Hello, @botvot & @ElsieDownie I can help with this one.
In the T&C under the sitter’s clause it states:
The following applies only to Sitters. You will:
1. not charge for your pet sitting services;
This is also one of the terms in the Code of Conduct for sitters.
There is a help desk article about owners charging utilities:
There is a help desk article for travel for sitters:
I guess playing devil’s advocate it does not say that sitters can not ask for a contribution towards travel… If it was really important to you to ask the owner can always say no?
However, I think the general ethos of the site is a fair exchange and win-win for both members, where no money changes hands. I think this happens in the vast majority of sits and you always have the freedom to not move forward if you are uncomfortable with anything an owner or sitter requests during your application stage.