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

Substantial 6-bedroom main house
3 additional cottages
Gardens, grounds and surrounding farmland
Outbuildings
Swimming pool
Family dogs
Stables

The successful couple will be:

• Exceptional attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills
• Hands-on, practical and hardworking with a “no task too small” mindset
• Self-motivated, proactive, competent and experienced in the running of the property across both roles
• Proud of their work, maintaining consistently high standards
• Energetic and efficient
• Discreet, trustworthy and loyal
• Quick to notice issues and address them efficiently without prompting
• Clear, confident and professional communicators
• Highly organised with strong time management
• Comfortable taking sole charge of the role.
• Lovers of animals and working around family life

Working Schedule

• 5 days per week (approx. 45 hours)
• Weekends generally off
• Flexibility required when the family is in residence – hours will vary when the family are in residence
• Live-in position

Accommodation
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

• Preparing breakfast, helping with lunch and dinner, as and when needed
• Confident cooking of British and international cuisine
• Assisting with entertaining and larger gatherings
• Managing online and local food shopping

Housekeeping & Household Management

• Cleaning all properties to an exceptional standard
• Laundry, linen, and wardrobe management with meticulous presentation
• Care of fine art, antiques, silverware, China, and specialist finishes
• 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.
• Monitoring and maintaining internet/Wi-Fi and printer functionality, with the ability to troubleshoot issues as they arise
• Maintaining household equipment and supplies
• Managing deliveries and all online shopping
• Running errands and general household organisation
• Ensuring the property is secure at all times, including locking procedures and general household safety

Hospitality & Service

• Table setting and food service to a high standard
• Greeting and hosting guests
• Wine cellar organisation and management
• Food & Drink Inventory of cellar, pantry and kitchen.
• Stock keeping

Property & Administration

• Liaising with contractors, tradespeople and deliveries
• Responsible for maintenance and servicing of all machines and systems within the house.
• Supporting overall smooth running of the household
• Media systems management (Sky, Netflix, etc.)
• Occasional driving duties

Maintenance / Groundsman Responsibilities

• 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.
• Grounds & Gardening
• Maintaining lawns, borders, parking and surrounding garden areas
• Assisting with planting, pruning, weeding, mulching, and seasonal care
• Operating and maintaining garden machinery
• Supporting landscaping and planting projects

Maintenance & DIY

• General repairs and upkeep across buildings and estate
• Strong handyman and problem-solving skills essential
• Monitoring plant rooms and estate systems
• Pool maintenance and upkeep
• Log cutting, storage, and fire preparation

Estate Upkeep

• Keeping all outdoor areas clean, safe, and presentable with exception attention to detail
• Pressure washing, driveway and pathway maintenance
• Cleaning and maintaining vehicles
• Waste and bin management

Animal & Farm Awareness

• Full care of the family’s dogs (feeding, walking, grooming, vet visits)
• Awareness of surrounding farmland:
• Reporting or addressing broken fences or gates

Security & Daily Operations

• Managing CCTV, gates, alarms, and fire systems
• Daily estate checks and preventative maintenance
• Tool and equipment inventory management
• Reviewing and actioning risk assessments
• Liaising daily with the family PA/House Manager and reporting issues
• Responsible for managing and maintaining a large set of property keys, ensuring they are kept secure, well organised, and clearly always identified

Additional Duties

• Managing oil deliveries
• Maintaining log stores and firewood supplies
• Handling deliveries
• Emptying mouse traps and maintaining pest control measures
• General support across the estate as required

Requirements

• Previous experience in a similar sole-charge estate couple role with a family
• Full clean UK driving licences (both preferred)
• Running errands and driving for the family when in residence
• Chainsaw certification and experience with agricultural machinery
• Strong practical, gardening, and DIY skills
• Confident working in a rural/farm environment
• Non-smokers
• No dependents or pets
• What Makes This Role Unique

This is a long-term opportunity for a couple who:

• Take genuine pride in their work
• Enjoy working together as a team
• 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.

EHS REF#9122