A question for potential future sitters - We have a need beyond our 4 dogs. Would you be willing to prepare (just warmup ready made meals and make coffee) and put out food for our partially disabled adult son for payment ($100 a day). Note: Our son is mobile and is able to feed himself but can not prepare it or clean up afterwards. Obviously this would mean that he would be in the house for the full time of the pet sitting opportunity. We live in Fishers Indiana (very near Indianapolis) and are looking for coverage when we travel next summer
Welcome to forum @Hemyock100 !
No. 1 here is that someone staying in the home is a breach of the THS third party rule, as it seems he is going to stay in the home during the sit?
The problem would regardless arise for legal stuff like visa requirements (although many international travellers avoid US for the time being), legal stuff like liability, possible taxation if considered «work» and ofc possibilities of responsibilities should something happen.
You might get a sitter that want to take it on. You also risk many experienced sitters that will refrain from applying just for suggesting the option.
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Apart from it contravening the rules you are asking someone to take responsibility for your son. You may say it’s just warming food and cleaning up but there are potential other problems here. Personally I feel you should make other arrangements for your son.
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Wow… I have to say, this really feels outside the bounds of what a pet sitter agreement is meant to cover. Asking someone to look after a partially disabled adult for payment, even if framed as “just warming meals and making coffee,” is a huge responsibility and, honestly, not something that should be expected from a complete stranger.
THS sits are for pets and homes, not adult care—especially not full-time. This goes far beyond the spirit of THS, and I think anyone considering it should be very cautious about liability and personal boundaries.
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It’s good you asked here before listing. I agree it’s well beyond the bounds and also against the rules. Possibly a paid sitter could do it, but a THS would be setting themselves up for problems that wouldn’t be covered by the platform if anything went wrong. I know it’s a tough situation , I hope you find a solution that works for everyone.
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THS Terms & Conditions prohibit anybody staying on the property other than the sitter and most sitters adhere strongly to that rule. There’s also a THS T&C that prohibits guests of the sitter on the property without prior arrangement but plenty of sitters skip over that rule. Soooo…
What you arrange with a sitter is between you and the sitter. THS will not get involved unless a complaint is lodged. 50/50 a sitter not applying to your sit will narc you out to THS because… there are rules. If no busybody pops up, you very well may get a sitter who steps up; $100/day ain’t nothing. Or you might check into Rover or other paid sitter sites to see if your needs are a better fit there.
Even if it weren’t against THS terms, I would never agree to do something like this. The responsibility and risk of something happening aren’t worth it. Plus, I have remote work that pays robustly.
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At the very least, thank you for asking.
I, like many others, would never take on the responsibility - as minor as this particular task is - of caring for a human being as part of THS. And, yes, not legal per THS terms.
If this is an important need for you and your family, directing the request to the appropriate caregiving/social services/family/medical/etc. resources you use would be most appropriate.
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Thank you for asking first.
As well as everything the others have said, although you describe your son as partially disabled, I would have thought those needs lean towards quite a serious level of disability, and id be wary of leaving him in the care of an unvetted/untrained stranger.
It sounds very difficult for you to get away - my sympathy- but I don’t think this is the right solution.
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It’s not permitted on THS to have third parties staying in the home .
Most sitters on THS take sits for a travel experience/ vacation .Taking care of your 4x dogs is already a big responsibility that will take up quite some time .
Would the sitter have any free time or is 24/7 surpervison of your son required ? .
This breaks even employment laws I would have thought .
You need an appropriately qualified medically trained care for a human , not a volunteer pet sitter .
Can you look into respite care provisions so that you can get a break ?
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Hi,
Good for you for reaching out and asking for feedback. However anyone caring for a vulnerable person needs at the very least an enhanced DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service) which is not something that THS provides. Apart from that it’s against THS rules for someone to be living in the home, to protect both parties.
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This scenario, as you present it, is against the terms by Trusted Housesitters.
THS’s third party rules clearly state that homeowners:
“…NOT allow other people on the property whilst a sit is ongoing. Once a sitter has begun their sit, we require that the pet parent(s) have vacated the property for the entirety of the stay and no other individuals (apart from the confirmed sitters) are present during the sit…This includes (and is not limited to)…family members, tenants or employees.”
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No. Irrespective of geography & other factors, we would not even consider submitting an application to such a listing.
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Hi @Hemyock100
Welcome to the Trusted Housesitters forum and thanks for your question.
Trusted Housesitter members offer a fair exchange sitters don’t charge. Pet Parents give them a new place to stay on their travels and in return, they’ll care for your home and pets.
As others have pointed out, Trusted Housesitters have a third party policy that asks Homeowners to “ensure that their property is vacant and that no other person will be living in the home apart from the sitters.”
The same policy also asks that sitters “must not allow any third parties to attend the sit or enter a pet parent’s property without their consent prior to arranging the sit.”
Please do share any other questions you may have about pet sitting that our community of members may be able to help with.
Have a great day - thread closed. 
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