Pet sitting insurance guide

Pet sitting is the best and least stressful care option for most of our furry friends. Cats and dogs especially feel happier in their own homes. We also want to remove any stress for the pet owners and sitters – and this is where pet sitting insurance comes in.

Insurance for pet sitters and home & contents insurance reduce any worry for both owner and sitter. At TrustedHousesitters, we want the humans to feel as relaxed as the animals do, which is why our Standard and Premium members receive insurance protection as part of their package.

We’ll take a closer look at why this insurance is essential and what it covers.

Why do I need Pet Sitting Insurance?

Most pet sitting experiences go without a hitch: indeed, they’re usually a fantastic experience for all three parties. But what happens if something does go wrong? Nobody wants to be presented with a bill for tens of thousands of pounds or dollars when the sit finishes.

Before we go on to talk about insurance for pet sitters in more detail, we’d better sound the Worst-Case Scenario klaxon. Warning: insurance policies always sound terrifying. That’s their job. 

Insurance is there for unlikely but potentially financially damaging events. Naturally, any discussion about insurance policies tends to be on the negative side, and this doesn’t mean that the house and pet sit is inherently risky.

With that in mind… Find out more about our own pet sitting Accident & Third Party Liability cover, as well as insurance for the pet owners.

What does Pet Sitting Insurance cover?

What exactly is covered by pet sitters insurance? Our TrustedHousesitters’ pet sitting insurance policy reads:

We will cover sitters for up to $1m per incident, in respect of loss from having to pay damages and costs to others which arise from any single event occurring during a sit if the pet causes: (a) death or injury to a person; or (b) loss or damage of their property.

So, if the pet causes any injury or damage during your pet sit, you're covered up to $1,000,000 (or equivalent value in another currency, currently around £755,000 in sterling).

We should make it clear that this policy covers dogs and cats only. If you are sitting for any other type of animal, you’ll need separate insurance (you can get specific Horse Sitting Insurance, for example). 

It’s also important to note that it covers the owner’s pets only. For example, if you’re allowed to take your own dog on a sit and it launches itself at the new LED flat screen, it’s on you. Take a look at the full TrustedHousesitter Accident & 3rd Party Liability Plan to find out more.

That's the pet sitters’ cover. What about the owners? If they have an existing home insurance policy in place, then they’re covered by our members’ Home & Contents Protection. This protects owners against any accidental or malicious damage, and also insures the sitter should they have an accident during their sit. Again, this is up to the value of $1m.

Our Premium members also have access to our Sit Cancellation Guarantee. This means that if the owner cancels, the sitter is covered for up to $150 per day (up to ten days) for alternative accommodation. 

Likewise, if the sitter suddenly cancels, the owner can claim the same amount for alternative pet care. This means that nobody’s trip is ruined due to last-minute changes.

What does Pet Insurance Not Cover?

We’ve already explained that our pet sitting insurance is solely for cats and dogs belonging to the homeowner. Any other scenarios will need additional insurance.

We’d also recommend that owners and sitters make sure they have the following insurance in place to cover:

• The pet themselves
• Travel insurance for the sitter
• Health insurance for the sitter

Owners need to make sure that their pet’s insurance is up to date before the sit begins, and then leave details of the policy with their pet sitter’s checklist.

If you’re a sitter, make sure you have travel insurance in place, so you’re covered for any cancellations (look out for Covid-related policies in case restrictions and regulations suddenly change). 

You’ll also need to take out or check your current health insurance policy if you're sitting abroad.

How much does Pet Sitters Insurance cost?

Our Standard and Premium members automatically have access to pet sitting and/or home & contents insurance with their membership. However, should you need to go it alone to find home & contents or pet sitters insurance, how much does it cost?

Pet sitting insurance in the UK is classed as a business insurance, and generally starts at £6.50 per month. Specialist policies such as equine sitting seem to be similar. Think before you buy: the entry-level policies may not cover everything you need.

In the US, pet sitting also needs business insurance. Pet sitting insurance and bonding can be a little bit more expensive, starting at around $11 per month. However, this will soon seem worth it when the cat takes out the glass-topped coffee table, incidentally spilling coffee over the cream area rug…

If you’re sorting out your own home and contents insurance before hiring a house or pet sitter, speak with your current insurer.

How quickly will I get a Certificate of Pet Sitters Insurance?

Many insurance policies start the moment your money clears the insurer’s account. It may take a few more days for the paperwork to arrive, but you should get the electronic confirmation through very quickly.

If you’re leaving this until the last minute, there’s a risk the documents may not arrive in time. You can arrange for them to be sent to your sitting address; however, we’d always advise you to get this in place well in advance of the sit. Insurance policies can be complex, and aren’t something that should be taken out on the hoof (or paw).

If you’re pet sitting as a TrustedHousesitters member, your insurance cover is ready when you are.

Who is covered under Pet Sitters Insurance?

Let’s take a look at our TrustedHousesitters’ wording again. Our pet sitting policy covers the sitter from paying damages and costs “to others which arise from any single event occurring during a sit if the pet causes: (a) death or injury to a person; or (b) loss or damage of their property.”

In other words, the insurance protects you from having to pay damages towards anyone affected by the pet that you’re sitting. As a sitter, you’re covered by the owner’s liability insurance. We take care of this within our members’ Home & Contents insurance. The pet themselves is covered for vet bills by their usual pet insurance.

We hope this has gone some way to explain the complicated world of insurance! If you’re sitting through TrustedHousesitters, our members’ cover will give you all the peace-of-mind without the hassle of having to find your own pet sitting policy.

If you want to find out more about our insurance policies for members, please get in touch with the helpful TrustedHousesitters support team.

Find the perfect pet sitting assignment

Bearing in mind that Max or Bella crashing into the TV is a really rare scenario, pet sitting is a wonderfully rewarding and relaxed way of visiting new places and making new friends. 

If you’re looking for an assignment, check out our latest house sitting opportunities. Searching for that perfect sitter? Meet our global community of trusted pet lovers. At TrustedHousesitters, we have so many pets, owners and sitters just waiting to meet each other – safe in the knowledge that their insurance is already in place.