I thought the same. Whoever is setting up the platform appears to be fearful of alienating prospective members so they change policy on the fly due to perceived potential backlash. Which, as you suggest can do them more harm than good.
At least THS holds the line and doesn’t falter when it comes to policy changes regardless of feedback.
Had exactly the same experiences and feel similarly disappointed, we cancelled auto renewal in the spring and will leave, got a nice portfolio with repeat sits with fabulous pets and very grateful owners who we happily deal with direct. The entitlement and attitude from some people is just unreal 
What about they offer 6 months free for existing members from the moment their membership expires in 2026? Some sitters are lucky to have their membership expire late in the year, others are on the hook for booking fees already early on in the year with little time between announcement and this taking effect for them
@Bluehorse definitely isn’t fair or right
Ahem … I’m with MMH, but hopefully not flaky !!! I like their approach though. We had wonderful experience as HS or HO with them.
In the end, a house sit platform is only as good as its members. Why have access to 230k+ members when you only need one or two reliable people to look after your house and pets ? Especially if some applicants are in such a rush to have a foot in the door first that they don’t really read your listing and just waste your time. Quality versus quantity? It would be interesting to find whether you have a better chance to find a house sit among 250.000 people as among 10.000. Mathematically yes. But what happens in real life ?
There’s no way to calculate that realistically, since you have no control over who joins or renews or applies. And the odds vary with each listing, including when the same home and pets might be listed time wise. Plus, sitters evolve as they gain experience and reviews.
Also, platforms/apps evolve (including declining, as with THS) over time.
Key thing is, do you get what you want from the product/UX experience? Do you get sits or sitters you want? Your own priorities and preferences might evolve over time as well. Of course, you can join, renew or not, or rejoin later. Or maybe you lose pets and no longer need sitters. Or someone decides to not sit any more or to sit without THS.
Statistics apply to real life. There is no doubt that you will have more applicants and a greater choice from the much larger pool of 230k members on THS vs 10,000 members somewhere else.
Quantity vs quality doesn’t apply in this scenario. That would only be the case if the other sites were more selective and only accepted quality members if such a thing were even possible.
From the recent rejoining we found three sits that looked interesting. One was a Caribbean island that then wanted $1500 deposit and 100% of utilities paid by sitters. We have 50 reviews, they had zero. One was interested and based in Panama but too slow & we’ve been offered another sit for their dates. One didn’t respond to a decent app and a follow up and is in Zanzibar. It is still sitting open with no decision and it’s a 5 week sit so needs planning. My “flaky” assessment remains intact. #timelyths
I spit my coffee 
Some people don’t bother following rules or even read them in the first place.
Ha ha ! Yes, that’s flaky.
Maggie, I agree that it’s difficult to anticipate the platforms membership. But the platforms can create or encourage various biases, and they do : anteriority, geographical situation, ethics, more human approach. But did’nt you make that point earlier on ? “I do think that the expansion of membership will tend to attract more transactional, entitled hosts, as well as more unsuitable sitters. “ That’s my point.
Anyway, to respond to your original post, I have cancelled my automatic renewal, and since it was due mid-January, I am no longer a member of THS. I joined 2 other platforms and found HS on those. Time will tell if it’s a good move.
Yes, I said what I said. Doesn’t mean we can calculate odds on listings, though.
Yes! The structures in place will create even just small nudges towards certain behaviors. Like for example, if THS decided that there is now blind applications: that you can not see the applicant sitters profile or photos, only their application message. This would of course be ridiculous, but my point is that it would change the outcomes, even tough people would still continue thinking that they went with the best candidate.
I’m afraid they are following MMH rules, they do include a deposit template in their house sitting agreement. It is, of course, voluntary; just as utility bills in THS.
This is the key issue: sitters who are desperate and would accept almost any terms. They hurt us all. This was supposed to be about travel and cultural experiences, not homelessness. Why the heck we should pay for offering a free service is beyond me?!
But you are required to stay there to do the sit - you do not get anything for free
Really, nobody asked me. I actually learned of this here.
Don’t your friends and family have homes?
Exactly! It’s a question of fundamentals of the concept : we exchange nothing - sitters provide a free service and that’s it. Why would I pay to work for free?
Oh yes, I refuse those automatically , and have suggested they should be against the rules. Got a lot of beating from other members here for it.
Hosts must not be allowed to require that the sitter is in town early unless they can accommodate them for that period.
Departure times ? I missed that - was that in the latest update?