I have has sitters from Australia, the U.S.A, Caribbean and South America, Switzerland as well as other countries in Europe including the U.K. ( Some think the U.K. is not in Europe, Ah well !!) Not an ounce of trouble with any of them. In fact I would think the further away they are the more detailed and precise have to be their plans. So in answer to your question , no problem with sitters at all from anywhere.
London is in Europe and Londoners are European, I think itās the EU or mainland Europe you mean, since Brexit.
Personally, I think itās a worldwide thing, because flight delays are such a huge issue, and speaking the same language as the pets is helpful. But fortunately HOās on here are wise and look for the best sitter for their pets, so maybe your application needs tweaking a little to help you get the sits you are after.
Interesting - I live in NYC as a homeowner too and my applications do fill up very quickly but I would LOVE a pair of older sitters to look after my cats but I always get very young applications pretty much exclusively. Iām in my 20s. Maybe this has something to do with me being in a walk-up with no accessible parking? Or maybe older people are just on their phones less so they miss the application window. Anyway, I would personally love to have you @HappyDeb!!
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There is obviously a difference between European requirements and USA requirements. I think that sitters and HO have to understand that! As a European HO I doubt I would be happy with someone from the USA who is in their 20s! Sorry but that is reality.
@kaylarose Iām much older than 20s and a walk-up and no parking wouldnāt bother me. I definitely wouldnāt expect parking in NYC and Iāve stayed in 4th and 5th floor walk-ups in Europe. I would love to do an NYC, sit but Iāve never even been able to apply because they close before I see them. I favorited a bunch of sits but they are āreviewingā when I get the notifications. Maybe the 20 somethings are just on the site more.
@kaylarose While NYC hasnāt been on our travel plans yet, as an older couple, weād love a sit like yours. I donāt know if weāre on our phones any less but that might be a possibility. Since weāre retired, traveling the world and donāt have much to do other than walking dogs on occasion, I can be pretty quick at replying and have even replied while we were on a walk before.
Dan and Nan
NYC is on my bucket list. Not for now though, too expensive. Perhaps I can ask for payment or sponsorship, as that seems to be a new trend, hahahaha
Iām 58. I think itās fair to ask about age and experience. I worry that I will soon be perceived as too old. But I care for 4 properties and one old dog so I hope that experience will shine.
It seems that people are confusing geography with governance in regards to the UK. Surely we donāt need to argue about that too 
. The UK most certainly is part of Europe. Itās just not part of the EU.
I donāt think homeowners care where their sitter is from. Weāre all a multicultural bunch. But they do want to be assured that their sitter will arrive.
I planned my time on my first sit in Inverness so that I was arriving a week early to tour about a bit. I notified the HO that I was in country when I arrived. And when I was on my way to their home. So we were all confident that I would arrive on time.
Bring your plans up on the interview so that the HO knows you will see arrive as planned.
Perhaps we could start a discussion about Northern Ireland? OK joking. Itās actually really beautiful there if someone wants to visit.
When I first applied for a house sit in Norway, the woman initially seemed to say yes, but then went with someone who was Norwegian. It does happen. But equally lots of people are open to whichever person they feel most comfortable with, no matter the nationality.
Awwwwww, thatās very sweet of you @kaylarose. Weāre in our early 50ās and 60ās, and we check for new sits daily when we are after somewhere specific, but yes it is via a laptop rather than on our phones (as the THS app is frustrating). Yes I can imagine in NYC thereās an abundance of applicants, particularly younger sitters that want to āsee-the-worldā and tick them off their to-visit or to-do list.
Whether the U.K. is European has long been debated by historians, academics, etc., including ones who are British. Thatās why I pasted the 2001 link for reference in my earlier comment. Is Britain European? | Weblog | guardian.co.uk. That perspective is not based on Brexit or geography, but more about centuries of history, culture and such.
If itās important for anyone else to decide such based on a map or Brexit, more power to you. Itās fine if we see things differently.
Iāve been able to visit and enjoy the U.K. for decades and will happily continue to, even if I donāt see it as European.
Getting back to the OPās question: You might want to check around for other groups with more sits available in European countries. THS doesnāt seem flush with them, so competition is tough.
You made a very valid point. Too old!!! When I view a potential sitter I look for sitter who is capable of acting, moving and behaving in a very positive way. Age is, I believe, just a number. What is important is the ability to still move well and think well. Physical fitness to the desired degree(i.e. looking after pets in an emergency) and the mental awareness to also act are very important qualities. As long as you have those qualities you shouldnāt concern yourself you are becoming ātoo oldā! Experience is great but unless you can act physically and mentally on that experience it is worthless Iām afraid.