I was just about to apply for a remote sit when I noticed the HO was requiring sitters to pay for essential utilities - Electricity, Gas, Water and Internet during the sit period.
Needless to say I did not proceed with this application.
I personally believe THS should not permit HO/pet parents to charge sitters for utilities… and allowing them to do so sets an unhealthy precedent for the ethos of this community.
Essentially services are vital to ensure the safety/security/well being/comfort of the pets that sitters are caring for.
Internet connection in a remote island location is not only vital for the safety of sitters but for communicating with the HO whilst they are away - I find it outrageous that HO would expect sitters to pay this bill and that THS would permit this.
Sit was for 6 weeks. Length of sit is irrelevant in my opinion
My point is that I don’t think THS should not permit HOs to request sitters pay for essential utilities during their stay.
I saw a long-sit (3 months) listed and was about to apply, until I read the ‘contribution to utilities’ stipulation. I think it’s a bit of a cheek, given the services we supply.
And then there’s the upkeep and security of the home (and often garden too), collection of post, ensuring that bins are put out on time.
Pets also need to be kept warm / cool, watered and potentially rinsed or bathed. Gardens need to be watered. Lights make a property look lived in. Fridges and freezers will need to be powered, regardless.
I realise some pet parents state any charge will relate to increases on their usual bills, but there’s nothing ‘usual’ about fuel prices (in the UK) anymore, so price hikes must be expected by everyone.
Sitters - who may have their own home expenses to consider - may not request a contribution to expenses, so why is it acceptable for pet parents to do so?
Precisely.
As a sitter it has never crossed my mind to ask a HO for contributions to my financial outgoings relating to sits.
And that’s why I was taken aback when I saw this sit request clearly stating dollar amounts to be paid by the sitter for individual bills.
What irked me the most was the internet bill given the extremely remote location of the property and the sitter’s reliance on internet service for communication with the ‘outside world’ including, I assume, the HO.
I actually saw another sit request recently that stated the HOs had a number of guest cottages and that they would have rental guest check-ins during the sit period and would require sitters to greet and assist guests. And if that wasn’t bad enough the HOs then stated their elderly parents lived in one of the guest cottages who might need help occasionally during the sit!
It’s unbelievable THS allow these sit requests. I do not pay a subscription to this app to see sits where HOs are requiring financial contributions to the maintenance of their property, free hospitality labour for their business and free care for elderly relatives.
However annoying @LiamSits it’s in the THS Ts & Cs that HOs can ask for contributions but they must ask up front in the listing, they can’t spring it on the sitter later or they could leave. You don’t have to apply for those sits and you don’t have to say yes, you can negotiate. Third parties & property care tasks are not allowed so you can choose to either report those with airbnb additions or elderly rellies listed or simply skip over them. There have been endless debates on this forum (if you use the spyglass you’ll find them) on this inequality but it seems to be staying! We’d never agree to pay someone else’s utilities, the pets need water and warmth (or cool) as does the garden. Unfortunately someone somewhere must still be applying. #annoyingbuttrue
Asking a sitter to help run the owners business is as part of the sit is not permitted on THS - you can forward the listing to support@trustedhousesitters.com - they will remove it .
If you don’t like the terms set by the pet owner in the listing, jog on by.
I am a woman of a certain age. In hot climates I will probably use the AC more than normally. I always approach the owner with a proposition, I will pay the difference from your normal bill. No one’s ever taken me up on it. I’d rather be comfortable than too hot or cold.
I have my own property listed on Airbnb. I do have a team that looks after it but I know how little work it takes to clean/check in/check out guests so I don’t think I’d have an issue there either. It all depends why I was there in that location and how much work the animals were. If it didn’t suit I’d leave it and go to the next listing.
As in life, there is someone for very situation.
I’m aware it’s in the Ts and Cs. Which exactly why I’m shocked.
I signed up to THS on the understanding (based on their marketing) that sits were intended to be mutually beneficial with zero financial obligations between parties.
It clears states in THS’ marketing material that sitters stays are ‘free’ and sitters only exchange their ‘time and experience’.
I’m seeing listings charging for utilities more frequently now and this obviously only encourages certain HO to push for more responsibilities of sitters (such as helping with commercial activities on the property). And there is no facility to report such shady sit rewarding on THS….
The line will keep shifting and the expected obligations of sitters will continue to get hazier unless a zero tolerance for such things is implemented by THS. Allowing HO to charge sitters for their sit only damages the intended ethos of this community but also sullies listings from genuine HO who actually value and appreciate their sitters.
I’m now having to scour the ‘fine print’ on all prospective listings and will have to have that awkward conversation with HO regarding their financial expectations of sitters. I did not sign up to this app to be having financial negotiations with HO.
No. I’m paying for a service from THS… a service that was clearly misrepresented to me. So, as a geniune, experienced sitter I will voice concerns regarding a service whilst I’m paying for it.
The least THS could do is separately list (or allow to be filtered out) sits where a HO expects payment from a sitter for a their time and experience caring for a HO’s home and pets whilst they’re on vacation!
As are the rest of us @LiamSits - you need to talk to THS HQ staff, not us members who are all in the same boat as you are. Yes the marketing is misleading, yes asking for contributions is annoying. Tell the powers that be that you are unhappy. Reporting them is as @Silversitters has explained, you have to email the link to the support address. A report button has also been asked for in tech features many times but is not forthcoming so far. #dontshootthemessenger
Until then, vote with your feet. Unless the sit offers something amazing in terms of location, facilities or pets (caring for a unicorn, perhaps?) they will only get applications from sitters daft enough to actually pay for the pleasure of working for free!
And that is your opinion. If enough people shun these listings the pet owners will get the message and forget about charges. However, it may suit others, like me, sometimes. I want to use AC/heating without a care. I may want to earn a little extra by cleaning the Airbnb while im sitting. It’s a choice some may find interesting.
It’s like zero hour employment contracts. Everyone is against them until they work for an individual. I like the fact I can say no thank you when I don’t want to work.
It’s absolutely fine to disagree with another member, but please remember the person, and feel free to skip the discussion if you feel you might get into a disagreement.
We’ve had a few flagged posts in this topic so I’m going to close it for moderation.
That’s great but it shouldn’t be sitters’ responsibility to be vetting sit listings.
That’s the responsibility of THS.
The fact that you’ve had to report listings on many occasions and I’m noticing such exploitative listings more frequently clearly means THS are failing with their due diligence.
Agreed.
I simply do not entertain any sit request where there is an indication the HO will expect any financial payment for caring for their pets and home, But it’s so annoying discovering such an expectation casually mentioned by a HO somewhere in their listing.
Sitters need to able to filter these out or better yet they need to be listed completely separately as not only are they wasting most sitters time but they dramatically alter the way I (and other sitters) now have to approach THS - I view each sit listing with with suspicion now. And that’s not the experience I signed up for.
I am going to chime in here and share a situation I am currently in.
The HO did not state anywhere that I would be responsible for the utilities until hours before the departure saying that it had been forgotten (to pay). It’s a prepaid electric meter.
The situation became difficult for me on several counts. I did not have sufficient funds in the local currency and the nearest walkable ATM had no cash (after several attempts). The HO had someone come to assist me with transportation and as translator. Cool cash in hand but to pay, I ended up having to go to a community center on 4 separate occasions, on foot with temps in the high 30s (100’sF)which in itself created hardships. The cost itself was not an issue for me and the HO provided food so I consider it a relatively fair exchange financially BUT and it’s a big BUT had I known all this in advance, I would have been better prepared and avoided some of the hardships I have experienced such as holding back on putting on the AC for fear of running out of electricity!
This was not a win win for many reasons. Now I’ve loaded that sucker up and I’m cranking the AC, music is up and dancing is happening.
