A good and simple document. It makes sure both parties know where they stand and what to expect. Of course there will be circumstances not covered by this document but we are all reasonable grown ups who can work out things between us.
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This is a good idea @Vanessa_A to add these resources for members on the forum. However, I would like to see THS email the newly updated “Code of Conduct” to all members. When any company/organization (and THS is this) updates or makes changes to their Terms of Service or Code of Conduct, they notify their customers/clients/members of the said changes.
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This is a good point @temba and I will check with the wider team to see how this new information is being presented to existing members. I know it is available on the dashboard to view at anytime but I don’t have information about emails. All new members will of course see the updated terms. Leave it with me and I will get some feedback.
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Hi again @temba - we’ve had an internal meeting today and the CoC hasn’t gone out to existing members as it hasn’t changed in terms of the items covered. The main adjustments have been in the way the CoC document is delivered on the website. Some content wording has also been simplified or adjusted to encourage readability but the items remain the same. As we all know, it’s hard to get people to read T&Cs of any type, so the team made changes to help improve this particular aspect after reviewing feedback. Hope that helps explain. All the best, Vanessa
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Thanks, Vanessa, for following this up and clarifying what has been done to the CoC document. As you say, it is hard to get people to read T&Cs of any type so we’ll still have many members who don’t bother to read the CoC, but hopefully for those who do, they’ll find the readability much simpler.
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We recently applied for a sitting with a brand new HO and we agreed, as the location was just over an hours drive, we would visit rather than discuss over the telephone.
The meeting went very well yesterday and I was able to easily raise certain questions. I asked if they knew the Code of Conduct to which we received a blank look and they said No. I then went on to ask about Third Parties and Internal Cameras. These issues were not a problem and we confirmed the sitting.
So, months on from the last post, some HOs are still unaware that a Code of Conduct exists. Unless this feature is more prominent, some sitters will continue to experience Third Parties attending and Internal Cameras being present if sitters forget to ask.
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I wouldn’t know if I wasn’t active here on the forum.
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i assume that no one reads anything so i always directly ask about the stuff that’s important to me. it’s annoying, but it’s just how life is and i’d rather a little annoyance than a huge misunderstanding.
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Yes. The code of conduct is hard to find on the website and I could not find it anywhere on the app. I even searched the help function on the app and did not see it. It should be prominent to both sitters and homeowners as to decrease miscommunication.
Just to ensure that I am always fully in line with the Code of Conduct, I reviewed it again after reading this thread and noticed that Snowbird’s valid and helpful suggestions were not applied. Are we able to know whether they were discussed and discarded (and the reasoning) or whether they are waiting on the to do list? Thank you
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I actually quizzed the homeowner of the sit I’m on my way to right now, she said she never even saw that part and didn’t disclose any cameras until I asked.
It needs to be WAY more obvious… AND I DON’T THINK REPEATING THAT WOULD HURT!
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I think this is much more important to send out to HOs before the sit starts than the reminder for “spring cleaning”…I know the wording has been changed 
Actually both topics should be sent.
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Every member sees and agrees to the Code Of Conduct on joining the site but as you’ve pointed out @MissChef perhaps it need to be brought to everyone’s attention on a more regular basis or positioned with more prominence to make certain everyone is aware and READS the detail.
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A suggestion or two… There have been a few topics recently about home-owners posting sits that do not conform to the THS code of conduct (particularly about external visitors or expecting sitters to run businesses etc).
1 Layout - make the code of conduct (CoC) more upfront. I’m using the website and just had to dig around to find it. Put the CoC on the menu alongside Dashboard/Inbox/Favourites etc so it’s clearly visible and easy to find.
2 Require confirmation - before a sit can go live (whether it’s a first posting or an edited one) require the home-owner to tick a box to confirm their listing conforms to the CoC. (Or better yet, a series of questions which must each be ticked.)
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Great idea! I would be happy to do this each time I am looking for sitters.
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@Ketch hello 
Thanks for flagging the visibility of the code of conduct.
Owners and Sitters have to accept the code of conduct when joining the platform. This appears as a popup and the Owner can only post dates when they have confirmed the code of conduct, a Sitter can only apply once they have confirmed the code of conduct.
We also show the code of conduct on the dashboard, with insurance(s) and guidelines.
We will continue to keep an eye on this, thanks for flagging.
Thanks, Ben
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But apparently - judging from the regular complaints here - once isnt enough. I’m suggesting the home-owner needs to reaffirm for each and every live listing.
That’s not what I said. (I know it’s there, it’s a long way down and who remembers to look again…) I’m suggesting it’s a quick link on the menu alongside Dashboard/Inbox - to make it more prominent, may prompt people to read it again/more regularly and make it easier to find.
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@Ketch thanks for the suggestion, the plan is to have the relevant information throughout the user journey, as reminders of our policies and code of conduct, in particular when creating the listing. We will keep an eye on complaints.
Thanks, Ben
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@Ben-ProductManager this is clearly not working.
I have just come off the phone to a brand new home owner following my recent application. During our chat I asked if he was aware of the Code of Conduct and in particular third parties and internal cameras. He replied by saying that he was not aware of the Code of Conduct and didn’t know where or what it was.
Last month I visited a Home Owner before confirming the house sit. She was also a brand new member and her response to my question was exactly the same.
I understand that they have to click on it before they can move on but they do not know the content and probably just click on without reading anything.
As @Ketch suggests the HO needs to tick on individual questions on the C of C
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I agree 100% !!! I wouldn’t have known anything about it without the forum!
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