When you’re travelling, your accommodations are often the largest expense (or close to it). House sitting offers another option: Stay in someone’s home without paying rent while caring for their property, pets or both.
It can provide anything from a weekend in a nearby city to several weeks in a house overseas. However, you shouldn’t just look at it as simply a free vacation. You’re accepting responsibility for someone’s home and, in most cases, animals that need daily attention.
Here’s how house sitting works, which platforms can help you find opportunities, and what you should know before accepting one.
How does house sitting work?
Homeowners post the dates when they’ll be away, along with information about their home, pets, and expectations. Prospective house sitters create profiles and apply for the opportunities that interest them. If the homeowner selects you, you stay in the home during the agreed period and complete the required tasks. These may include:
- Feeding pets
- Walking dogs
- Cleaning litter boxes
- Giving animals medication
- Watering plants
- Collecting mail
- Putting out garbage
- Keeping the home secure
- Handling minor household issues
In most arrangements, the homeowner doesn’t pay the sitter and the sitter doesn’t pay for the accommodation. The exchange is pet and property care for a place to stay. Some platforms charge an annual membership fee to access listings or contact homeowners.
The Best House-Sitting Websites
TrustedHousesitters
TrustedHousesitters is one of the largest and most recognizable house-sitting platforms. It operates internationally and is particularly focused on pet care. Homeowners post listings describing their pets, home, location, dates, and required duties. Sitters purchase an annual membership and can then apply for opportunities available under their plan. Typically, no money changes hands between the homeowner and sitter. The large number of website listings can be an advantage because there are listings in many countries. However, attractive stays in popular destinations may receive numerous applications. New members without reviews may need to begin with shorter, less competitive or nearby opportunities.
Best for: Travellers who want the widest selection of international pet-sitting opportunities.
More: Trusted Housesitters
House Carers
House Carers is one of the longest-running house-sitting directories, matching homeowners and sitters since 2000. It includes listings in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and other regions. Sitters can create profiles, browse opportunities, and receive alerts for house sits matching their preferred locations. Profiles may include references, reviews, and police clearances, depending on what the member provides. The majority of arrangements are unpaid exchanges in which the sitter receives rent-free accommodation.
Best for: Travellers looking for an established international house-sitting directory.
More: House Carers
MindMyHouse
MindMyHouse is a lower-cost option for people who want to try house sitting without paying a large annual membership fee. At the time of writing, house sitters can purchase 12 months of access for US$29. The platform says it doesn’t charge additional booking fees. The website has connected homeowners and sitters since 2005. Its inventory may not be as large as larger platforms, but the lower membership cost makes it more accessible to beginners.
Best for: Budget-conscious travellers who don’t want to spend heavily before securing their first sit.
More: MindMyHouse
Nomador
Nomador is an international home- and pet-sitting community with listings in Europe, North America and other regions. The process is straightforward. Homeowners publish listings, sitters contact them, both parties discuss the arrangement, and the homeowner chooses a sitter based on the person’s profile, reviews, and conversations. Nomador offers different subscription levels and a Discovery option that allows prospective members to explore the service before committing to a full paid plan.
Best for: Travellers interested in Europe or those who want to explore a platform before purchasing a full membership.
More: Nomador
House Sitters Canada
House Sitters Canada focuses entirely on Canadian house- and pet-sitting opportunities. The typical arrangement involves the sitter providing pet care, garden care, and home security in exchange for accommodation. A Canada-specific service may be useful for travellers who want to explore the country, test house sitting closer to home, or avoid competing for international listings. It could also appeal to remote workers looking for longer stays outside expensive Canadian city centres.
Best for: Canadians and international visitors specifically looking for house sits within Canada.
More: HouseSittersCanada
Is house sitting really free?
The accommodation may be free, but the overall trip probably won’t be. Possible expenses include:
- Platform membership fees
- Transportation
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Food
- Local transit
- Visa or entry costs
- Emergency accommodation
- Background checks
- Occasionally agreed household expenses
You should also determine who is responsible for utilities, particularly during longer stays. Homeowners usually continue paying ordinary household costs, but unusual expenses should be discussed before either party commits.
Avoid assuming that access to a beautiful home automatically makes the arrangement a bargain. A stay involving three dogs, medication schedules, twice-daily walks and a property far from public transportation may require much more time and expense than expected.
Questions to Ask Before Accepting a House Sit
A listing may look perfect until you learn that the dog can’t be left alone for more than two hours or that the home has unreliable internet. Ask detailed questions like these before taking on the work.
What exactly do the pets need?
Find out:
- How often they eat
- How much exercise they require
- Whether they take medication
- Whether they have behavioural problems
- How long they can be left alone
- Whether they sleep in the bedroom
- Whether they’re comfortable with strangers
- What to do during an emergency
Ask for honesty about barking, aggression, anxiety, accidents inside the house and difficulty around other animals.
Is the Internet reliable?
This is particularly important for remote workers. Don’t settle for “Yes, we have Wi-Fi.” Ask about the connection speed, stability, and location of the router. Find out whether video calls are normally reliable and whether there is a suitable desk or workspace. A rural cottage may be beautiful but unsuitable if you need to spend six hours per day online.
Can you leave the property?
Some pets can comfortably remain alone for several hours. Others require nearly constant supervision. Ask how long you can leave and whether the homeowner expects you to remain at the property overnight every night. A house sit may not work as a travel experience if the animal’s needs prevent you from exploring the area.
Is transportation available?
A suburban or rural property may require a car. Check the distance to grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and public transportation Never assume the homeowner’s vehicle will be available. Vehicle access, insurance, and fuel costs need to be discussed explicitly.
What happens in an emergency?
You should receive:
- The owner’s contact information
- An emergency backup contact
- The veterinarian’s name and number
- Instructions for approving veterinary treatment
- Information about alarms, locks, and utilities
- Directions for handling power failures or household damage
Put important agreements in writing through the platform whenever possible.
How to Get Your First House Sit
The most desirable listings can be competitive, especially in major cities and popular vacation destinations. A complete profile gives homeowners more reason to trust you. Include clear photos, a detailed introduction, relevant experience, and references. Experience doesn’t need to come from professional pet sitting. You can mention caring for your own pets, helping friends, maintaining a home, gardening or managing unexpected problems responsibly.
For your first stay, consider applying for:
- A short local house sit
- A less touristy destination
- An off-season opportunity
- A last-minute listing
- A sit with one relatively independent pet
After completing the stay successfully, ask the homeowner to leave a detailed review. A few strong reviews can make future applications considerably easier.
Watch for Warning Signs
Don’t accept an arrangement simply because the property photographs look attractive. Be cautious when situations like these appear:
- The listing is vague about duties
- The owner avoids a video call
- The number of animals changes during the conversation
- The pets have serious undisclosed behavioural issues
- The owner expects extensive cleaning, repairs, or manual labour
- You’re asked to pay the homeowner directly
- The home appears unsafe or unsanitary
- There is no emergency plan
- The owner pressures you to commit immediately
- Expectations aren’t documented
You’re allowed to decline. Getting free accommodations isn’t worth accepting an arrangement that feels unsafe, deceptive, or excessively demanding.
Check Immigration and Visa Rules
International house sitting can create a legal grey area. Even without cash payment, immigration officials in some countries may consider accommodation received in exchange for services to be work. The rules can depend on the destination, your citizenship, and the type of entry permission you hold. You sometimes have to let the border patrol officials where you intend to stay when you enter their country. You may have to give them the house sitting address which could bring on more questions.
Don’t rely entirely on wording provided by a house-sitting website or homeowner. Check the official immigration rules for your destination before travelling and obtain professional advice when the situation is unclear.
House Sitting Works Best for the Right Traveller
House sitting can dramatically reduce accommodation costs, but it comes with real obligations. It tends to work best for travellers who:
- Genuinely enjoy animals
- Can follow detailed instructions
- Are comfortable spending time at the property
- Keep homes clean
- Communicate reliably
- Can respond calmly when something goes wrong
- Don’t need a completely unrestricted schedule
For remote workers, retirees, slow travellers, and people comfortable planning around pets, it can provide a much more affordable way to visit new places. Just remember that you’re not being handed a free hotel room. Someone is trusting you with their home and animals. Treating that responsibility seriously is what turns one successful house sit into many more.
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