It may not be quite Downton Abbey, but the wealthy of Richmond and Twickenham have some spectacular demands when it comes to hiring staff.

For example, do you fancy £25 an hour role combining chef and housekeeping duties, which include preparing meals of lobster risotto and samphire for the young master, aged 8.

Or perhaps you could be the new housekeeper for a young family which carries a long list of responsibilities, ranging from decluttering to ironing and rotating the summer and winter wardrobes.

Downton Abbey required a team of staff from butlers to house maids, cooks and cleaners, but the well-heeled of Richmond borough are recruiting for a Jack or Jill of all trades from cheffing to sewing, coupled with a bit of child care.

The two job descriptions have recently been posted on elite domestic staff agency, Polo & Tweed, for families in this part of south west London. And neither are offering accommodation as part of the arrangement.

The company recently placed a listing for a family of five in the TW9 postcode of Richmond, who are looking for a new, long-term housekeeper and cook.

The position promises pay of up to £25 per hour on the basis of working five hour per day, Monday to Friday, from 2pm-7pm - £625 a week.

After losing a chef who moved on for personal reasons they are now looking for a long term replacement to assist with both the cooking and the cleaning.

Applicants are told the family consists of mum, dad and two young children, along with one small well behaved dog.

Importantly, the ad makes clear that the 'children have a mature palate for their ages'.

The favourite meal of the eldest child – aged 8 – is said to be lobster risotto with samphire. The six year old is similarly mature in his food tastes while sometimes enjoying home-made burgers and chicken nuggets.

Meal planning and food ordering is required while the family has a daily Ocado delivery slot to ensure fresh food is always available.

Flexibility to fit in with a busy household, coupled with good manners and discretion are required.

The busy bee will also need to find time for doing the laundry and ironing, making the beds, vacuuming and mopping the floors.

Separately, a family in four is said to be interviewing for a new long-term part-time housekeeper – working Monday- Friday 8.30am– 12.30pm - to look after them in the TW1 postcode of Twickenham.

Pay ranges from £16-£20 per hour depending on experience with the possibility of overtime for babysitting and additional hours.

Applicants are told the family consists of mum, dad and 9-year-old twins, along with one small well behaved dog.

They are said to be looking for a housekeeper, 'who is an energetic, methodical, detail-conscious individual with very high personal standards'.

The long list of duties includes, but is not limited to – maintaining an excellent standard of cleaning using plans developed by the family covering daily tasks, weekly tasks, monthly tasks, holiday/spring clean tasks.

Also on the list is a requirement 'to ensure items are placed away and do not accumulate'.

The family are particularly keen on finding a cleaning guru who can 'provide special care to the floors (tiled, wood) following manufacturer's instructions and proactively developing effective cleaning solutions : suggesting new equipment as required'.

On top of this, they should: 'Provide special care to fabrics (sofas, curtains) creating rotas for external cleaning as necessary.'

The exhaustive list also includes a requirement to maintain the larder and put away groceries; rotate summer and winter wardrobes; provide support with laundry; iron clothes according to priority; basic sewing and alterations.

The job description says the individual should also: 'maintain excellent communications with family, proactively raising household issues and seeking ways to continually improve household management'.

Other duties include occasional dog walking and a potential for regular babysitting.

Against the background of the cost of living squeeze, one government minister ran into trouble this week by suggesting people should make ends meet by looking for extra hours or a new job.

However, families looking for domestic staff with the very many skills stipulated in the job ads from Polo & Tweed will be fishing in a very small pond.