We get this question constantly. A family calls us saying they need an estate manager, and after ten minutes of conversation it becomes clear they actually need a house manager — or the other way around. The titles get used interchangeably across the industry, which doesn't help. But the roles genuinely are different, and hiring the wrong one wastes everyone's time.
Here's how to work out which you actually need.
What Does a House Manager Do?
A house manager runs a single household. Think of them as the operational backbone of one home — they keep everything ticking over so the family doesn't have to think about logistics.
Day-to-day responsibilities typically include:
- Managing household staff (housekeeper, chef, nanny, driver) including rotas, performance, and recruitment
- Overseeing household budgets and accounts — from grocery spending to staff payroll
- Coordinating maintenance, repairs, and renovations with contractors
- Managing inventories: linen, china, wine cellar, pantry supplies
- Planning and executing formal and informal entertaining
- Liaising with PAs, family offices, and security teams
- Organising travel logistics, school runs, and family calendars
- Ensuring the household runs to the family's preferred standards and routines
A good house manager is part operations director, part diplomat, part fixer. They anticipate what needs doing before anyone asks. They know the family's preferences inside out — which towels for which bathroom, how the principal takes their coffee, which florist to call when the usual one lets them down.
Who hires a house manager? Families with a staffed household — typically three or more staff — who need someone to coordinate everything under one roof. You'll find house managers in large London townhouses, country homes, and international residences.
What Does an Estate Manager Do?
An estate manager operates at a bigger scale. They oversee multiple properties, significant land, or a combination of both — essentially managing a portfolio rather than a single household.
Their responsibilities often include:
- Managing multiple properties across different locations (sometimes different countries)
- Overseeing agricultural operations, forestry, or land management on country estates
- Managing commercial aspects: tenant farms, holiday lets, shoot days, events
- Handling large-scale capital projects — renovations, new builds, infrastructure
- Coordinating with architects, surveyors, solicitors, and planning authorities
- Budget management running into the hundreds of thousands or millions annually
- Supervising estate staff: gamekeepers, groundsmen, gardeners, farm managers, as well as household staff
- Compliance with environmental, health and safety, and employment regulations across the entire operation
An estate manager needs a different skill set entirely. They're often degree-educated in land management, rural estate management, or a related field. Many come through the RICS or CAAV professional routes. They understand tenancy law, agricultural policy, listed building regulations, and land stewardship — none of which a house manager would typically need to know.
Who hires an estate manager? Owners of country estates with significant acreage, multiple properties, or commercial operations. Think stately homes, shooting estates, families with a London house plus a country estate plus a villa abroad.
The Key Differences
Scope: A house manager runs one home. An estate manager oversees a portfolio — multiple properties, land, or both.
Skills: House managers excel at hospitality, staff management, and domestic logistics. Estate managers bring expertise in property management, land use, compliance, and commercial operations.
Team size: A house manager might oversee three to eight household staff. An estate manager could be responsible for twenty or more people across multiple departments.
Budget: House managers typically manage budgets of £100,000–£500,000 per year. Estate managers might handle £500,000 to several million.
Background: House managers often come from luxury hospitality — senior hotel roles, private yachts, or large-household experience. Estate managers tend to come from land agency, surveying, or rural estate management backgrounds.
Salary Comparison
House Manager (London / Home Counties) £55,000 – £90,000 per year. Live-in roles at the lower end of the salary range but with accommodation provided, which in London has significant value. Senior house managers in high-profile households can earn £100,000+.
Estate Manager (Country Estate / Multi-Property) £65,000 – £120,000 per year. Large estates with commercial operations regularly pay £100,000–£150,000 for the right person. Estate managers almost always receive a house or cottage on the estate as part of their package, plus a vehicle.
International Roles Both roles command a premium overseas. A house manager running a principal's villa in the South of France might earn €80,000–€110,000. An estate manager overseeing multiple international properties could earn £120,000–£200,000+.
When You Need Both
Some families need both — and that's more common than you'd think. A family with a large country estate and a London townhouse might employ an estate manager to oversee the estate and its commercial activities, and a separate house manager for the London property. The two roles complement each other rather than overlap.
In smaller setups, one person can sometimes cover both — a "house and estate manager" who handles the domestic side and manages contractors, maintenance, and basic property issues. But be realistic about what one person can achieve. If there's serious land management, multiple properties in different countries, or commercial operations involved, you almost certainly need two separate roles.
How We Can Help
At Irving Scott, we recruit both house managers and estate managers, and we spend time understanding what each family actually needs before we start searching. Sometimes that means gently steering someone away from the job title they had in mind toward the role that will actually solve their problem.
If you're trying to work out which role fits your household, get in touch with our estate management team. We'll talk it through and help you define the brief properly — which is half the battle.