That’s because they haven’t read the listing properly! Make your demand headline and see how many sitters apply.
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We are providing an equal exchange. You’re receiving free care of your home, pets, and security while you’re gone. Don’t pretend like you’re doing the sitters some huge favor and you get no benefit.
You can ask for a contribution to utilities but you are REQUIRED to do so in your listing so sitters can avoid you. Springing it on someone after they’ve already applied is a bait and switch and makes you dodgy and someone most sitters would do well to avoid.
Please do us a favor and link your sit in your profile so we know who to avoid. Even if you decide not to charge your sitters you have a god awful attitude of entitlement and I wouldn’t sit for you if you paid me.
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Some sitters don’t own a house and do back to back sits, so the “still having to pay for their own utilities” wouldn’t apply to them, they might be the sort of sitters who will apply, but you must mention it in your posting. As for the one who asked for payment, if she applied through THS, report her, strictly against the rules.
You say after a video call you had “forgotten to mention this”. Do you mean you’d forgotten to mention you wanted a contribution towards bills? If so then you should ensure that you have that clearly written in your listing. As others have said, you’re very unlikely to get many applications if you do but you should be honest.
I really don’t like the way you’re coming across here and your responses to experienced sitters who have tried to explain their point of view. Personally I go out of my way to restrict electricity and gas usage, as I do in my own home. I cannot understand why someone would need central heating on at 32 degrees 24/7 and don’t believe it. Have you added up the cost of kennels/catteries for the time you’re away?
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Hello everyone!
Just popping on with a quick reminder about our kindness and respect guidelines i.e. please be kind and respectful to fellow members even if you disagree with what they’re saying.
We understand that some people might be a bit defensive when someone gives advice that doesn’t align with their views or experiences. However, reacting defensively can close the door to constructive conversations. Remember, advice is generally given to help, not criticise.
We’d always recommend staying open-minded, as you might find unexpected insights or see your situation from a fresh perspective, even if you don’t agree with everything. Defensiveness can make others hesitant to offer future advice, limiting your chances to hear valuable input from a wealth of experienced, knowledgeable Trusted Housesitters members.
Jenny 
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Hi Kevin
You are of course allowed to aske for a contribution to cover the cost of the utilities. The only requirement is that this is stated in the listing rather than after or at the end of a call with a prospective sitter. That way if payment is not something the sitter is willing to undertake they can not apply rather then spending effort and time for both of you only to be surprised with the payment.
I can see your listing mentions the costs you incurred with a previous sitter but doesn’t currently say anything about requiring a contribution or how much. Some sits have requested a fixed daily, weekly or monthly amount and others have wanted an excess to be paid for anything over an average amount used. There are a number of options used.
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Hi @KevSteve
You can ask for a contribution to utilities from any sitter and to request a sitter spends most days in your property.
You posted on this forum for comment and the feedback is that many sitters wouldn’t apply for your sit under these terms including me but maybe sitters will apply and happy to accept your terms.
Yes, make sure you use very simple language, because we are all so stupid.
Based on your statements in this thread, you seem to have a very low opinion of sitters and you completely devalue the service the sitter is providing. Many of us are highly educated and have professional careers or are retired from successful careers. The vast majority of sitters are extremely dedicated, responsible people. Maybe you need to choose sitters more carefully or use a paid service. Of course, the good sitters may not apply to your sit based on your requirement for payment, or because your attitude towards sitters is evident in your listing.
You can certainly choose to charge for utilities, however, it is required to be stated in the listing, not brought up in the call or in the welcome guide.
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I charge for sits that I do from non-THS arrangements, in fact I’m starting one today. I think there are a fair number of sitters here who use numerous platforms. Did that sitter say those holiday paid sits were from THS? If so then report them.
As @Garfield said in the very first reply if a homeowner is asking for a contribution to the HO utilities I’ll take a pass on those sits. If I’m going to pay out money to stay somewhere I’ll go on a full vacation to an AirBnB or hotel with no pet responsibilities.
You will find sitters that will meet your criteria and be happy to do so. Just make sure it is clear in your listing that you will charge for utilities. Then your time and the sitters won’t be wasted in applying and interviewing.
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@KevSteve . I assume your property is in Melbourne and your listing has had quite a discussion going on about it on reddit. Your question seems a bit tone deaf and your responses to those offering advice equally so. At the end of the day you have a right to ask for a contribution towards utilities but it needs to be clearly stated in your listing, which, at last look wasn’t. I would also suggest that going into arrangements should be seen as a win win, not a financial calculation as many posts on this forum show that to be a lose lose scenario and ends in tears. Good luck with your search.
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Wow! Interesting.
There is nothing worse than being cold in someone else’s house. We are very mindful of the cost of heating at the moment in our own home . If your home/ pets/ location/date looked inviting, I may have considered applying and paying the difference of your usual heating bill after I had studied it for the preceding few years. BUT your attitude does not lend itself to an equal exchange where both parties have respect for each other so I would not feel comfortable in this partnership.
Good luck.
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I wouldn’t apply to your listing because of the tone you use to talk about housesitters. You do not come across as appreciative.
As @Maggie8K said, you should better familiarize yourself with THS rules to provide the important information on your listing, not to casually mention it after a video call.
I’ve never heard of anyone keeping the temp in a house at 32°C.
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Are you sure that this person isn’t just doing a bit of trolling? I find it very hard to imagine that such people actually exist and that they do this without it being obvious trolling.
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They have a listing that’s live on the site so it’d be some relatively expensive trolling.
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Okay, sorry, I haven’t seen their listing… 
I am a THS homeowner and a THS sitter. In my area, paid sitters charge $85 to $100 for one overnight stay. When I get a THS sitter, I would NEVER expect them to pay for utilities. THS sitters are saving me a lot of money and I am very grateful to get a fabulous sitter. In fact, I leave at least $500 in restaurant and grocery gift cards for sitters…more for a long sit. I think a HO who does not leave something special for a sitter are a bit selfish. It also amazes me to see other HO who expect sitters to do multiple chores beyond normal clean up and pet care.
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Good luck in your search for an experienced sitter.
I think it’s reasonable to set some limits on utility usage, but should disclose that upfront. I’m in Arizona and setting the A/C below 74 in the summer is not only very expensive, but it’s dangerous to the unit. Likewise, in a cold location the sitter shouldn’t be setting the heater to 80. Some smart thermostats will allow you to enter high/low limits to the HVAC.
Ultimately, most sitters in my area charge around $100/night so if your utilities are up by $20/day, you’re still getting a bargain.
If you’re concerned about utilities being run excessively, install a smart thermostat like the Google Nest and set up a heating/cooling schedule on the app. We do this with a schedule that heats up the home for a few hours in the morning and evening and then automatically reverts to a low temperature. This prevents us or a sitter from swings and forgetting the heat. The automatic temperature settings can be overridden manually but, again, the temperature settings reverts to the next scheduled setting.
If you expect a sitter to contribute to utility bills, I don’t think it’s a problem so long as you clearly state that expectation at the top of your listing.
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@Oztravels It’s interesting how the said listing has changed dramatically (quite brief) with no mention of wanting people who work from home or will stay home for much of the time and also says "To keep you warm, the house has Ducted Heating system and also Reverse Cycle system (either can be used to keep you nice and cozy…)! No mention of any costs for sitter at all!! As I’m “busy on another sit” I can’t see the number of applicants and I would assume there will be ones with how it is worded now!
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