The Hidden Corners Index
Pet sitting lets you live like a local. Explore hidden corners in six cities, discovered by our members.
A new way to travel
Bucket list tourism is giving way to something more meaningful: living somewhere - even briefly - rather than just passing through. 17 members share their favorite neighborhoods, daily routines, and local businesses in six cities. All discovered by experiencing a city through a real home and a pet by their side.
280k+ members
worldwide
Every 2 minutes
a sit happens
110k+ US sits
confirmed in 2025
70k+ UK sits
confirmed in 2025
About TrustedHousesitters
With pet sitting, you unlock unique places to stay in neighborhoods most tourists never find. Discover your own hidden corners in cities you’ll love, by caring for someone’s home and pets.
How it works
2. Find a sit you love
Browse pet sits across 130+ countries and apply to sits in new locations3. Live like a local
Stay in a real home, care for an adorable pet, and discover the city like a true local
Frequently asked questions
How does TrustedHousesitters work?
Our platform connects pet parents with sitters who like to spend time with wonderful pets and experience new places. There’s an annual subscription for both pet parents and sitters to join our community. This gives everyone unlimited access to our site. So pet parents can post multiple dates to find a sitter throughout the year. And sitters can apply to as many sits as they want and connect with many different pet parents.
Do I get paid to house sit while I travel?
No, our members are driven by a genuine love of pets, not money. They exchange loving pet care for a place to stay on their travels, gaining a wealth of experiences and memories to last a lifetime.
Both pet parents and sitters pay for an annual membership to get access to our platform and connect with each other, but no money changes hands between members.
Essentially, all that’s exchanged between pet parents and sitters is trust. Sitters get to stay in cool locations near and far, caring for pets while pet parents travel.
So we know everyone is here for the same reason: their never-ending love for pets and travel.
How do I become a house sitter?
The first thing to do is to register for free. Once you’ve registered, you can explore our platform and decide which membership plan is right for you. We offer three annual memberships – Basic, Standard and Premium.After you’ve chosen and paid for your membership, you can create your profile. This is your chance to introduce yourself, describe your experience with pets and add external references. Your membership also covers the cost of getting verified – we recommend doing this as soon as possible to build trust with pet parents.When you’re all set up, you can search for listings that match the dates you want to sit. You can also set up a saved search and we’ll notify you when house-sitting opportunities become available for your dates.When you find the ideal sit, you can apply by writing a personalised message to the pet parent, explaining why you’re the perfect sitter.Find out more with 10 tips on how to become a house sitter.
What are my tasks while house sitting?
Your number one priority when house sitting will be taking care of the pets. Pet parents will give you clear instructions about daily walks, feeding times, playtime and cuddles. You’ll also send daily updates to them, so they know their pets are happy and enjoying their time with you.As a house sitter, you need to keep the home you stay in clean and tidy too. Pet parents may also ask you to water plants, take out the rubbish and recycling, and collect the post for example.We ask all pet parents to fill in a Welcome Guide with important details and instructions. We’ll share this document with you as soon as the sit is confirmed.
What if pets have very specific needs?
When you browse listings, make sure you read the details in the sitter’s responsibilities section. Pet parents usually list all their pets’ needs and requirements there – whether it’s giving them a pill with their food or an insulin shot.This should help you decide whether you have the experience to meet specific pet needs.We also recommend meeting pet parents face to face or via video to discuss responsibilities and expectations before you confirm a sit.
What if owners have unrealistic expectations?
We ask pet parents to be as descriptive as possible in their listings, so sitters know what to expect from the sit. Make sure you read all the details in the sitter’s responsibilities section before you apply.You can also look at other sitters’ ratings and reviews of pet parents. This will give you a good sense of other people’s past experiences.And finally, we highly recommend meeting pet parents face to face or via video before you confirm a sit. This is your chance to get to know each other better and talk in detail about pet needs and owner expectations.
How quickly will I find a house sit?
Depending on the number of listings that match your dates, you can find a sit in days or weeks. Our platform has more house sitting opportunities than any other global platform, so you’re in the right place.
Here are some top tips to help you secure your first house sit quickly:
Create a great profile
Pet parents look for house sitters who’ll do a great job of caring for their home and pets. Use your profile to show you’ll do just that. Add lots of photos of you and pets and write a full description of you, your background and what makes you a great sitter.
Get verified
Complete our verifications to give pet parents extra peace of mind. For your profile to go live, you need to verify your email and phone number and do a background and/or ID check.
Sitters who add external references to their profiles are more likely to secure a sit quickly. These can be from a friend, family member, landlord or employer. There’s no limit to how many references you can add.
Start local
Looking for a local sit is a great first step. It means you’ll be able to meet the pet parent and pets in advance and discuss the sit in detail. Once you’ve done your first sit and got your first review, it may be easier to secure sits further afield.
Be flexible and proactive
Unlike traditional travel websites, you can’t ‘book’ sits. Our most successful sitters keep an open mind and consider many different kinds of opportunities, rather than looking for one very specific location or timeframe.
The more applications you send for different sits, the higher your chances of securing one.
Am I covered if something goes wrong?
Whatever plan you choose, you can contact our friendly Membership Services team round the clock.
All our plans also include a Money Back Promise. Which means if you don’t confirm any sits within 14 days of making your fifth application, you’ll get your money back.
Both our Standard and Premium plans include access to a 24/7 Vet Advice Line during a sit. So you can phone, chat or video call veterinary experts if you need to.
As a Standard or Premium member, you can enjoy extra peace of mind with our Accident and Third Party Liability Plan. If a pet causes damage or injury, you’re covered for up to $1,000,000 USD (or currency equivalent).
And finally, all Premium sitters also benefit from our Sit Cancellation Plan. If your pet parent cancels last minute, you’ll get up to $150 USD or currency equivalent per night (and up to $1,500 USD per sit) to cover the cost of alternative accommodation.
All our plans also include a Money Back Promise. Which means if you don’t confirm any sits within 14 days of making your fifth application, you’ll get your money back.
Both our Standard and Premium plans include access to a 24/7 Vet Advice Line during a sit. So you can phone, chat or video call veterinary experts if you need to.
As a Standard or Premium member, you can enjoy extra peace of mind with our Accident and Third Party Liability Plan. If a pet causes damage or injury, you’re covered for up to $1,000,000 USD (or currency equivalent).
And finally, all Premium sitters also benefit from our Sit Cancellation Plan. If your pet parent cancels last minute, you’ll get up to $150 USD or currency equivalent per night (and up to $1,500 USD per sit) to cover the cost of alternative accommodation.