OK. I know I am being too sensative… But we had a sitter last year who was OK. There was just a bit of oddness about them. We do not want them back. But I am afraid they will see my new post and reach out to ask about it. What is the best course of action. I just don’t want to hurt their feelings….
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Simply decline the application (if it comes) with a note to say “thanks very much for your message but we have already found someone.” They don’t know who was first or what the other sitter offers and ultimately it’s your home and pets so totally your choice. #dontsweatit
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@jojodey I wouldn’t overthink it too much. I’ve written before that in my opinion, it isn’t a personal connection you are making. Sometimes it is but generally not. You don’t owe anyone anything when it comes to choosing a sitter so if this person even was to apply (which is probably highly unlikely) I would simply decline with a short message saying along the lines of “I appreciate your interest once again but have decided to go in a different direction this time around. I wish you well going forward “. That would put an end to the issue. Remember, it’s your home, your pets, your choice. Don’t ever feel bad or obligated for choosing whoever you want. It’s sitting, not a lifelong friendship 
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If you want to, you could just tell your previous sitters that you’d prefer to give other sitters an opportunity to sit for you. No need to say more if they apply again.
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If they apply, just say you’re already chatting to another sitter about your dates.
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That might work and I have done repeat sits, recently sitting for the 5th time for a couple. However, most sitters like a bit of variety and exploring new places so be open to welcoming new sitters and don’t rely on repeats.
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That is telling a lie and just encouraging the sitter to keep on reapplying every time they see the sit pop up. For me I always appreciate the truth. We are adults and should be able to deal with it. It is white lies that I find hurtful and have the potential to continue. I totally agree with @ziggy and also like what @Maggie8K said. Sometimes there are personality clashes and that’s OK.
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Just be true to yourself. You don’t owe that sitter anything. In the unlikely event they apply again just politely decline with a note you have found someone else & wish them well.
We had an interesting experience earlier this year with 3 sets of hosts- in France & Spain- all in the same week! The first was after a month long sit we’d just completed in spring and, on parting ways, we said we’d love to come again. We’d loved the sit & seemed to have had a great connection with the hosts too.. They said they go away twice a year so plenty of opps. A few days later we saw (by accident) they’d listed new dates in autumn, a few months ahead, when we’d be in their area again, but they had not contacted us privately to offer them. We messaged them to ask about it, and they said they’d already arranged two calls for later that week and had not thought we’d interested to come again so soon. (Even though we’d expressed great interest in returning) We said they could still invite us if they wish- but they did not act on that- they just apologised for the ‘misunderstanding’. There was no mistunderstanding. They just didn’t want us back but somehow couldn’t tell us honestly. Despite the fact we’d had a great sit, great comms, overlaps with dinner before & after, interesting & lively conversations etc. We were a little put out & puzzled by there response.
They’d already submitted their review before this interaction happened so it was not an influence. When we finally wrote our review after a few days delay (whilst processing this obvious cool down on their side!) we put the interaction aside and wrote the very positive & enthusiastic review we’d always intended to give. In return theirs was 5* but cool, brief and no mention of wishing to have us back or even recommending us! All previous sitters got a better review. We have no idea what happened for them but (in our opinion) they turned out to be very fake.
In contrast the other two hosts are also couples we’ve sat for before and, again, we spotted their dates accidently whilst searching for sits. Both already had applicants but the minute we reached out they both enthusiastically welcomed us back and politely declined their other applicants! This gave us such a good feeling! They will be our next two month long sits.
At the end of the day its best to just go with the flow and follow the enthusiastic replies and warm welcomes! We know that we’ll never be everyones ‘cup of tea’ and that’s OK! 
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What @Maggie8K suggested is tact. Your way will just give the sitter false hope and she will continue to apply. I find giving false hope hurtful.
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Exactly the way I would handle it. Your pet/home, your choice. Good luck.
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This is part of my strategy, but it doesn’t usually work out. I’ve had 3 sitters able to do repeat sits for me and an additional one or two who wound up sitting for different dates than those they originally applied for, but often dates just don’t match for both parties. I also sit and get invited for previous sits I would LOVE to go back to but the dates don’t work! Still, I think it’s worth trying before you publish a listing.
You really are over thinking it … IF they apply, simply decline their application. There’s no reason for you to feel obligated to accept their application, and there is no reason that they should feel obligated to either apply for your sit OR should they apply, to be automatically accepted.
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I think I’d send the repeat sitter applicant a private message explaining that although I gave 5* I’d like to offer helpful/useful feedback as to why I’d prefer to not have them as a repeat sitter. I’d give them the option to hear the feedback or not.
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@jojodey how you approach this may depend on how many applications you usually receive .
If you usually have no problem in attracting several applications from well reviewed sitters then declining this sitter and confirming another is a no brainier.
If it’s likely to be that this is the only application you will receive then you need to decide on your preference whether to use a back up plan ( paid sitter : Boarding for your pets / Friends or family ) or would you prefer to use this sitter who “was ok “ but odd.
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@SteveS Let them argue- it shows their immaturity and confirms the reasons for declining them! I would make no further response..
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It’s what the Block button is for! 
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@SteveS We are in the sitters shoes. We’ve been active sitters on THS since 2013, and have successfully completed more than 150 sits. Of those about 50 have been repeat sits. This is how we manage it - our HO’s will message us prior to going live with their new dates, no expectations. If we’re available and if the sit fits in with our other plans (before/after), we’ll accept the invitation; if not, we decline their invitation. Very simple, very respectful, no harm-no foul.
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@SteveS I’d feel just like @Lokstar in their first example but that’s life, we can’t all be winners or get a prize for competing in the competition, which sadly seems to be the norm in this woke era. No wonder resilience is waning in people.
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That could ofc work for some, as some sitters would like to go back to the same location - maybe they have family/ friends in the area and such.
But many of us use THS for travel and aren’t that likely to want to go back to the same area (unless it is highly attractive) or avoid repeat sits as some hosts would feel more comfortable in being less hospitable and expecting more tasks to be done. Just to give some input on how some of us regard it - a new sitter might be more interested than a previous one.
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That is because some sitters have experienced that, and raised the issue here on forum. For sure it could be the other way round also, as some form personal friendships.
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