So in scanning through listings for potential sits I came across a sit that looked interesting.
But on further investigation it seems the HO might not actually live at the property full time.
They have multiple recurrent back to back sit dates available and the reviews show a similar pattern of multiple back-to-back sits going on for a year. The sitter even talk of the handovers from previous sitters and to the new sitters.
The HO requires sitters to pay for utility bills.
So I’m suspicious as to why a HO would claim to live at a property where they’ve had multiple back to back sitters for a year straight. Doesn’t seem like they’re too bothered about seeing their pets that often.
Does THS have any guidelines regarding the sits having to be the primary residence of a HO or can they list sits at a second home whilst they reside elsewhere?
I’m not aware of any rules that prevent a sit in one of a number of properties a HO may own. However there’s too many red flags for me to consider such a sit including taking over from another sitter and handing over to another sitter. I also don’t tend to accept sits that the HO wants a contribution to the utility bills (even though it’s within THS rules).
I agree on both points.
I never entertain a sit where the HO expects a sitter to pay utilities.
Too many red flags rewarding the ongoing back-to-back sits.
As a sitter I would expect to be handing over from and back to the HO. I think it’s an important part of the process. I would have assumed the HO would have to be ‘home’ for a minimum period of time between sits - how else would they ensure or even be fully aware of maintenance issues with the property or the health and well being of their pets. It’s all very strange
@LiamSits there have been house sits listed on THS with a duration of 3+ years - these don’t break any T&Cs .
Many sitters choose not to apply for split sits ( where they take over from other sitters ) My concern would be about how does homeowner write a review if they don’t see the property / pets after I have finished the sit ?
However if the previous reviews are all good they may have a system in place for handovers like a third party ( PA ? ) that inspects when a sitter leaves and hands over to next one .
Which country is this in ?
If you want to check all the T&Cs they are here Terms & Conditions | TrustedHousesitters.com
We’ve done a sit like that where it was a second home with back to back sitters and HO lived in another country @LiamSits The owner had problems with sitters before us so came out themselves as we arrived. Beautiful location, stunning home, lovely pets. They then tried to charge utilities which we refused and offered to leave so they rescinded. We did the handover 3 months later (we survived) for them to the next sitter who also had multiple challenges with the HO. Let’s say it’s not ideal, handing over from one sitter to another is not something we would repeat, there were permanent staff living on site too as another consideration. It was complicated but it is allowed. #longversionofashortanswer
I understand.
My biggest concern here is the animals and their relationship with the HO. It seems non-existent.
Part of the reason I sit is to give like-minded animal lovers (who I know have a tough time leaving them to go away for whatever reason) peace of mind to take a break occasionally.
I would feel used if they were using animals as merely the bait for an animal lover to maintain their second home (including pay all the major overheads) whilst they were away.
The animals in this instance were mainly for security for an otherwise empty villa and were two rescue dogs. The HO had saved one from an accident and one from being trampled in a local market, she was very fond of them both but just wasn’t there all the time. They loved our company as they were free in the big gardens to hang out with us all day whereas the locals tend to chain them up because they’re scared of dogs. It all worked for us but it’s an odd concept. They were great snake 
catchers too 
. #dowhatworksforyou
That’s exactly the picture I was forming of this sit.
It would be nice for the HO to be clear and upfront about these things in their listing or profile. But it’s all very vague and misleading when you examine what’s actually going on. That’s enough for me to swerve this listing.
Out of interest which country is it in @LiamSits? #smallworld
@Cuttlefish , there is a sit in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines that looks like what @LiamSits is describing, I found it in my saved search this morning.
Some people have two properties and go back and forth. I think for them THS could work really well, although I also struggle a bit to understand why they might have decided on different sets of pets in 2 places.
No bait necessary, sits without pets are very attractive also on this site.
But I suspect that that tortoise in the article in The Sun was a bit of an excuse animal 
Thanks @Sunny44 - from memory that’s a problem sit with a history but could be wrong…#offtoplaydetective
There doesn’t seem to be much back n forth going on - not on the HO’s part anyway. Lots of back n forth of different sitters though.
I’m starting to get the impression the sitters are possibly being used more for security purposes than anything. The ‘pets’ also probably provide secondary security… but aren’t pets in the traditional understanding of the word
In Spain (and other countries too), absent owners have the problem that squatters may move in, and it can be very difficult to get them evicted. So then it is good to leave a pet, and have pet sitters.
This is a house sitting site -so having sitters to provide security is a valid use of the platform . Whilst the majority of sits do have pets to care for there’s no requirement for there to be pets - We have happily done THS sits that don’t have any pets it gives us more freedom .
@Cuttlefish there is no way we would do that sit!
I think the addition of pets or animals definitely disarms people’s naturally wariness or suspicion of a new situation. They let their guard down.
There are plenty of scientific studies on this phenomenon.
And then of course once you meet and greet the pets and form a bond as an animal lover you’re much less likely to ‘do a runner’ and abandon animals should something untoward reveal itself about the sit after you’ve commenced. You’re more likely to ‘suck it up’ for the sake of the animals.
That’s where this mutually beneficial exchange concept is quite vulnerable to exploitation.
I’m aware of that.
But my point is that animals are there and the sitter is required to provide care for them.
I would have assumed - given all of the promotion and marketing THS pump out regarding pets - that THS would have strict protocols on animal welfare and wellbeing. Is it right for THS to enable a situation where animals are being represented as much loved members of the family when they never see the HO… and face the upheaval and instability of new sitters coming to care for them every few weeks or so.
And there is a whole other discussion point @LiamSits, the beauty of THS marketing 
Spain is definitely big on sitters for security vs squatters as @pietkuip says, similar here in tourist areas in big villas in Turkey for avoiding break ins, Sri Lanka ditto and for things like ant infestations, burst pipes etc. There is additionally the obvious absence of the word “pet” in the title after all…#wholeotherthread