Honest TrustedHousesitters Review (2026): Is it Worth It?
After hearing some incredible feedback from friends about their experiences on TrustedHousesitters, I was convinced I needed to give it a shot.
After all, I love pets (particularly cats), and TrustedHousesitters is a win-win for the home/pet owner and sitter.
While I’m not relying on TrustedHousesitters for all my travel, it’s been a positive experience so far, landing me in some lovely apartments with cute cats in London.
And that’s why I want to share my TrustedHousesitters review to help you decide if it’s right for you. Especially if you’re thinking of using TrustedHousesitters in London, where it’s very popular.
I’ll also get into some tips on how to use TrustedHousesitters, as I know it can seem daunting when you’re a first-time user with no reviews, but once you get them rolling, it gets much easier!
Disclosure: Some links to products and recommendations are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you).
What is TrustedHousesitters
If you’re reading this TrustedHousesitters review, you likely already know a lot about the platform, but let’s cover it again just in case.
TrustedHousesitters is a platform that allows home and pet owners to list their home and/or pets while they’re away, in exchange for someone to watch them.
And as a potential sitter, you can browse sitting opportunities across the globe, which saves you from paying for accommodation. But I want to add that you should only do it if you genuinely care, especially when it comes to caring for pets.
To put it simply, home/pet owners get someone to care for their place and pets, and the sitter gets a free place to stay.
Sitter Membership Options
As a sitter, you have a few options when you first sign up, each with different perks. In my TrustedHousesitters experience, the basic plan is great for starting out.
Basic Sitter ($): The basic plan is the cheapest option and is ideal if you don’t plan to pet-sit often. It allows you to search for all types of sits across the world.
You have access to basic filtering options, such as destination, start date, and pet type. You also have to pay a small fee of about $12 per sit.
Standard Sitter ($$): The standard sitter plan is perfect for those who plan to sit more regularly and/or want more peace of mind.
It includes calls to vets, a third-party liability plan, and alerts so you don’t miss any potential sits. If I were to house-sit more often, I would likely be on this plan, because who knows what awesome sits I might be missing out on.
Premium Sitter ($$$): The premium plan includes everything above + waives the sitter booking fee. Plus, you get airport lounge passes and a sitter cancellation compensation plan.
How I Got My First Pet Sit
The Importance of Your Profile
Before you get your first pet sit, it’s important to make sure you build a strong profile. Have a few pictures, ideally with pets, outdoors, or just doing what you love.
I also shared my past pet-sitting experience in my profile and mentioned that I love cats in particular, as I typically only apply for cat sits.
There are great profile building tips on the TrustedHousesitters website.
Get References
An absolute must before you land your first sit is to add some personal references to your profile. Since your profile has no reviews yet, it’s ideal to have at least one reference from someone who can vouch for you.
I asked friends that I cat-sat and house-sat for before to leave me references.
Housesit Somewhere Nearby or Last-Minute
One of the best ways to get a TrustedHousesitters review on your profile is to be strategic about your first sit.
If you’re new to TrustedHousesitters, home/pet owners will want to rely on your availability and ensure you show up. If you’re coming from out of town or trying to get a sit that’s far away time-wise, the owners may find someone who’s more reliable based on profile reviews.
Finding nearby sits, even in your home city, and/or last-minute sits increases your chances of taking them on and getting those first few reviews..
How I Landed My First TrustedHousesitters Experience
I was already staying in London when I did my first sit.
One day, a cat sit popped up in a very central part of London, and they were about three days from needing a sitter.
So I sent a personalized message and mentioned that I could come by to meet them first before confirming, especially since I had no reviews yet and wanted them to feel comfortable.
There are owners who appreciate a video call ahead of time, but since it was my first sit and I was going to be in their neighborhood, they were happy to have me come over to meet them and the cats.
And from there, they sent me a request to pet-sit, and I accepted.
Now, I was lucky to be in central London to meet them in person, and they were happy to do that. If you’re new to the platform, helping owners feel as comfortable as possible is a huge bonus, especially when competing with more experienced sitters.
My TrustedHousesitters Experience Cat Siting in London
Now that I’ve shared how I got my first sit with TrustedHousesitters in London, let’s get into the details of both sits and what I learned in the process.
Marylebone, London (Short-Notice Sit):
This was my first ever sit on TrustedHousesitters with two fluffy, fancy boy cats. The apartment itself was amazing to stay in, especially since I was in a shared Airbnb at the time.
Yep, I was cat-sitting while still paying for my other accommodation in London.
Anyways, the two boys were easy to care for, and I learned a few tricks as one required medicine every other day.
The owners themselves were quite relaxed and easy to communicate with, too.
The house had a leak, so I kept them updated and even worked with the building manager to have it checked. It started the night before they left, so aside from helping with the cats, they were lucky to have me there to make sure the leak didn’t cause any damage.
Kilburn, London (Short-Notice Sit)
The second sit I did was for another adorable bay cat. But in all my cat-sitting, once with TrustedHousesitters and twice for friends, this was the first time I encountered a cat more on the anxious/protective side.
The first day, he’d randomly hiss at me and block ways like at the top/bottom of the stairs. I started to carry treats and would throw one if he happened to be blocking a way I needed to go.
After all, he was freaked out, his mom disappeared, and didn’t come back for 5 days. Some cats don’t notice they’re gone and we’re immediately homies, but not this one.
It wasn’t until the third day that he relaxed more. I was giving him more space, blinking slowly and not trying to get too comfortable petting him, as he’d sometimes get protective.
By the end, though, we were becoming friends, and he’d even come to cuddle in bed with me and loved chin scratches.
It was a great learning experience to take with me for future sits.
Who Should Use TrustedHousesitters
TrustedHousesitters is ideal for finding a place to stay when traveling or even just having a getaway in your own city, while helping someone out.
First and foremost, you should be responsible and mindful. I think that’s self-explanatory, as it goes beyond just having a free place to stay.
The TrustedHousesitters experience is ideal for travelers who don’t mind being outside central areas and staying in a local’s home for a short time. And, of course, caring for a furry friend during that time.
But is it good for full-time travelers?
As a full-time traveler, I want to use it more, but I don’t rely on it for full-time travel or to find long-term stays. You can to some extent, but the idea of following sit-after-sit as a means of having a roof over my head sounds exhausting.
For shorter travels, though, between a few days and a month here and there could work great.
It’s also perfect if you’re open to being flexible on where you travel. For example, there are seemingly endless opportunities to use TrustedHousesitters in London. But since it’s a worldwide platform, you could use it to guide you to more unexpected places.
Best Countries for TrustedHousesitters Experience
If you’re planning to travel to the US, the UK, or Australia, you’re in luck, as they are the most popular countries among TrustedHousesitters users.
As I want to come back to London, I will 100% be looking for sits as it’s one of the cities with the highest number of sits available. There were usually 100+ available in and around London when I was searching.
You can also find quite a few around Europe, and even in countries like Japan or Colombia.
Tips for TrustedHousesitters
These are some of my favorite tips for how to use TrustedHousesitters effectively, making it easier to use and creating a better overall experience.
Check the App Regularly (on Basic Sitter Plan)
If you go for the basic sitter plan, then you aren’t eligible for notifications on the latest sits in a specific destination.
This means that if you’re not checking the app regularly, then you could miss out on some potential amazing sits that pop up.
It’s a bit inconvenient, especially since I always have to retype the city name and refresh the filters.
Check in with the Owner
Some owners will request that you be in contact with them every day, while others are a bit more relaxed.
But anytime I have questions or concerns, I send a message, and that’s also an opportunity to send them a picture of how their pet(s) are doing.
If they don’t request daily contact, then sending a message every other day is a good medium (especially for longer stays).
Always Read all the Details of a Sit before Applying
One thing you need to know about how to use TrustedHousesitters is to apply for sits you can handle the requested responsibilities for.
Each listing has information about the location, the home, the pets, and the expected responsibilities.
Always read them over before applying because this is still an exchange. And they’re giving you their home, expecting you to follow their rules and guidelines, especially when you’re taking care of their beloved pet(s).
Another tip is to read the TrustedHousesitters reviews on the owner’s profile for insight into past sitters’ experiences.
FAQs About TrustedHousesitters Experiences
How Much Does it Cost to Join TrustedHousesitters?
The basic plan without a discount starts at about $130 USD, plus a small additional fee per sit. The most expensive plan comes up to over $200.
You can get 25% off on TrustedHousesitters here, though.
Which Countries/Cities Are Best for TrustedHousesitters?
The US, UK, and Australia are among the most popular places to find houses and pets.
Which Annual Membership Type should I Get?
It depends on how often you want to use the platform. The cheapest in the basic sitter plan, but quite bare-bones.
For extra features like adding alert notifications and free calls with vets, get the standard sitter plan. I would get this if you plan to use it often, or you could start with the basic version and upgrade later.
Then there’s the premium sitter plan, which includes a few extra perks, but I would only get it if you plan to use the platform often or are concerned about sit cancellations.
