I dont get it. Why do you sow the negative energy you claim to want to avoid? Or is it that you want to be the only neggie around? If that is the case, yeah, it is a smart move to not to come to this forum, we have a steep competition for that here.
???
From the T&Cs:
“5.2.13. ensure your home is vacated for a Sitter throughout the duration of the Sit, and that no third parties will interfere with the Sitter’s enjoyment of your property;”
@Jenny Can you or someone else from THS please clarify the “no 3rd-parties” rule? Apparently a few people have decided it’s not a no-3rd-parties rule as written in the T&C.
I think this roomies issue comes off quite rarely, because people with roomies often try to save money, and many of them have a roomie to care for the pet during the holiday. And the rest will check on the rules, make a search about it, before they list their home. If it was a shared home in a very attractive location, I would not mind (I sleep in dorms when needed), but I doubt people will be very keen on applying for roomie situations. I know one in a big city that does get applications and filled, I rejected when the host offered the sit for me (they hid the roomie info until then), but I can see why people accept it. It is still cheaper than hotel…
Look at it from the housemate/roomie’s perspective.
Imagine your cheap housemate has some random person show up and is now sharing your home. They didn’t sign up for that nor should they trust the situation. Never mind the safety and liability issues.
I recently saw a review from sitter “not to mention that the host lives in a shared flat, and had not told them I was coming”. Yay what a situation to be in.
Not to mention that shared homes often come with all kind of rules, like who cleans which common area which week: is the sitter now obligated to participate on behalf of the host?
There is sooo much that could be difficult that while I think shared homes should be allowed because I dont want to exclude anyone too fast, the issues would just be so complex that I dont think it would make sense to anyone, not the host or sitters, to take sits like these.
Yep I reported one listing that included the resident husband whilst the wife was away, he ‘enjoyed making new friends’!
^But not “caring for the pet”?
I think it’s the way people live now. I live in an expensive city where it’s not uncommon for people well into their 30s or even 40s to have roommates – even couples do if there is an extra bedroom. But often those roommates are working and unable to commit to stuff like taking care of a dog so I can understand why someone would want a trusted housesitter and not see it as a bad deal for the person and/or not really “see” or “get” the third party rule as the housemate wouldn’t be “interfering” with a sitter.
So maybe the wording could be better? Clarifying that no third party means no other party living/staying on the premises during the sit with whom the sitters would share any indoor living space such as an kitchen, livingroom, bathroom, etc. This also would include tenants who have to pass through private space.
I’ve seen a few listings where it’s mentioned that there is a roommate but that they won’t be there during the sit, which seems like another possible solution if someone really wanted to use the site.
I also think that my comment about THS being for the rich and lonely (to be clear: this wording is a joke) is a bit outdated. Many new people are attracted to THS because everything is expensive, and at the same time have to downgrade their housing because everything is expensive (not to say that living together is always a downgrade, but when you dont choose it, it is).
Perhaps husband and wife enjoy an open relationship too? 
Yes, I think it’s rare because in most cases people would ask the housemates for a favor to watch the pet (and offer a favor in return like extra cleaning or other chores).
I saw one like this, in an amazing location too.
It seemed really odd, maybe totally innocent but use a different website like workaway or wwoof if you want to make friends with humans!
Yes walking the dog, which was the wife’s ‘thing’ so he needed a stand in for her doggy duties 
I saw a sit where the father was going away on business . The listing said the Mum wanted a sitter to help for herself and her daughter . They had a dog but the emphasis was on helping the family while the father was out of town !!
Have no idea why they thought someone would volunteer to do this without getting paid !!
This was before the booking fee was introduced! Can you imagine a sitter paying a booking fee ( on top of travel expenses) to go and be a mother’s help !!!
I think to some extent, This is due to THS not doing the greatest job on branding and clarifying that this is neither Rover nor workaway but an equal exchange. Not so much the roommate issue, as the helping around the house, elder care, etc.
@OnTheRoadAgain , I think you’ve possibly misread what @Katie wrote, since she said exactly this.
It’s in the terms and conditions that you agreed to when you signed up. There’s also an official forum, a Reddit sub and 2 Facebook groups where you could have spoken with people to see if THS was right for you and your circumstances.
But somehow it’s up to THS to have a popup specifically on this one thing to warn you so that you don’t have to read anything else before sign-up.
Hi @Katie 
I can confirm that third parties should not be at the property during a sit, although I acknowledge that some members have shared feedback in this thread that they’re seeing listings where that’s not the case. I’d always recommend that our members use the chatbot to “report a listing” if they come across one.
I found this article which states:
"No third party can also be present during the sit, as the sitter is looking for a home away from home, living like a local while they care for your home and pet (s).
Housekeepers, cleaners, maintenance workers, gardeners, etc, are fine as long as they are detailed on your listing, do not live in, and the sitter is aware of their schedules prior to the sit and it is all pre-agreed."
Hope this helps!
Jenny
And also includes an AirBnB within the property boundaries ….despite it having a separate entrance. I’ve seen a few of these in listings and reported them.