I think you’re saying the HO didn’t make it clear to you that they expected you to pay for your electricity use during your stay until hours before their departure and the start of your sit. Is that correct?
If so, I would certainly mention this in your review and raise with the THS team.
And this is exactly why my point regarding the need for a zero tolerance policy fom THS with regard to sitters having to pay anything to HO for their sit. Is badly needed.
Allowing HO to request sitters pay for utilities just clouds the entire process and introduces suspensions and doubt.
And worst yet the policy of allowing HO to charge sitters actually provides a space for the subtle exploitation of sitters to germinate.
That is correct. I cannot say that it was done deliberately.
However, even if THS were to incorporate something in the T&C, many of us know from experience that many, sitters as well as HO, either don’t read them or abide by them.
For myself, I take these things as lessons. Now I know to ask better questions. I have never been asked to pay utilities before nor have I ever asked if I was expected to in my 6+years with THS. This is a most unusual occurrence. I mention it because maybe it will help someone else to ask better questions or to be clear in what the expectations are as well as being realistic with what is available nearby. Many of us travel great distances into foreign countries and as much as we love adventure, and enjoy the unexpected wonders of travel, having a clear understanding of what to expect is, in my opinion, the humane thing to do.
Of course having a zero tolerance policy regarding HOs expecting payment from sitters unfortunately want stop the issue from occurring.
But at least it’ll clear this grey area that has been allowed to blossom recently where increasing numbers of HOs are pushing the boundaries of what can be expected of sitters and springing financial obligations on sitters at the last minute or even during a sit.
Sitters should not be expected to pay utility bills unless it’s been discussed and agreed beforehand. Equally, sitters should not expect HO’s to be paying their travel costs, although increasing numbers of sitters seem to think they can.
I think I’ve seen sitters mention asking for the HO contributing toward things like rental car expenses and necessary hotel stays (which many sitters incur to make sure they actually do arrive in the area in time) in some circumstances? Not in their listing probably, more like in the first call? Some locations are remote enough that HOs would be willing.
I think the percentage of HOs asking for payment of utilities is small and I haven’t run across one I was wanting to apply for. I do think there should be a check box and filter for HOs wanting payment instead of it just being mentioned somewhere in the listing. I personally would like to filter them out. It’s very unlikely I would pay for utilities as there are so many listing that don’t ask.
I may have been thinking of another platform? Or maybe these were sitters reporting that the homeowner had made such an offer, which they appreciated and accepted? We’ve got an upcoming sit for HOs who are leaving on a two-week cruise, and to make sure we get into their town on time, they offered to put us up in a local hotel to help offset the costs of us flying in a day early for their peace of mind. We don’t need or want that, we’d have flown in a day early anyway and would rather choose our own hotel, but a very considerate offer, much appreciated, and for me it’s a good omen about what kind of HOs they’ll be.
The only time we would accept responsibility to pay for bills would be if there are no pets.
However one experience we learned from was that we were asked to pay for electricity at a uk property and a refundable deposit to cover damages which they did not cash.
They had two cats and a Newfoundland dog !
This situation about the homeowner not mentioning to you about paying any utilities bills until hours of departing was very deceitful, and then you learn that there is a prepaid meter installed so now you have to actually pay the meter to receive electricity in the home. Then the homeowner tells you they forgot to mention it? That’s a bold face lie!! Having a prepaid meter installed is a very intentional act, and there is just no way this homeowner forgot to mention it knowing you were going to be there in the home for a certain amount of days. The homeowner didn’t mention it because they wanted someone there to house sit and if it was listed in the details of the responsibilities, sitters would’ve not accepted the sit. That’s very deceitful. I never knew prepaid electrical meters even existed tho WOW!!!.
Agree, I just skip over those ones. Not in the mood to negotiate how much electricity or heat I used after a sit, a simple Thank you would be nice.
People are funny.
Since THS allows HOs to charge for utilities they could at least make it a requirement to list it under amenities and create a search filter for it. Not allowing it to be added after the fact, when the sitter is already confirmed
Also, the utilities should be split equally between all living beings in the house.
Many of the pets have food that needs refrigeration, water fountains and feeders that run on electricity, fish tanks have filters. Most HOs would not leave their homes with out electricity while they are away. They often have food in the freezer they don’t want to go bad. As for Sitters, they can be energy efficient and comfortable.
The button-filter thing for utilities contributions is a great idea @ExploreDreamDiscover then you could just skip those & have concrete evidence if they are sprung on you later #niceidea
I saw a listing yesterday, in the UK, for quite a long duration. It sounded quite nice, until I read that they employed a regular cleaner who could continue to call during the sit, cost - to be paid by the sitter - £17.50 per hour!
To be fair, it did state this was optional, but it was enough for me to pass, since it illustrated a pet parent who’s not entirely hospitable.
I believe things like this are quite normal on other platforms, that’s why they start appearing on THS too. If the sit was really appealing, I’d start talking to the HO about it, if they sounded accessible.
This is not asking to pay for bills, but related. I got the WG and it says to wash clothes after midnight to save electricity. I get up very early, so I can probably throw a load in very early, during the low electricity period. First time for those instructions.
