TrustedHousesitters Review: How it Works for Sitters & Owners (2026)
TrustedHousesitters Review: How It Works for Sitters & Owners (2026)
You might have seen TrustedHousesitters pop up on your feed or come across it while looking for ways to travel more affordably or for reliable petsitters. I’ve been using the platform since June 2020 as a petsitter, and it’s one of the main reasons I’ve been able to travel full-time. This is my honest, up to date TrustedHousesitters review – covering everything you need to know, for both sitters and owners, including a recent change to the platform that caused a lot of controversy.
This article contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you click on them at no additional cost to you. Use code TRUSTED15 through my link to get 15% off your membership.
What is TrustedHousesitters?
TrustedHousesitters is an international platform that connects homeowners – typically pet owners – with trusted housesitters. Founded in 2010 and originally from the UK, it operates in 100+ countries and works as a simple exchange: pet owners get reliable, in-home care for their animals while they travel, and sitters get free accommodation in return. All both parties need is a membership to access the platform.
If you’re skeptical about whether it’s legit, their almost 30,000 reviews (and counting) averaging 4.2/5 on Trustpilot should put your mind at ease.
How Much Does TrustedHousesitters Cost in 2026?
This is where things have changed recently, and I want to be completely transparent with you.
TrustedHousesitters offers three membership tiers – Basic, Standard, and Premium. Membership prices range from approximately $120 to $200s USD per year depending on your location. The platform adjusts pricing by region, which helps make it more accessible to people with lower purchasing power or weaker currencies.
Here’s the important update: TrustedHousesitters introduced a $12 USD per sit fee to all members who are not on the Premium plan. This applies to both homeowners and sitters and understandably caused significant backlash when it was introduced. The platform has not reversed this decision.
My honest recommendation: if you plan to use the platform at least twice during your 365-day membership, get Premium. You avoid the per-sit fee entirely, and you get your money’s worth from your very first completed sit or trip. The math is simple – one housesit in a city like San Francisco, Dubai, or Paris saves you hundreds of dollars in accommodation alone. If you’re a pet owner, you know how much it costs to get a full-time sitter on a daily basis.
Premium also includes a cancellation policy, which is worth having. If a homeowner cancels last minute, you’ll be offered alternative solutions. If you cancel as a sitter, the homeowner is covered too. You even get two airline lounge passes. For anyone using the platform regularly, Premium is the only membership that makes sense, and it’s the one I have and recommend.
The other memberships are no longer worth it in my opinion. Use code TRUSTED15 through my link to get 15% off your membership.
How Does TrustedHousesitters Work?
The process is straightforward. Homeowners create listings with their requirements, dates, and details about their pets and home. Sitters browse listings, filter by location and dates, and apply for sits that match their availability. Communication happens through the platform’s secure messaging system – often followed by a video call to make sure both parties are a good fit. Once agreed, both sides confirm and the sit is locked in. Think of it like a job application with a dating profile. As a sitter, you need a detailed profile, photos, and references as well as write a cover letter for each sit explaining why you’d be a great fit. The homeowner reviews all applicants and either accepts you directly or invites you to a video call first. Once confirmed, you stay in touch until the sit begins.
How Safe is TrustedHousesitters?
Safety is taken seriously on both sides. The platform uses ID verification – handled by the same external party that verifies Airbnb identities – along with background checks and a transparent review system. In six years of solo female housesitting across four continents, I have never once had a safety issue.
A few important rules to know: homeowners must disclose if they have cameras in the home. Failure to do so can result in being banned from the platform. As a sitter, respecting the home and following the homeowner’s rules isn’t just courtesy – it protects your reviews, which are everything on this platform.
Premium membership includes insurance for both parties. In six years I’ve had one accident – a broken flower vase. If something is valuable to you as a homeowner, simply put it away before your sitter arrives.
How does the Housesitting process work?
I like to think of this as an interview process with a “dating” profile. As the sitter, I need to have references, pictures and a detailed profile about who I am and what I do. I’ll apply for the house sit by writing a “cover letter” about why I think I’d be a great fit for their home and pets, and then the homeowner will review my profile together with the other applicants. I could get the house sit right away, or I might do a video call or two with the homeowners to make sure we’re the right fit for each other. Once the owner agrees, I’ll get sent a confirmation, I click accept, and that’s it! We’ll stay in touch until the house begins and I show up in person.
Is TrustedHousesitters International?
Absolutely. The platform operates in 100+ countries and you don’t need to be in the same country as the sit to apply. I’ve completed housesits across four continents. As a homeowner, you might find that locals have no interest in staying in your countryside home in Greece, but someone from abroad would jump at the opportunity. That’s the beauty of the platform’s global reach. And anyone, from any nationality, can sign up for it.
Can You Cancel a Trustedhousesitters sit?
Life is unpredictable, and TrustedHousesitters understand that. If you’re a homeowner, let the sitter know as quickly as possible. The same goes for the sitter if they need to cancel. You won’t be penalized for canceling before the sit starts. This is why it’s so important to get the Premium membership. If I cancel as a sitter, the homeowner will be given alternative solutions like a pet hotel or money to hire a sitter while they’re gone. As the sitter, I will be given money to stay at a hotel since I can’t house sit. This is all completely covered by the Premium membership.
Can You Do Housesitting Without Pets?
Yes – on both sides. As a homeowner, you might simply want someone trustworthy in the house while you’re away, even without pets. Plants, security, peace of mind – all valid reasons. As a sitter, you don’t need to own pets to join. I don’t have any. A genuine love for animals is enough, and showcasing photos with friends’ or family’s pets on your profile goes a long way.
Do Sitters Get Paid?
No – and this is important to understand before you sign up. TrustedHousesitters is an exchange of services. Sitters receive free accommodation in return for free pet and house care. Flights and food are not covered. If your goal is to earn money housesitting, this platform isn’t for you. If your goal is to travel more while dramatically cutting your accommodation costs, there is nothing else like it in the world.
To give you a sense of the value – I’ve stayed in homes that list for $500-1,000 USD per night on Airbnb. A villa in Dubai where I’m staying two weeks as I’m writing this would cost $150-200 USD per day. The annual membership pays for itself within the first sit, often within the first day. As a homeowner, however, you can tip your sitters if you wish to. If you have food that you know you won’t be eating before you leave, you can also leave that behind. I’ve also had homeowners buy groceries for me or even leave behind a gift card to use at a local supermarket. These little gestures are always very much appreciated.
Can I choose where and when to house sit?
Yes and no. You can filter by location and dates. Flexibility is key. You might find more housesits in a big city like San Francisco or Berlin, but for the most part, homeowners post the dates in which they’ll be gone and you apply for the sit directly.
You don’t need to travel halfway across the world to get a house sit. You can turn up notifications in your own area. Need a getaway somewhere nearby for the weekend? If you have roommates and live in New York City, for example, you could be doing house sits on your own in fancy apartments as a city getaway. I have definitely done this before.
Hey there, and welcome to Go Global with Sibu! I’m a global citizen that has been living and traveling around the world since 2005 – all through budget travel, scholarships, study/work and living abroad opportunities. I share everything I’ve learned over the years here – to prove to you that you don’t need money or privilege to enjoy everything that this world has to offer.
How to Get Started as a Sitter
References matter, especially when you’re new. Here’s how to build your profile from scratch:
Start with external references – ask friends or family with pets to vouch for you even if you’ve never officially housesit before. That’s exactly how I started. Include photos with animals wherever possible. Connect your LinkedIn and Facebook profiles to the platform for added credibility. Encourage homeowners to jump on video calls – it builds trust faster than messages alone.
Most importantly, don’t go after competitive sits right away. A central Paris apartment with dozens of applicants won’t become your first sit. Start local, start short – one or two night sits give you your first platform reviews, and once you have two or three of those, everything opens up.
As a sitter, the key is simple: treat the home better than you found it, follow the homeowner’s rules, and communicate clearly throughout your stay.
Do I have to stay home all day taking care of the pets?
This is a fairly common question I get, too. If I am housesitting in New York City, do I need to stay in all day? I have yet to come across a housesit that wouldn’t allow me to go out, at least a few hours per day. As a homeowner, it’s YOUR responsibility to be clear about your expectations. Are you ok with your dogs being left alone all day and just taking them out every 12 hours? Would you rather have someone take them out every 6 hours? Do your pets need medication regularly?
I read through the requirements, and then decide if the housesit is a good fit for me or not. If my goal is to go out sightseeing, I choose housesits with fewer requirements. If I just want to rest, enjoy the property, or simply work remotely, I don’t mind staying in. After all, some of these properties are gorgeous! Some have pools, jacuzzis, and even beachfront properties. Some are perfect for a getaway. It all depends on what you’re looking for!
Can You Bring Someone Along?
Yes. When creating your profile, you can specify whether you’re a solo sitter, a couple, or a family. You can change this anytime. I usually housesit solo and if someone is joining me, I just add them to my account then delete them from my profile once we’ve finished the sit. Just be transparent with the homeowner about who is coming. I once took my mom on her first housesit. She loved every second of it.
As a homeowner, you get to choose what profile type suits your home and pets best. A small apartment with an anxious dog might suit a solo sitter better. A large property with multiple pets might benefit from two people or even a whole family. The owner ultimately chooses what they think is best.
Why Use TrustedHousesitters as a Homeowner?
Traveling with pets is hard. Finding someone trustworthy to care for them is harder. TrustedHousesitters solves both problems. Your pets stay in their own home, in their own routine, with someone physically present every day – not a drop-in sitter checking in once or twice a day. You set the rules, you choose the sitter, and you’re protected by the platform throughout.
If you’re traveling and want genuine peace of mind about your pets and your home, this is the most reliable solution available. I’d also recommend getting SafetyWing travel insurance for your trip while your sitter holds down the fort at home – it’s flexible, affordable, and designed for people who travel and need flexibility..
Why Use TrustedHousesitters as a Traveler?
Where to begin?! If you’re a pet lover, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be signed up for this platform. You don’t need to travel full-time like myself to do this. You could even be using it for weekend breaks. I personally prefer housesitting to Airbnbs. These are actual homes. It gives me the opportunity to see how people from around the world live. I get to stay in local neighborhoods where the houses I’m staying in are fully equipped. I don’t have to worry about not having the basics like oil, salt and pepper. In a house sit, I have it all, because people actually live here.
But most importantly, the amount of money that I save is unbelievable. Staying in a villa of this scale in Dubai would set me back $150-200 USD per day. I’m here for 2 weeks as I’m writing this. You do the math. I basically get the money back for my membership in a day. I’ve done housesits in homes that are $500-1000 USD per day (I looked up the prices on Airbnb). I have access to homes I’d otherwise never have, and all for free. This is such a cool way to travel, and I cannot believe we live in a world where strangers would trust each other with their homes and pets. But this is all possible thanks to the system THS has in place.
But if I have to be candid here: this platform saved me during the pandemic. I was left without a home and TrustedHousesitters is what kept me going – housesitting across Europe while I got back on my feet, then across the US and now I use it globally. It has given me access to homes I could never otherwise afford and experiences that money genuinely can’t buy.
The possibilities are genuinely endless. A beachfront property in the Caribbean. A vineyard in Europe. A farm in South Africa. A luxury apartment in central Paris with a cat. And if you’re not into pets, or you’re allergic to one type of pet for example, you can always filter by dogs, or even not pets on the platform. This is all real and it’s all available on the platform right now. And the best part if that you can do this for a weekend or for a few months. It’s all up to you and your availability.S
Final Thoughts
Is TrustedHousesitters perfect? No. The introduction of the $12 per sit fee for non-Premium members was a disappointing change and the backlash was justified. But despite that, it remains the most competitive and comprehensive housesitting platform in the world. Nothing else comes close in terms of global reach, safety infrastructure, and volume of listings and sitters available.
If you’re going to use it – and I genuinely think you should – get Premium, use it at least twice, and you will get your money’s worth without question. This platform has saved me thousands over the years, and I can assure you, that whether you’re a homeowner or a sitter, not only will it save you money, but it will change your life, too. More ease while traveling as a pet owner and global opportunities available as a pet sitter.
Age is not a factor, by the way. I’ve seen tons of people who are retired do the Trustedhousesitters thing full-time! And if you’re a pet owner, this platform should bring you some peace of mind. If you have any questions, make sure to leave them in the comments below.
And don’t forget to use code TRUSTED15 through this link to get 15% off your membership. Happy travels!
PS: if you want to housesit around the world full-time but don’t know how, you can always book a 1-1 call with me to help you out!