Please write that in your listing.
And then I won’t apply.
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Some sort of message with a ‘decline’ is polite. Why lie? Pick a sitter, then let the others know you’ve selected someone. “Hi, thanks for your application. We’ve selected a sitter.” 
You have so many options to choose from that I am surprised your plan A is to block the sitter from even seeing your listing.
There have been suggestions of both HOs and sitters that we should have the option to block people so that they can’t message us. I think that would be both technically easy to solve and useful when someone is being harassed or someone who doesn’t fulfill the criteria of the listing keeps applying or sitters keep being invited for unsuitable sits.
I strongly agree with @ABGM
But in this particular case, @Couple_travels_fulltime reasoning
goes even further. If I don’t get a personal message from someone who knows me personally I would definitely get the message and never again apply.
@TexasTed, it’s clear that you don’t want to offend the sitter but it also seems that you are not particularly happy with their life style and that’s not easy (probably not necessary) to communicate. IMO, if you just say your needs have changed, the message will be both clear and polite enough. Actually, that’s what you have said on the forum.
I find most of the time OPs come up with the answer to their own questions and communicate to the forum something they find hard to tell to the interested party.
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Always be honest with sitters. In your ad state that you want a sitter that is quiet and will stay at home a lot. That you are not looking for ppl that will go out clubbing etc.
If your sitter applies again, be honest with them and ask if their clubbing habits are still the same. They may have changed also.
If you just dont want them back, be polite and thank them for sitting for them before and state your needs have changed and you prefer a quiter person and wish them well.
If you were not happy enough with how she cared for your home and pets, why did you leave a positive review? Someone like me then comes along and hires a sub-par sitter based on your review.
Edited to comply with the Community Rules
You captured my concerns well. Thank you for adding your thoughts. Complicating this particular situation, which was removed by the moderator, is that the sitter is a member of a minority group that has recently faced some very public displays of hatred. I didn’t want to decline this applicant in a way that she might interpret as another example of bigotry against people like her.
Please read the original post again.
You won’t be “hiring” anyone on THS @Bobalou2016. Sitters on this platform are not for hire, it’s a mutual exchange of free pet care for free accommodation. Hiring involves money changing hands. #animportantdifference
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@Bobalou2016 your attitude really isn’t within how most people here view the exchange on trusted housesitters. You’re talking about human beings it’s really disrespectful to see you referring to ‘hiring sub-par’ 
1 Like
@TexasTed Why not explain the situation to her and ask if she would be spending “significant amounts of time at the house”? As a sitter, I’m sure I would rather have an opportunity to answer the question. Have you stipulated that in your ad? If so and she has read your ad fully, she should be aware of the change in your circumstances and requirements. If I were her and I’d seen this discussion on the forum, I would be withdrawing mt application immediately, no matter how much I had enjoyed the previous experience!
Beautiful response 
THS is for holiday homestays - I’m not sure it’s the right platform for you if you want to restrict/ control the time a sitter stays in/ goes out?!
Perhaps professional/ paid sitting is a better option for you? That way you can control the requirements of the sit.
Either way, you can simply hit ‘decline’ without a reason.
I think there’s room for “restriction” on this platform. It’s just a question of being clear about the pets needs and requirements and the sitters accepting those requirements or just not applying. THS is not only ”for holiday homestays”. In fact lots of sitters do not considere sitting as a holiday. Even if we do, it’s about a fair exchange. Why would a host offer their home and not get their pets walked or fed following their routine?
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I’m intrigued!.
For what other reason would someone book a homestay if not for holiday or travel?
Who would agree to their person freedom to be in/out of the house restricted/ controlled?
Launch positioning when I joined was very clearly: airbnb for animal lovers.
What is THS now?
Many sitters on this platform are digital nomads who differentiate between holiday=total freedom and pet/housesitting, where there are commitments to meet.
I petsit as a hobby so, in a way, I can call it a holiday but, still, sticking to my commitments is a priority so yes, there are restrictions which are listed, discussed and agreed upon by both parties. Keeping the pets routine of feeding, walking and play time means I don’t have 24 hour freedom to explore an area (neither do I need it) Airbnb, on the other hand, is something I pay for and the only time restriction I have to follow is check in and check out.
Most people on this forum, myself included, do not like the comparison with Airbnb but even if I accept the way you phrase it
I have to mention that you show your love of animals by taking good care of them, not watching them as in a safari or a zoo. That means restrictions and mutual trust not necessarily external “control” on the part of the owner.
2 Likes
Thanks for sharing your POV.
The website headline & tag line is now:
The freedom to travel
— Discover free & unique homestays around the world, in exchange for caring for adorable pets
… not too different from when I joined in 2016.
I’ve always used THS as holiday accommodation because I love animals, grew up with animals, and have always had animals - for me it’s the way I live and a natural part of my day.
I’ve always been a guest of equally active hosts with busy lives out and about like me. I also make sure to sit for healthy pets that don’t need injections or pills delivered in gobs of peanut butter(!) I do discuss the character & needs of the pets before agreeing to a sit so perhaps this is why I’ve not met with the rules & restrictions you mention.
The original post surprised me.
As you say - whatever both parties agree to is up to them!
Have a good weekend!