Quick answer: Yes and no. You don’t pay rent or household bills, but there are costs involved, and your time and effort are part of the exchange.
Welcome back to our mini house sitting blog series! In these short and specific posts, we dig into the questions we get asked most. After almost five years of full-time house and pet sitting around the world, we’ve got a pretty good idea of what this lifestyle really costs. So let’s dive in…
Today’s Topic: Is House Sitting Really Free?
You can stay in someone else’s home without paying rent or utility bills, but house sitting isn’t entirely free.
Housesitting is built around an exchange. Homeowners get someone to look after their property and pets while they’re away, and sitters get somewhere to stay in return.
We don’t pay homeowners for accommodation, and they don’t pay us for pet care or home security. It’s a win-win!
But there’s a common misconception that house sitting is free accommodation. It isn’t quite that straightforward.
What Does House Sitting Actually Cost?
Let’s start with the obvious expense: the membership fee.
We pay around £199 per year for our TrustedHousesitters membership, which is the platform we’ve been using for around 5 years.
It acts as the middleman, bringing homeowners and sitters together. Homeowners can advertise their sits, sitters can apply, and both parties can communicate, arrange video calls and agree on the details.
We choose the Premium membership because we house sit full-time and internationally. The additional cover includes a sit cancellation plan, access to a 24/7 vet advice line and extra member support.
For us, the extra £60 or so per year compared with the lower membership tier is worth it for the additional peace of mind.
It’s worth remembering that you don’t actually need to pay to house sit. You can arrange independent exchanges through social media, although using a platform makes finding opportunities and connecting with homeowners considerably easier, and for us it adds peace of mind that people have been verified.
What Do You Get For Free?
This is where the savings really start to add up!
As housesitters, we don’t pay for:
Rent or accommodation: We stay in fully furnished homes without paying nightly rates.
Utility bills: Electricity, water, gas, Wi-Fi, TV subscriptions, and council tax are covered by the homeowner.
Pet care: We don’t charge for feeding, walking, cleaning up after or looking after animals.
Home security: Homeowners benefit from having someone living in their property rather than leaving it empty.
Depending on where you’re staying, this can save thousands compared with renting or paying for hotels and short-term accommodation.
But remember, it’s an exchange. You’re providing a service in return for somewhere to stay.
What Do House Sitters Have to Pay For?
Quite a bit, actually! While accommodation costs are significantly reduced, we still have plenty of expenses.
Here’s what we budget for as full-time, international housesitters:
Travel insurance: Essential for us, particularly when travelling internationally full-time. We need cover for medical expenses, belongings, luggage and more.
Device insurance: Our laptops, phones and cameras are our livelihood, so keeping them insured is important.
Flights, trains and buses: Getting between housesits is our responsibility, and travel costs can quickly add up.
Car hire: We sometimes hire a car for longer periods, particularly when staying somewhere with limited public transport.
Food and drink: We buy our own groceries and pay for meals, coffees and drinks out.
Experiences and exploring: One of the best parts of house sitting is discovering new places, but excursions, attractions and activities aren’t free!
Subscriptions: Most homeowners have streaming services such as Netflix, but not everyone has Apple TV or other subscriptions we might want to use.
Gym memberships: We like to keep active, so gym access is another expense we factor into our budget.
Coworking spaces: We sometimes pay for coworking memberships or day passes when we need a change of scenery, better Wi-Fi, a dedicated workspace or a more reliable working environment.
And that’s before the occasional unexpected expense, replacement equipment, laundry or all the other little costs that come with travelling full-time! Let’s not even get started on when things go really wrong, like being burgled in Zambia and having to replace £3000 worth of equipment…
What About House Sit Cancellations?
This is something worth considering, particularly if you’re relying on housesitting for your accommodation.
We’ve only had one major issue in almost five years. During a two-month sit, the homeowner unexpectedly decided to return home two weeks early, for no particular reason.
We’d arranged our travel around the original dates, so suddenly had to find and pay for alternative accommodation for the remaining two weeks.
At the time, we were on the cheapest TrustedHousesitters sitter membership, which didn’t include cancellation cover. It was an expensive lesson!
Now, our Premium membership includes a sit cancellation plan. If a pet parent cancels, eligible members can receive up to $150 per night towards alternative accommodation, up to $1,500 per sit, subject to terms and conditions.
It’s one of those things you hope you’ll never need, but when you’re travelling full-time and working remotely, having a backup can make a big difference.
Is House Sitting Really Worth It?
Absolutely. It allows you to save money and travel more.
But there’s another side to the 'free accommodation' argument that often gets overlooked: the time and energy involved.
Housesitting isn’t a holiday where you can come and go as you please. You’re responsible for someone else’s home and pets, too.
That means:
Spending time searching and applying for suitable sits.
Writing applications and arranging video calls with homeowners.
Providing daily pet care and sticking to established routines e.g. walking dogs, grooming pets, administering medication, taking them to the vets.
Keeping the home clean, tidy and secure.
Updating homeowners and keeping in touch while they’re away.
Cleaning before departure and preparing the property for their return.
Some sits are considerably more demanding than others. Caring for three dogs with strict routines is a very different commitment to looking after an independent cat!
The accommodation might be free, but the exchange still requires time, effort and responsibility.
Final Thoughts
Housesitting isn’t completely free, but it can dramatically reduce your living and travel expenses.
We don’t pay utility bills or any accommodation costs, which makes it possible for us to travel full-time without spending thousands on hotels or short-term rentals.
In return, we provide homeowners with something incredibly valuable: peace of mind that their home and pets are being looked after.
It’s not free accommodation with no strings attached. It’s a mutual exchange, and that’s exactly what makes it work.
If you go into it with the right expectations, budget for your own expenses and understand the responsibilities involved, housesitting can be a brilliant way to save money and experience places differently.
Stay tuned for Mini Blog #6!
Got questions about house sitting? We'd love to help. Message us anytime on Instagram: @hitchedhikingandhousesitting 🫶
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