We’ve done 36 sits now with 5 star reviews, and was presented with an agreement for our next sit which starts in a couple of weeks, the host is a solicitor who is obviously very risk averse! I was shocked at first but read through it and asked for just one thing to be changed in that it wasnt made clear who would pay for any vets bills in the first instance, they changed this and we signed it. At the end of the day i know we arent going to maliciously damage or steal any property, and are not going to run off with their dog. They have had sitters in the past who i assume have also been asked to sign this agreement. If you dont feel comfortable signing it then refuse the sit and they will have to start all over again trying to find another sitter.
Isn’t an agreement and meant to be a verbal contract if the Sitter and Homeowner goes forward with a sit? Isn’t it our standard? Just asking. I’ve had dozens of sits but I’m new here. Just asking for clarification.
That guideline agreement/contract (?) also has some profound agendas for Americans. There is no concealed carry allowed without permission. HOs must tell if they have weapons as well. It is a 2nd Amendment right in America whereas it’s not legal at all in some countries.
I don’t think HOs are going to tell anyone they have weapons. Typically they’re very expensive and sought after. That would mean a breach of privacy.
I mentioned this last part because we’re talking agreements and contracts. Both are also determined by laws in a given country. We’re wading into some deep waters at times.
And to think all we should be doing is having an equal partnership: HO and Sitter
In 25 sits we’ve never had to sign a contract or anything like that. One older couple did ask to photograph our driver’s licenses for peace of mind, which I understand, it was their first time on THS / leaving their home with strangers.
My theories… (1) they’re either uptight and extremely risk-averse, (2) they’re the kind of people who have “staff” and do this with everyone, or (3) they’ve had some major problems in the past where they’re no longer trusting and feel like they need a formal contract. In my experience THS functions best when treated as a mutual exchange between trusted friends, and uncomfy vibes before the sit even begins are generally not a good sign. Trust your gut 
I like the above suggestion to respond that your own lawyer has advised you not to sign and see how they respond. If you do want to continue with the sit, see if they have particular concerns / past trauma that you can allay?
I would run as far away as possible from this sit. The contract is bizarre and only 8 days out infectious diseases? Insurance policy ? Sounds all very odd to me and I’d have no problem backing out of this one.
I agree 
with you
I was thinking the exact same thing. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
I’m shocked that after all the efforts you’ve gone to by meeting them in person and communicating with them they’ve thrown this at you at the last minute. There is plenty of good advice on here but I would be running away from this sit. I’m about to do my 80th sit and never been presented with such a document.
In over 100 sits we have never been asked to sign a contract and we never would. This is not a paid job and we not under legal contract. This is a voluntary arrangement based on trust.
I think its very underhand, shocking even, that 4 months after confirming the sit, and after having met met in person, that they throw this at you at the last minute. My trust would fly out the window!
I agree with the advice given by others- You have every right to cancel as they have not been upfront with you and you have been put in an uncomfortable position. It is very unfair on you. This contract sounds suspicious.
Best would be to withdraw now but if you have no other accomodation options etc at such notice and you still want to try and persue it then you could try the other suggestions- I like the one that your lawyer has advised you not to sign it.
Or you challenge them on some of the content. Either way if you do the sit, and for 2 months, I think you could be up for some challenges with these hosts- they are tricky. Run if you can to avoid regret later.
But best of luck whatever you decide!
I appreciate your for taking time to respond and share your avise advice and every everyone else here as well. My gut feeling is not at all comfortable with this contract and agree … serious red flags and really don’t see anything positive ahead with these people…
20 years ago we did a month-long house exchange with a family near Montreal. At one point in the telephone exchanges leading up to it, the husband told me rather apologetically that a friend had advised him that we really needed to sign contracts. I said that I felt we had established a good relationship and that a contract was unnecessary. He agreed with obvious relief, saying that he felt that trust was the basis of the exchange of homes (and cars). So it’s possible that someone in the HOs entourage persuaded them that they had to do this. The contract might have been a template they found online.
That sounds plausible, especially when it came this late. Of course, we all know people that are horrified at this whole idea of letting strangers live in one’s house. They will have a litany of things that could go wrong and they probably made the HO worry.
Even if hosts actually were influenced by others to ask for such a contract, it would mean they now lack trust, which is bad for THS sits. And even if they had a change of mind, clearly such a contract at this late date puts the sitter in a bad position — they’d be signing under duress.
Whatever the reason for the contract, it doesn’t change the need for trust on a sit. And without it, you’re more likely to have a suboptimal one.
@Chrissie is this the same one that comes up on our dashboard or a new one ?
It seems strange that THS are sending these out since in 2021 they said that there was no sitter/owner agreement.
@Carla @Jenny @Therese any update from Product team on why THS have recently sent house sitting agreements out to some sitters ?
@Silversitters . I don’t seem to have one on my dashboard, can’t find one anywhere.
@Chrissie I only found it on the app by going into the help centre. Then searching “guidelines and forms” and then half way down under “securing a housesit” you will see a link to the pdf,doc link which takes you to the agreement. As I stated in a previous post, the article with the attachment was written in 2017 and in 2023 Carla said it isn’t legally binding and isn’t used anymore to the best of her knowledge and she would speak to the product team to have it removed, but it hasn’t been removed.
@Betsysmom What have you decided about whether to do this sit or not?
@Silversitters yes, now I see it this way on the desktop page, it doesn’t show this on the app which is all I use. Much easier to see your way though
It’s not that one, oops, might be looking at the wrong one, ignore this post 
Like these software EULAs, that we all say we have read and understood and agreed to…