We had one sit where we stayed in one of the hosts airbnb apartments. They kept mentioning how lucky we were to be the first ‘guests’ staying there. The dog stayed with us for the week. They left just one toilet roll and no hand soap, washing up liquid, kitchen towels, dishwasher tabs etc & lots else missing too. We noticed, when being shown around, that their other Airbnb units were fully equipped… for their ‘real’ guests. I suppose we could have asked for all the missing items but we decided not to. Anything to protect the 5* review!! We’d been asked to come the night before but they did not invite us in the main house at all, not even for a drink! We felt a bit like live-in staff dismissed to our ‘quarters’! Not a nice feeling.
We always appreciate when all the basics are left for our use and we are sensitive enough to know what to replace or replenish- depending on length of sit or other factors. Generosity of spirit is very important in creating a nice feeling between sitter & host.
As a homeowner, I rarely leave for more than two weeks, so I always have everything on hand. I don’t think there is any obligation rule on long sits like yours, so you might wait for feedback from sitters who do those kinds of sits. But you might consider how easy shopping for that stuff is from your location and how practical it is or isn’t to put all that on the sitter.
I think certainly if you want the sitter to use certain cleaning supplies in your home, those should be stocked up to make sure sitter doesn’t use something you don’t want used – for example dish detergent that might harm your dishwasher. For the sake of your pet(s) it’s probably a good idea to make sure everything is there or will be delivered, including food, medicines, treats, wee wee pads if needed, litter bags/dog waste bags, etc.
You might also think in terms of hospitality. I sit too, and the sits I go to are short so this has never been an issue, but I’d feel weird walking into a home with no extra rolls of toilet paper or basic home supplies. Granted your home is NOT an airbnb, but it is being used a guest accomodation – not a sublet, so in your shoes I’d probably try to make the sitter’s stay as comfortable and stress free as possible so they could focus on the pet care.
A few things I would consider if I would ever do a long sit
- I would expect the HO to provide enough supplies for the pets for the duration and/or provide money to buy them. I consider it normal to buy whatever I need for me, but it is the HO responsibility to provide for the pets.
- As HO be clear about your expectations. As sitter, I will always expect that a minimum of provisions is there for me to use. Remember we mostly fly to a sit, that does not allow to bring everything, baggage allowance is restricted. I replace what I have used to leave the house with more or less the same stuff I found (minus perishables). But as HO you have to accept that I may not buy your FAVORITE milk, butter, toilet paper, or whatever.
- This exchange between HO and sitter should always be balanced. You are not a hotel or AirBnB that provides services, but remember that I cook my meals, clean your house, etc AND take care of your loved pets. So some provisions are expected on long sits. If something runs out and I have to buy it that is fine. If all supplies run out after the first 2 weeks, I would have an issue with that.
My kind of home owner 
Did you mention these things in your Review?
In reading through this thread, I realize the list of items is quite long. I believe that Sitters should not have to buy ALL of these items, even for a 2 month Sit. If the Owner felt strongly that I should contribute, I would rather give them some $ than have to go out and purchase ALL of these items:
Paper products
Toilet paper
Facial tissue
Paper towels
Paper napkins (I use cloth anyway)
Soaps
Hand soap
Dishwashing liquid
Dishwasher soap
Laundry soap
And absolutely the Owner should provide:
ALL pet supplies and
ALL cleaning supplies
If a friend or relative were graciously petsitting for me, there would be NO question in my mind—I would stock up on everything to make their life as easy as possible during their stay.
Why would it be any different for a THS Sitter?
As a sitter, I buy my own stuff, like toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, etc. And I bring my own laundry detergent (in sheet form). That’s for sits up to three weeks (which is all I do). That’s because I want to be free to use as much as I want.
Everyone is different, so best to communicate if something is important to you.
My sits typically have included few specifics, though, and I’ve not abused my hosts’ easygoing or flexible hospitality. I know how to be a good house guest without a bunch of parameters and have the reviews to reflect that.
Since I typically fly to the sits I have done, it is quite nice when I dont have to drag shampoo and conditioner,body wash and a blow dryer with me. Leaves me more space for clothing I typically end up not wearing! Ha, that’s a whole different post. Anyhoo, the longer sits I’ve been on, I do typically wash clothes at their home and use their soap, which isnt alot. And I will use the Toilet paper that is in the assigned bathroom, but then I replenish it. I dont leave them without those items. I think part of it is too, if you consider what you would need to pay for a pet sitter for those 2 months, that person using some soap/toilet paper is really a minimal thing/cost . If you were going to someone’s home for 2 months to pet sit, what would you appreciate?