The point about the fob is that you’re giving it to the sitters to presumably use in your absence, even though they are meant to be accompanied by a resident when using them. The word “technically” is doing some pretty heavy lifting in your original post.
I’m curious as to how you’d be able to Airbnb your home given non-residents aren’t meant to use the amenities without you there?
And if your HOA is that strict, I’m sure they have bylaws upon bylaws about STRs.
I’d not run the risk of violating HOA rules if I were the homeowner. And I wouldn’t do a sit knowing that I wasn’t supposed to be using the amenities without the host accompanying me.
Why not: If the sitter gets caught, the homeowner will face whatever penalty and the sitter ends up sitting without the benefit of the amenities and presumably would still be expected to meet the three feedings, etc., that this host expects.
And you run the risk of a sitter who decides that, without the amenities agreed to, the deal for sitting is broken.
@Florida If your listing doesn’t mention the pickleball then I am curious about how the sitters were even aware of the facility ?
I have seen a listing in Florida that promotes the attraction of staying in a gated community as the facilities available such as pickleball and tennis.
If I applied for such a sit I would expect that I had permission to use these facilities and that I would be able to bring friends to play pickleball & tennis ( as they are not sports that I can play solo ) etc .
I would not expect that I actually did not have permission to use the facilities unless the HO was present and that if at any time during the stay I got found out by management / other residents in the community that I might be stopped from using them. That would change the whole understanding on which I had agreed to sit . I would feel that the HO had misled me with their listing .
If your listing promotes pickleball or tennis as one of the attractions then it is a reasonable assumption for the sitter to make, that they can invite someone along to the facilities to play a game with them - how else can they use these particular facilities ?
If your listing does not mention these facilities then I am curious about how the sitters knew about them . If this is the case you can say to sitters who ask about it that we don’t include information about the pickleball or tennis, gym, pool in our listing as it’s not available for use by non residents unless accompanied by us.
I hate to say it @Florida but the more posts you post complaining about sitters the less likely you’ll get a match. I would not be considering applying for a sit for you. Btw, it’s unlikely your sitters played pickleball all day. I’ve recently been introduced to it & it’s quite tiring after an hour or so. I also recently did a sit in an up market gated community in Australia. I had no idea I’d be given access to the gym & swimming pool facilities with their fob. I used the gym (too cold for the pool) & spent a lot of time with the two Beagles. It was great & the owners were very happy on their return
I think @Bianca has nailed the solution! You’re either marketing your sit to staycation, sport loving, home bodies who can enjoy the HOA extras (without guests as specified) OR as @Silversitters suggests, don’t mention them at all in your listing & offer 4 hours off exploring your area between cat care & company. Otherwise you’re searching for a carbon copy of yourselves @Florida and that’s nigh on impossible. #rareashensteeth
I was stating that it would cost one at least $100 for a hotel room, and that if I were to airbnb (which is not allowed in my community) in the area, our house would be about $1500 a week.
That was just an example of what it would cost to rent an airbnb in the area. 
@ziggy thank you! This is exactly the point I was trying to convey. I hope the other people on this thread read your comment.
@Maggie8K this is what I was trying to convey.
Sure, but this isn’t the issue- and btw, we never have a problem getting applicants. We don’t write in our profile that one needs to do x amount of whatever the task is, but we do talk them through it when we first communicate. We just don’t move forward if they are uncomfortable with our expectations.
Anyway, this is the job- so do you want it or not. That’s all. Can’t do half of it- and, no, we haven’t had a problem with getting applicants- as I stated above and probably a few more times in other responses. Supply and demand is part of life- need to explain what that is.
Your argument doesn’t hold water here, and I think we’ve said all that we can say.
Thanks. I guess the abuse word is extreme- it’s taking advantage. There is someone who even comes after people who live in our community- a bit bizarre. We turn a blind eye, but when one starts inviting their friends and makes comments like “how would anyone know”, it puts us in jeopardy with the rules, and I feel taken advantage of…
Wasting sitters’ time by doing this, on top of offering amenities that you’re not supposed to, in violation of your HOA rules, which means sitters could end up without the amenities if they get caught. What you write gets worse and worse.
I am curious. Have you had reviews since the bind system went in? Getting applicants and having happy sitters is not necessarily the same thing.
Let’s stop adding a monetary value to something that has none.
If you want to rent out your place you would have to spend almost an identical number preparing for it to be rented and more on temporary housing for your cat. Also your by laws - would not allow you to do rentals.
Don’t agree that you can’t get an Airbnb below $300/night. As other options come up AirBnb rates that the HO gets are dropping (while the Airbnb fees rise). And some cities don’t allow AirBnb without the owner present, as it was originally intended. I was just at one in a popular city; with fees it was less than $80/night.
One: pickleball requires four players. If you post selling this amenity and giving them a fob, how are they supposed to utilize it without other players?
Two: You say you don’t know if they are making up their rules, but you have so much detail on what they did “wrong.” So, do you have neighbors spying on them? Cameras? How do you know they are out or having friends play pickleball all day?
Three: You comment, “We discuss everything with them, and they work their schedules around our needs…” and “This is the job- so do you want it or not…” really appear to conflict with the exchange model. In addition, in the U.S., one basis for determining if someone is an employee is if they are made to report to “work” at specific times; a contractor has complete control of their schedules. And you can’t have employees work for free; you at least have to pay city/state minimum wage. My understanding is that THS is Euro-based, but U.S. laws differ. Such comments from HO’s in the U.S. might be areas of concern.
Four: If you list your home on Airbnb and board your animals, you would make much less than an overnight sitter would make by charging.
Can someone please tell me what HOA stands for?
Homeowners’ association
Thanks. Presumably American?
That’s where I know it from, but apparently it comes up in various countries: Homeowner association - Wikipedia.
It’s just like a Body Corporate in Oz/NZ.