I searched for this topic, but didn’t find much, so I’ll post my question. As a homeowner, do you care if sitters burn candles in your home? Have you ever had damage to your home by a sitter’s candle, such as dripped wax on a carpet, or burned table top, or God forbid a fire? I’m a sitter as well as a homeowner, and when I’m sitting, I would never burn a candle in someone else’s home for fear of accidentally causing damage. I just don’t consider it responsible behavior. If you’re a homeowner, do you put away all your candles, do you put something in your Welcome Guide prohibiting the use of candles – just how do you handle it? I’ve never had anything in my Welcome Guide about candles, and I’ve always left my candles out. I’ve never had an issue after hosting 20 sitters, but a friend and fellow THS homeowner has, so I’m wondering how best to address the use of candles with my future sitters.
If you’re worried, put all candles away and let sitters know that you don’t want them burning any. Or you could buy a candle warming lamp, which releases the smell of candles, without an open flame. The warming lamps are widely available for $15 to $25.
There’s a whole lot of things I can do in my home that could potentially cause damage, but I still have glasses, knifes, things that contain fluids or can (is supposed to) be warm. Incl. things that could be overheated and cause fire like telephones, laptops and powerbanks, an oven, a barbecue etc. Maybe even a fireplace.
In general I think that an equal exchange would include using a home with normal, everyday activities. I’m not a big fan of candles, but if the sit had restrictions on normal, everyday activities I would consider it a red flag even if it wouldn’t impact my everyday life.
That’s a really good idea.
If you don’t think it’s responsible to light candles in your home, why do you have them?
This hasn’t occurred to me. Owing to my murderous cats I just didn’t think anyone would be dumb enough to burn a candle in my house.
If candles are in the home we are sitting in & have been used then we would light them on winter sits or dark nights. If HOs don’t want them used please specify or remove. There are so many things that “might” cause accidents if used incorrectly that it’s all about common sense and trust from other grown ups after all. #candlecare
In addition to decorative candles , we’ve had a couple of sits where we have been told specifically where there are a drawer full of candles we can use incase of power cuts .
Any negligence in using them is more about the sitter than the candles .
One of the beautiful things about THS is that it attracts humans from a multitude of cultures. In some cultures, particularly Scandinavian ones, having lit candles around is just a normal part of life and so much a part of a comfortable environment that it is simply taken for granted. I am completely baffled that it would be seen as not “responsible behavior”. Irresponsible behavior is lighting a candle next to other flammable items and leaving it unattended.
Lighting a candle and it accidentally drips wax, which is a perfectly normal part of life? Individuals concerned about those types of things should probably use a paid, insured pet sitter who comes solely to care for the pet and then leaves to return to their own home.
IMO it’s completely ok to include a line that says “Please no candle burning during the sit” at the bottom of the Home & Location section of your listing, if it’s something that’s important to you. It might turn off a sitter or two, but it’s up to you on what you feel comfortable with.