Feature Request: Add a "Host Language" Filter to Search Options

THS News & Feedback
1

Hi everyone,

I’d like to suggest a new feature for the search/filter system: a language filter based on the host’s spoken language.

Currently, when browsing sits, there’s no way to filter listings by the language(s) the homeowner speaks. This would be especially useful for sitters who feel more comfortable communicating in their native language, or who simply prefer to sit for hosts who speak a language they’re fluent in.

How it could work:

  • Hosts would indicate which language(s) they speak in their profile (this info may already exist in profiles, just not searchable).
  • Sitters could then apply a “Language” filter in the search page, selecting one or more languages (e.g., Portuguese, Spanish, French, etc.).
  • Only listings matching the selected language(s) would appear in the results.

Why this would help:

  • Improves communication and reduces misunderstandings during the application process and the sit itself.
  • Makes sitters (especially non-native English speakers) feel more confident applying to sits.
  • Could increase engagement from international members who currently avoid applying due to language barriers.

Would love to hear if others think this would be useful too, and if the TrustedHousesitters team could consider adding it to the roadmap!

Thanks!

2

I think in theory it is a great idea. But given the vast majority of the membership on both sides come from countries that all share the same native language–in this case English-- I don’t know if a feature like this would be a priority to add to the mix since it probably would not be something the majority of people would use.

Of course there are people who live in these countries who hail from other parts of the world and speak something else as their first language, but these people are most likely very proficient in English as well. I have sat for a number of people in the US who are from various countries in Europe,etc…and they were all totally fluent.

And as for sits in many countries outside of this cluster–Asia, Mexico, Central America,etc…–more likely than not, the host is usually an expat from these English-speaking countries or places where larger numbers of people tend to be very proficient in it, like Europe.

I have seen listings in languages other than English so it is something people are able to do, but it appears to be pretty rare.

Again, great in theory but not sure it would be a highly used feature on THS in particular.

3

That’s a fair point about the overall demographics, and I don’t doubt English dominates the platform. But I don’t think low overall usage should be the bar for whether a filter feature is worth adding. Plenty of filters on THS (specific pet types, specific home features, accessibility needs, etc.) probably get used by a minority of members too, yet they’re there because they matter a lot to the people who need them, even if that’s not “most” users.

Also, “rare” doesn’t mean “non-existent” or “not growing.” THS has been actively expanding its membership base outside the core English-speaking countries. I’ve noticed more listings from Brazil, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy lately. For those of us who are non-native English speakers (or hosts who aren’t fully confident in their English), a filter like this isn’t about convenience, it’s about accessibility. Not everyone who joins the platform is “totally fluent,” even if the sitters you’ve personally met have been. There’s a selection bias there too. The fluent ones are the ones you’d actually end up chatting with and remembering; the ones who struggled with English might’ve just never applied to your sit, or dropped off during the process because of the language barrier.

There’s also a trust/comfort angle that goes beyond raw proficiency. Even if a host speaks decent English, some sitters (and hosts) simply feel more at ease handling emergencies, house rules, pet quirks, or just casual chit-chat in their native language. That’s not a small thing when you’re trusting someone with your home and pets for weeks at a time.

And practically speaking, this wouldn’t need to be a huge development lift. A lot of language info might already exist in profiles (people already state I speak X, Y, Z), so it could just be a matter of making that searchable/filterable rather than building something from scratch.

So yeah, maybe it wouldn’t be the most-used filter on the platform, but “not the most popular” isn’t the same as “not worth having.” For the segment of the community it would help, it could make a real difference in comfort and communication.

4

Hi @machadomuriel

Thanks for sharing your suggestion!

I shared it with the team - if I get any feedback from them I’ll let you know!

Jenny :slight_smile:

5

I find this response disheartening.

6

In Europe, the hosts just write in their preferred language.

On a house sit for German speakers right now, and the listing was in German

7

Good idea. If this was a website based in a non English speaking country, it might already have that feature. However, as a German in Ireland who previously lived in the UK, my experience is this :

English speakers don’t often acknowledge the reality of other languages out in the world. Not as a serious issue anyway, just possibly a fun little extra option. As this website is run by a UK company, I doubt that they would ever consider such a filter. Everyone speaks English anyway, right?

Yes, some listings are in other languages, and hosts can show their language preferences that way.

8

It’s a nice idea, but my opinion differs. THS was born in the UK, with the largest number of sits being in the USA, with the majority of sitters putting their location as the UK, US, and Australia.

English speaking countries make up an enormous percentage of members, so I’d prefer if money for the site was spent in ways that improve things for the majority of members.

We sit in Spain a lot, and all of our sits have been for English-speaking expats stemming from one country or another, bar one, who was Dutch… who had lived in the UK for a lot of years with her British husband.

Occasional I’ll see the odd Spanish name show up, but they write in English, probably to ensure they have plenty of applicants, given the largest chunk of sitters on the site are native English-speakers. Although our dates have never matched up to enable us to apply anyway.

On the very very VERY rare occasion I’ve seen the odd profile that writes in Spanish, but it’s probably only once per year I come across it, maybe even less, and again, our dates haven’t matched up anyway.

So while I think it’s a lovely idea, I’d rather improvements were made for the majority of members.

9

We once applied (and were accepted) for a sit where the entire post/listing was in French. While the hosts were perfectly bilingual like us, it was important for them that their sitters were fluent enough to read the listing in French because of the potential for sitters to need to interact with their handyman or other locals (it was a massive estate). It is to date one of my favorite sits ever (my husband got to go back with our sitter daughter a 2nd time).

I have seen listings posted in languages other than English and to me that says they are looking for sitters fluent enough in that language.