Do you realise you’ve nearly 500 replies posted in the last 30 days in this forum? I hope you’re getting paid to spend so much time here! 
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You seem to think that using a service automatically means users are satisfied. Many users will hold their nose and use THS simply because there’s no strong competition. That’s not something any company should rely on.
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Sometimes all a listing needs to be “appealing” is to have their location be somewhere like London or Paris, or anywhere in Asia. The home could be a complete disaster but if it’s in London they will get a sitter. YOU may not apply for those sits but plenty of other people will. I’ve seen listings for beautiful homes in the UK that are reachable via public transport just sitting there with low applications for weeks leading up to their dates, and many are even low maintenance cat sits. There’s no rhyme or reason to it. You are but one person in a massive population of members on THS, your experience isn’t the only experience being had.
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That’s hilarious! Perhaps you should copy Bill Gates on that memo. 
There’s no valid comparison between THS and Microsoft, or for that matter Amazon and Apple, two other companies that you mention. THS states itself that it’s essentially a matching site, similar to Match, Tinder and other dating apps.
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They are both giants in their field with relatively little competition. THS knows this and that gives them good reason to reach deeper into the pockets of their membership base.
Finally, the quiet part out loud
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That’s information that would be closely guarded. All we know from 2024’s financial report is that their income from membership fees was £25 million. For hosts and sitters there are 3 levels at different prices, so 6 in total. It would be difficult to make an accurate estimate,
I am an active sitter for many years. Over 30 wonderful reviews say how lucky I have been meeting pets and people while traveling. I also have MANY complaints about THS. I would appreciate not having them dismissed. Active and frequent users are in the best position to know the flaws.
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As someone who has worked in user experience, I agree with you 100%.
I find myself not applying to many more sits than we used to. Recently there was one posted in a area where we want to go and a time we want to be there. First we are expected to arrive between 530 and 7am, and not leave until 6pm the last day, so 2 hotel rooms on us in the same area. Then they listed that there are many things to do some of which are 1 hour away but the dog cant be left alone for more than 3 hours, we have a nice travel car and only take pets in it in an emergency. I find more and more postings like this, and so I am skipping more posting than before…
Put us up the night before and let us use your car for dog trips and we would have applied.
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Just had the same realization about a sit in Hawaii… no matter it was wher/when I wanted to be there. Too many demands, too little reason to put up with the entitlement aura, no thanks, and not applying.
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You can only speak for yourself. I’m a Brit - and more than happy to cross the Pond. And have done so recently, with no difficulties at all. If HOs in the US or Canada are struggling to find sitters, I really don’t think it’s because the supply of us previously multiple and enthusiastic Europeans is drying up.
I’ve had the opposite experience to yours - I don’t know anyone except my daughter who has been interested in joining as a homeowner. All of my referrals (my daughter didn’t bother to tell me she was signing up, so I didn’t even get the referral credit!) have been pet lovers interested in more affordable travel. Apparently my friend group are all like me - not feeling confident that they would be able to not only get off on a trip but leave the house clean as well!. I’m hoping someday to become a dual member, but when I see sitters’ complaints about messy houses I get intimidated by the thought.
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I’m afraid that the new arrival and departure time requirements will put off too many sitters, when it may just be like in the “before times” and times can be discussed. Every one of my hosts so far (out of 15) has worked with me in the video call to figure out a convenient arrangement for both of us. Of course, if it’s a one-bedroom home it would not work to stay over the night before and the night after the sit ends, but if I were considering a sit asking me to arrive at 6:30 am I would assume they would be open to my arriving the night before. And I would apply, with that proposition in the application. Goes to show sometimes requiring too much information backfires, if HOs are having trouble getting sitters.
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You and your friends might consider hiring cleaners, if that’s your concern. You’d probably come out ahead, given the cost of pet care, unless you’re away only very briefly, or have say only one cat, or have a home so dirty that a cleaner couldn’t do a decent job in one visit.
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@Treeandcathugger The vast majority of HOs present clean homes for sitters – as we do. Please don’t be put off by the posts on the forum, as it is a minority of THS members.
We are sitters as well as HOs and we’ve never come into a dirty home, and we always leave our home clean for sitters. (Been on the platform for four years.)
And as far as these new “times” guidelines are concerned, we will continue to do as we’ve always done: discuss logistics thoroughly during the pre-confirmation video chat. We don’t accept a sit nor sitters without a video chat. It’s when we discuss all kinds of housekeeping issues as well as get a vibe from the other people. So far, it’s been our best tool to get good sits, or have good sitters.
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The data for 2025 shows a slowdown in international tourism in the US. Numbers are up compared to the pandemic but lower than 2019 levels. My guess is both politics and costs are affecting tourism. I know I am more stretched than ever. Economy would also affect tourism in non-US countries, so it would be interesting to see how Europe, Asia, Canada etc are faring. There may always be some folks willing to come to the US regardless of our government, but the data is what it is.
Why do you specify council house? What difference does that make? A cluttered house is a cluttered house.