This is my first time posting because I’d like to share an experience I’m currently having with a pet sit. We are an experienced sitters and, for the first time, I’ve come across some particularly unusual hosts.
When we arrived, we found out we were expected to spend three days in the house with them. I don’t mind arriving a day early so they can show us how everything works, but three days felt like a lot. On top of that, they regularly host volunteers through another platform. When we got there, they asked if a volunteer could stay in the house during our sit, which made us feel very uncomfortable. We said no, but they asked us the same question twice again, as if to double‑check our refusal.
There are also two people who work at the property every day. It’s a very big house with land. These workers arrive every morning at 8 a.m., they have a key, don’t knock, come straight in, and have breakfast at the same table where we’re working. They usually stay until around 4 p.m.
Finally, the property has a lake/river, and they told us that over the weekend their son and grandson would be coming over to fish/hunt.
Another important detail is that they bought a puppy a few days before we arrived, so there is a very needy dog in the house who was not mentioned in the sit description. None of this information about other people coming and going was in the listing.
I’ve always given 5‑star reviews in my previous sits, but this time I’m not sure what rating to leave. They are kind people, and the dogs behave well, but the whole situation leaves me with a lot of doubts. What would you do about the review?. I feel like some platform rules are being broken, but I’m not entirely sure. Has anyone ever experienced something like this? How did you handle it?
Having other people in the house is against THS Ts and Cs - it’s simple, isn’t it? Report them.
As for your review, as well as mentioning the 3rd parties I would mark them down for accuracy of listing as you were not informed about the new dog, nevermind members of staff being present.
Sounds like they’re treating you like staff. That and violating a bunch of rules, they need to be adequately reviewed. You may also mention the 3rd party rules to them, because they may have not even read the rules.
To me, it’s odd that they have paid staff come care for the house but not pay for a pet sitter. Again, you’re just free staff. Not good.
I always ask when owners are leaving and when they’re returning when I have a video call, so it sounds to me like you didn’t ask those questions otherwise they would, hopefully, have told you they were leaving 3 days after you arrived.
You say you’re an experienced sitter yet don’t seem to be aware that having 3rd parties in the home is against T & Cs as you just say it makes you “uncomfortable”. You would have been well within your rights to give the owners 24hrs notice that you were leaving when people came into the house on the first occasion. It sounds like you didn’t fully question the hosts….As has been said, the hosts should be reported for allowing third parties into the home and you must give an accurate review so any future sitters are aware
Yes to reporting them & leaving if it was us. Do you want to stay? We’d hate other people coming in the house and it absolutely breaks the THS third party rule. Also no to an additional puppy or family showing up. I think when they asked you about a workawayer sharing the house, that’s how they see you too, there’s no difference in their minds. Also from experience, a 3 day handover was a total waste of time (we made mistake on another platform once!) Can you leave or set some new boundaries and fast? You’d be well within your rights to do so. If not, definitely drop some stars for accuracy, comms and pets. All aren’t as agreed. #bestofluck
“Unusual hosts” indeed. Your @Southamericansitter handle and mention of “hosting volunteers” has me wondering about the larger picture, the location and the cultural/social setting. This forum’s members are overwhelmingly going to react with Western sensibilities including a very strong aversion to shared living spaces. Your “unusual hosts” and the full circumstances of the sit may not fit neatly into Western sensibilities so the advice you receive here may be of limited value.
Regardless of the situation, how many stars you give in your review is much less important than what you write. If you open your review with “particularly unusual hosts” and follow that with what you’ve shared here about the sit, you’ll have fully met your obligation to the THS community. Let future adult sitters adult accordingly.
According to THS rules, only the sitter and guests of the SITTER approved by the host are allowed in the residence from the beginning to the end of the sit. This rule is important enough that you can report the sit to THS and the property will likely be removed from THS. But reporting the sit to THS is definitely not your responsibility and it’s likely unnecessary. This forum is owned and operated by THS. If a moderator here takes note of your question, the odds are high that the moderator will trigger an investigation ending in the hosts being banned. There was a recent example of exactly that on this forum.
If it were me and I decided to stay until the end, I’d leave one star and mention each rule that had been broken. I’d also mention everything that felt ‘off’/less than helpful to future sitters even if not strictly against the rules.
Can you let us all know what you decide to do please @Southamericansitter as there are tonnes of rule breaks at your sit so it’s a useful complex situation for others to learn how to handle. At a guess you could also be somewhere remote &/or long distance which means a replacement sit or accommodation is another complexity to figure out. #feedbackessential
I’ll have to stay because I don’t have another option, I can’t afford an Airbnb for the remaining days until my next pet sit. Fortunately, it’s only six more days and then I’ll leave. I will leave a review that reflects my experience, as I feel very uncomfortable.
In situations like this, aside from reporting or leaving a review of less than five stars, does TrustedHousesitters offer any kind of support? If you decide to leave because the agreed rules are not being followed, I’d like to know what options are available so I can keep that in mind in case this happens again in another sit.
If you have premium membership then perhaps the accommodation cover would come into place as they’ve broken plenty of Ts&Cs. Do you have that? Otherwise they’d probably only say you can give 24 hours notice, cancel and look for another sit. Sadly as you can’t afford an Airbnb for those 6 gap days you’ve cornered yourself. You could try a local Host a Sister on FB as at least no cost to that option, or couch surfing? #talktosupport
Ah now I understand your other post a bit better. The people going in and out isnt acceptable. Sorry you’re in that situation, please review honestly.
But to be fair, also ask going forward what the HO departure dates are so a you aren’t surprised. Ask on the video call and if they it’s a one night overlap, reply on the THS messaging app after the video call (so they can see it in case a dispute arises) with “Thanks for the chat today, and it was great to confirm you’ll be heading out on x date so I’ll arrange to arrive x-1 date. Looking forward to it.”. That way, your understanding of the dates is documented.
A while back I asked for suggestions about a listing I had created for a pet sitter to come in July 2027. Lots of sitters responded that it was way too early to make that post. I’m not sure, in but I’m hoping you were the person who gave the most helpful feedback. I wanted to have you be able to read my listing and evaluate it for me before I deleted it to repost later. But I’m not sure it was you. Can Someone explain how to post my listing?on the forum or how to direct message someone to review it would be greatly appreciated. This is only my second time on the forum and there’s much more to learn. seeing as how I deleted the listing before I saw the message at I could have someone review it, I don’t know how to get it back or get a copy to show on the forum that would help. Any thing you can do would be helpful… Thanks,
well I hope it was me that was one of the useful ones. This is how you add your listing to your forum profile so you can get some feedback