring health and wellbeing of all animals
* Coordinating with veterinary services or trainers as required
Driving:
* Airport transfers, station collections, and household errands
* Full, clean driving licences essential
Candidate Requirements:
* Proven experience as a Domestic Couple in a private household or estate
* Experience in groundskeeping/estate maintenance, including machinery operation and possession of relevant licenses/certificates
* Competent in animal care; experience with dogs is essential, and horses is desirable
* Flexible, proactive, and discreet with a high standard of professionalism
* Strong team players with the ability to integrate seamlessly into a long-standing household staff team
* Attention to detail, reliability, and a positive, can-do attitude
Working Week : 6 days per week. Flexibility required with the working hours and to be discussed further with the principals.
Package:
* Circa £75,000+ DOE
* Live-in accommodation: fully renovated 3-bedroom ex-stable cottage
* Opportunity for a long-term, stable role within a highly regarded household
* Based in a picturesque Hamlet outside Banbury