Experienced Estate Couple – Private Family Residence
South West England
Salary: £80,000–£90,000 (combined)
Live-in | Full-time
Overview
An exceptional opportunity for a highly capable, proactive, and detail-driven couple to take full responsibility for the smooth running, maintenance, and presentation of a private family estate.
This is a hands-on, sole-charge role requiring a couple who are hardworking, take pride in everything they do, and consistently deliver to standards without the need for supervision.
We are seeking individuals who are not passive or reactive, but who take initiative, anticipate needs, and genuinely care about the environment they manage. This role would suit a couple who take real satisfaction in maintaining a beautiful home and grounds.
Travel will be required with the family to their home in Greece during the summer for a maximum of 3-4 weeks; the Housekeeper will accompany the family, while the Groundsman/Maintenance will remain at the main property to care for the dogs, maintain the home, and ensure the ongoing security of the estate.
The successful couple will provide outstanding, verifiable references, evidencing long-term commitment and stability in previous positions.
The Property
1. Substantial 6-bedroom main house
2. 3 additional cottages
3. Gardens, grounds and surrounding farmland
4. Outbuildings
5. Swimming pool
6. Family dogs
7. Stables
The successful couple will be:
8. Exceptional attention to detail
9. Excellent communication skills
10. Hands-on, practical and hardworking with a “no task too small” mindset
11. Self-motivated, proactive, competent and experienced in the running of the property across both roles
12. Proud of their work, maintaining consistently high standards
13. Energetic and efficient
14. Discreet, trustworthy and loyal
15. Quick to notice issues and address them efficiently without prompting
16. Clear, confident and professional communicators
17. Highly organised with strong time management
18. Comfortable taking sole charge of the role.
19. Lovers of animals and working around family life
Working Schedule
20. 5 days per week (approx. 45 hours)
21. Weekends generally off
22. Flexibility required when the family is in residence – hours will vary when the family are in residence
23. Live-in position
Accommodation
24. Renovated 1-bedroom cottage provided
Housekeeper
The Housekeeper will take full responsibility for the interior of the property, ensuring it is maintained to an impeccable standard at all times.
Cooking & Provisioning
25. Preparing breakfast, helping with lunch and dinner, as and when needed
26. Confident cooking of British and international cuisine
27. Assisting with entertaining and larger gatherings
28. Managing online and local food shopping
Housekeeping & Household Management
29. Cleaning all properties to an exceptional standard
30. Laundry, linen, and wardrobe management with meticulous presentation
31. Care of fine art, antiques, silverware, China, and specialist finishes
32. Oversee household systems, including heating, fire, security, CCTV, and intercom, while maintaining an up-to-date household book with logins and passwords for TVs and other devices. Must be tech-savvy.
33. Monitoring and maintaining internet/Wi-Fi and printer functionality, with the ability to troubleshoot issues as they arise
34. Maintaining household equipment and supplies
35. Managing deliveries and all online shopping
36. Running errands and general household organisation
37. Ensuring the property is secure at all times, including locking procedures and general household safety
Hospitality & Service
38. Table setting and food service to a high standard
39. Greeting and hosting guests
40. Wine cellar organisation and management
41. Food & Drink Inventory of cellar, pantry and kitchen.
42. Stock keeping
Property & Administration
43. Liaising with contractors, tradespeople and deliveries
44. Responsible for maintenance and servicing of all machines and systems within the house.
45. Supporting overall smooth running of the household
46. Media systems management (Sky, Netflix, etc.)
47. Occasional driving duties
Maintenance / Groundsman Responsibilities
48. This is a hands-on, outdoor role requiring strong experience in gardening, maintenance, and general estate management. The successful candidate must be both proactive in identifying and addressing tasks independently, while also being receptive to and executing clear direction from the House Manager and Principals.
49. Grounds & Gardening
50. Maintaining lawns, borders, parking and surrounding garden areas
51. Assisting with planting, pruning, weeding, mulching, and seasonal care
52. Operating and maintaining garden machinery
53. Supporting landscaping and planting projects
Maintenance & DIY
54. General repairs and upkeep across buildings and estate
55. Strong handyman and problem-solving skills essential
56. Monitoring plant rooms and estate systems
57. Pool maintenance and upkeep
58. Log cutting, storage, and fire preparation
Estate Upkeep
59. Keeping all outdoor areas clean, safe, and presentable with exception attention to detail
60. Pressure washing, driveway and pathway maintenance
61. Cleaning and maintaining vehicles
62. Waste and bin management
Animal & Farm Awareness
63. Full care of the family’s dogs (feeding, walking, grooming, vet visits)
64. Awareness of surrounding farmland:
65. Reporting or addressing broken fences or gates
Security & Daily Operations
66. Managing CCTV, gates, alarms, and fire systems
67. Daily estate checks and preventative maintenance
68. Tool and equipment inventory management
69. Reviewing and actioning risk assessments
70. Liaising daily with the family PA/House Manager and reporting issues
71. Responsible for managing and maintaining a large set of property keys, ensuring they are kept secure, well organised, and clearly always identified
Additional Duties
72. Managing oil deliveries
73. Maintaining log stores and firewood supplies
74. Handling deliveries
75. Emptying mouse traps and maintaining pest control measures
76. General support across the estate as required
Requirements
77. Previous experience in a similar sole-charge estate couple role with a family
78. Full clean UK driving licences (both preferred)
79. Running errands and driving for the family when in residence
80. Chainsaw certification and experience with agricultural machinery
81. Strong practical, gardening, and DIY skills
82. Confident working in a rural/farm environment
83. Non-smokers
84. No dependents or pets
85. What Makes This Role Unique
This is a long-term opportunity for a couple who:
86. Take genuine pride in their work
87. Enjoy working together as a team
88. Have a strong track record, with proven experience and excellent references in a very similar role
The family place a high value on discretion and professionalism and seek to work with individuals who naturally adopt a low-profile, unobtrusive approach. When in residence, the successful couple will be intuitive and responsive—quietly ensuring everything runs seamlessly, anticipating needs and addressing tasks efficiently without drawing attention. A calm, respectful presence and the ability to operate in the background, while always maintaining the highest standards, is essential.