What Personal Info Is Reasonable to Ask a Sitter?

We’re new HO to TrustedHousesitters and unsure what’s appropriate to ask a sitter in terms of personal details. Since they’ll be staying in our home and caring for our pet, we’d like to know enough to feel comfortable.

We did search this forum, but didn’t find the answer.

Is asking for their last name and occupation reasonable?
Is asking to show ID reasonable?
Is asking for LinkedIn profile, if it’s not on their page reasonable?
What personal information other homeowners request, and how do sitters feel about sharing this info?

I have great respect for sitters—they do us homeowners a huge favor. It’s just our first time, and I feel a bit nervous

Looking for feedback from both homeowners and sitters—what’s appropriate?

Thanks!

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Your requests seem reasonable to me; we are Sitters.

In our applications and our profile, we try to build trust, confidence, and connection, so we generally share our last name, occupations, and contact information at the very beginning of engagement.

I am curious to hear from others. If Sitters want to hide this information, I would like to know why. The Owners are letting you stay in their homes. It seems reasonable that Owners should know your full name and occupation.

Rather than stating in the Owner profile what you expect, you might just “wait and see” what types of applications you receive. You don’t want to appear to be “controlling” in your listing.

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Hey there,
It’s fine & completely understandable to be nervous. Most hosts ask their sitter to arrive in time for an in-person handover. This allows time to chat, get to know eachother and show them the house & pets. It’s also quite common (particularly for owners with an early morning departure) for the sitter to arrive the evening before. If this is the case, most hosts will share a meal with the sitter and it can be a nice opportunity to get to know eachother and ensure everyone feels comfortable & prepared for the sit. It’s perfectly acceptable to get to know your sitter, what they do for a living, their interests & hobbies and make polite chit chat.

How comfortable you feel with a sitter comes down to whether you feel you’re a good match when you have a video call with them, and how well you and the sitter communicate needs & expectations. The site is built on mutual trust & respect, and all sitters are ID verified by the site already. Asking for ID, linked in details etc is a topic that has come up multiple times on the forum already, and if you use the spyglass, you will find multiple conversations stating that most sitters would feel rather uncomfortable with giving their passport or ID details, for their own safety & security. Asking for these details may also make sitters feel as if there is a lack of mutual trust happening here. In 4 years of pet sitting, no owner has ever asked for me for these details; they simply trust my reviews and the way I come across in a video call. Simply go with your gut when you have video calls with sitters and look at their reviews.

Consider that sitters are trusting your listing too, and they don’t ask you for your ID details, last names etc.

Hope that helps!

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I already include my LinkedIn profile, which covers occupation and full name. I do that when I apply. And as an American, I’ve gone through the background check. Plus, when we coordinate a video chat, I share my email address and cell phone number, which also works for FaceTime, Signal, WhatsApp, etc. I have 20+ glowing five-star reviews, as well as a robust sitter profile.

If a host wants to see my ID, that would be a first, unless they’re loaning me a car or getting me registered for community or building amenities. I’d probably think those hosts less trusting than others. I’d rather not sit for them.

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We’re sitters, here’s my opinion:-

Last name - We wouldn’t mind you asking at all. We actually give our LinkedIn links within our profile, so it shows our last names automatically, just to help an owner ‘know’ who we are, but not many sitters do that.

Occupation - With the exception of those that have retired, if a sitter hasn’t covered their occupation, or given a vague explanation as to how they fund their existing lifestyle within their profile then personally that would make me question why they aren’t saying more about who they are as a person. I wouldn’t ask, I would just avoid. Why aren’t they being more transparent when they are asking for an owners keys, personal belongings, and loved pets.

Is asking to show ID reasonable? No, don’t do that. Don’t ask for ID unless they are using your car, THS has a copy of our ID, so by asking for ID makes potentially makes a sitter feel like you don’t trust them at all from the outset, when we want owners that feel like we are perfect for them straight away, not those that don’t trust us.

Is asking for LinkedIn profile, if it’s not on their page reasonable? Not everyone has a LinkedIn page, so you could put potential sitters off by asking, they could remove their application. Plus, a lot of sitters are slightly older, so you are potentially ruling them out straight away. Take us for example, I am in my 50’s and my partner is in his 60’s, my LinkedIn has business/experience details, his LinkedIn is more based around his interests because he retired early and only worked for one company for his whole working life, so LinkedIn had no benefit to him.

Trust your intuition and gut with sitters, because that is usually right.

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Hello @Kena and welcome! :wave:t3: we have our Airbnb references and linked in profile already on our account & sometimes our own sitting website and/or my marketing business comes up in discussions so HOs can look at those too. So far we’ve never been asked for more than that info (50+ sits over 22 countries) so it would be unusual but not a deal breaker. A surname seems logical to share on both sides and happy to show driving licence if we are using the host’s car. If you ask openly and say “listen we’re new, we’d feel comfortable if we shared ID between us all and swapped surnames then that’s very different than stating “we won’t take any sitters who refuse to share data.” It’s all in good comms so roll with it and ask as many questions as you need to. #nothingtohide

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Welcome @Kena ! Many would connect via WhatsApp for easier communication and it is therefore usual to ask for a telephonenumber. I don’t mind giving my last name, I think it could be received as a mutual agreement if you offer yours.

I say my occupation in my profile and offer to give out my LinkedIn-link in my applications. No one has so far asked for more info on last name or LinkedIn , but I wouldn’t mind sharing it, and specially if it is offered as a mutual exchange of info. It is not in my profile as the profile is open on internet.

I would mind giving a copy of ID etc, as I am careful of personal info in general and the risks connected to misuse of personal info. Not necessarily because of host but where my id-papers might end up. Unless it is needed for guest certificate, insurance or similar.

I think it is perfectly fine to do due diligence and that you take into consideration what to ask for. The question is also what you want the info to do for you.

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We are sitters with THS for nine years now and have almost 50 great reviews. We’ve never been asked any of the questions you have noted but for one of our very first sits we were asked for a copy of our driver’s licence. We had no problem providing this and we sat many times for the couple. We have a detailed profile that provides quite a bit of information about ourselves such as our interests but as retired sitters there is nothing in our profile about our previous occupations prior to retirement. We didn’t feel any need to include that in our profile and a homeowner has never asked but we would have no problem providing that info. We have a criminal record check which we would bring a copy of when we first started out sitting but no one has ever asked for it.

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Hi @Kena and welcome.

I can understand your caution, but here’s a question: would you give a copy of your ID to a sitter? And how much would you tell about your life?

Identity theft is a real thing. If you leave me all your documents I could sell your house from under you while you’re away, or apply for a credit card in your name and spend a fortune. You have every right to worry.

On the other hand, so do I. Granted you’re probably taking on more risk than I am, but I don’t know what your intentions are, or whether your dog is going to attack everyone we meet on the street. I just have to trust you.

Communities like THS are built on trust, it’s the currency we rely on. Anyone who abuses it will be quickly found out and expelled, that’s how the system works. And thankfully the number of people actively abusing that trust is extremely low.

So I guess the question for you is whether you want to be part of a community based on trust? A community that seems to work just fine without much in the way of guarantees.

You could insist on seeing a copy of my ID, and I could insist you first provide evidence that you’re GDPR-compliant and have suitable cyber-defenses in place to protect my sensitive data. And I could ask for proof of your ID, property title, and that the pets are properly trained, registered, vaccinated, insured etc. Perhaps you could require me to post a security bond? And I could bill you for every little inconvenience or variation from the agreed sit?

And so on and so on, ad absurdium.

Or we can all start from the assumption that most people are decent and the system works just fine as it is. That’s the approach I take, but I do always insist on a video call before agreeing a sit.

This gives both sides a chance to feel each other out and reassure ourselves that we’re doing the right thing. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter to me what the other person’s legal name is, or what they do for a living. I only care that they’re decent and trustworthy people.

And so far I haven’t been disappointed. This is a great community, I hope you will be part of it.

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As others pointed out, on THS sitters have a background check and are required to post their image in their profile. HO’s don’t have those same requirements. Often HO’s don’t have any images of themselves or just a tiny thumbnail, which is disconcerting. Sitters also have their age included, which is really a discriminatory requirement.

I’d say, whatever you’re asking, definitely be willing to provide the same information to the other party.
•Last name? Yes, you can ask, but please share yours (it’s rarely in the HO profile). I’ve had maybe 15% of HO’s ask my last name.
•Occupation? Most put it in their profile, but you can ask - and please share yours. I include in my profile and about 90% of HO’s I’ve encountered include theirs.
•Social media profiles? Well, people aren’t applying for a job or to be your bff, so that feels like an overstep. But if you’re going to ask, please share yours. After seeing some horror stories in these forums of HO’s calling people’s employers, I removed my Linkedin profile link. Around that same time, I had my Linkedin profile hacked and then stolen. Once you’ve been through that, you’re less likely to post or provide the links, as it puts you and all of your connections in a vulnerable place.
•DL or Passport? No. If you want to take a look at it on a video call or if you meet in person, perhaps. But again, be willing to show yours. However, do not make copies of peoples ID. Unless you have HR credentials and can verify its security, it’s a bad idea for both parties. I’ve never provided a copy of identification to a HO.

I know the idea is the HO is taking more of a risk, but not necessarily. The sitter is walking into a home in which the other party has not had a security check and they don’t know who may have keys to the home. We also have to be aware there have been reports of interior cameras and recording devices and exterior cameras used to monitor. So there is a risk and vulnerability for the sitter as well.

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It’s only American sitters who have a background check, for the rest, it’s just an identity check, and to have their phone number verified. I don’t mind any HO asking my full name, it’s my email address anyway. I wouldn’t blame any HO wanting to know, they are after all, inviting a stranger into their home, and if anything goes wrong, THS won’t give you any details on the sitter, citing privacy laws.

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Are you sure that it’s only American sitters that have a background check, is that through the FBI or a similar agency? I’m not from the US and THS used EvidentID for my verification.

We sitters don’t get the surname of the HOSTS, unless they provide it in their welcome guide.

I recently turned up for a sit with only the couples first names to later discover they were a Lord and Lady, with their own Wikipedia pages.

Did it affect the sit in any way? No.

it was still myself and my friend in their lovely home with 2 gorgeous dogs, the same as it would have been for Mr and Mrs Smith in a 2 bedroomed flat. They cooked dinner for us on our arrival. We have already informally agreed that we will sit for them again in the future.

Surnames tell you nothing.

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My husband and I have retired so we don’t have a LinkedIn account. We’re happy to answer any reasonable questions the homeowners want answered. And that should also be reciprocated.
Communication is key to a positive outcome for all!

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Well, I included my LinkedIn in my listing and as I do TrustedHousesitters because I love dogs and hopefully their people (which is almost always the case), I have absolutely no problem sharing private information. I have never been asked for anything, but very often I also share my social media profiles and give them my emergency contact which is usually my sister. And I do usually tell them my licence plate number of my car, so they can warn anyone around to be aware of the Germans. :sweat_smile:

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Love this response… you are my kind of sitter!

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@lou28
I agree with all your points and the reasoning behind. The only exception is Driving Licence details if we’re going to drive their car and they need the details for insurance.

In over 100 sits we have only twice been asked for passport details. The first was very early on in Australia about 5 years ago- on arrival at a sit the host asked to see our passports and took a photo of them. We were a bit taken aback and said its not usual but they said previous sitters had told them it was normal and had offered!
Anyway since then no one has ever asked until our most recent sit booking in the UK for April.
We had a very friendly long video call and agreed the sit. Then she asked, almost as an aside, ‘Are you OK to send your passport details through’? (I.e via email/whatsApp as we are currently in Malaysia.) We were again taken aback and it created an awkward moment. We said we’re already verified by THS and have never been asked to send details ahead (only the on arrival request mentioned above) She seemed surprised & obviously must have asked all previous sitters. We asked why they needed those details- they said ‘incase something happens during your stay and we need to track you down’!
Actually that all should have been a red flag. After all they’d chosen us because of our 100+ great reviews, airbnb reviews, robust profile and a long chat! We talked about the risk of identity theft and the trust factor in THS etc and thd fact our passport names are different from our user names and there are no addresses listed in a passport so how does it help them etc? I felt uncomfortable having to defend us and eventually I think she realised that we felt she was showing a lack of trust and she withdrew the request.
She also -immediately after the call- sent the Sit request through and confirmed (by WhatsApp) our profile had really stood out for them. We have decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and we hope that all will go well! It looks like a lovely sit and previous reviewers vouch for them. Lets see!

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Thanks so much for all your replies—I really appreciate the different perspectives!

I guess my concern comes from the fact that after my initial conversation with a prospective sitter, I didn’t get very clear answers to some basic questions. Of course, glowing reviews are super important, they have plenty, but I wasn’t given a phone number or email for direct contact.
When I asked for the phone number to send something over, they said that phone number doesn’t work.
And when I asked about how they plan to spend their workday while staying here, the response was pretty vague “I will work”.

I didn’t ask for their last name or ID—I get that those things don’t necessarily mean much. But at the same time, if something were to happen, I feel like I should at least know who’s staying in my home, especially if THS platform isn’t going to help.

I completely agree that this is a two-way street. Just as I’d like some transparency from a sitter, I’m more than happy to share my last name and what I do for a living to build mutual trust.
Actually, I signed up on the platform as both a house sitter and a homeowner. When setting up my profile, I made sure to introduce myself properly, including what I do for a living, my LinkedIn and Airbnb.
I figured that if someone is considering inviting me into their home, the first thing they’d want to know is—who the heck I am!

Curious to hear how others handle this—where’s the balance between privacy and open communication?

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Hello @Kena,

  • Is asking for their last name and occupation reasonable? Yes, no problem.
  • Is asking to show ID reasonable? We all go through a background check. I have never been asked, but I have seen it as a request on a couple of HO requests.
  • Is asking for a LinkedIn profile if it’s not on their page reasonable? Sure, it’s on my profile. Not everyone has a LinkedIn profile, so I wouldn’t rule someone out if they don’t have one. I usually let the HOs know my IG and FB handles, and I’ve connected with several HO’s.
  • What personal information other homeowners request, and how do sitters feel about sharing this info? *Usually there is a video call of some sort, FaceTime or Zoom. I look to have an open conversation at that time. If someone asked a question I didn’t feel I could answer, I would tell them. I think are all looking for a good match, information about each other is important. *

All the best to you,
Scott

@kena
Decline this application based just on this , without a phone that works how will they communicate with you during the sit ?
I say this as a sitter.

We are happy to provide our surname and phone number . Since we found out that THS don’t provide this information to hosts , we put this information in our application . We welcome a video call before confirming a sit . We are the ones reluctant to agree to a sit if we haven’t had a video call with the host first .

We have done 30 sits with 5 more confirmed for 2025 - so far we’ve not been asked for ID, linkin or social media accounts . We have provided our e-mail when host wanted to send the Welcome Guide that way. Our occupations are discussed in our profile and we’re happy to answer questions the host has .

We often don’t know the hosts surname until on the sit when their mail is delivered.

We’ve not done any sits that involved use of hosts car, but we would willingly provide our driving license details if required to be added to their car insurance .

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