Is TrustedHousesitters safe? External reviews and verifications

Need somebody to care for your pets, but wondering - is TrustedHousesitters safe? 

Well here, you can get to know the extensive ID verification process in place, as well as the external references and background checks we ask sitters to complete (all of which are visible on sitter profiles for owners to check!).

And because you deserve complete peace of mind, you’ll also find external reviews from our happy owner members, and heartwarming stories from both sitters and pet parents about their experiences. 

Is TrustedHousesitters sitters safe?

Absolutely - TrustedHousesitters is a platform that connects pet parents (and their furry family members) with verified pet sitters to care for their animals in the place they’re happiest - home. 

Naturally for any loving pet parent, leaving beloved pets behind can be a worry, no matter how safe the hands they’re left in. So below, explore the security measures we put in place that give our pet parents ultimate peace of mind.

“Initially, I was hesitant about using TrustedHousesitters and inviting a complete stranger into my home. However, knowing they conduct thorough background checks reassured me—it actually felt safer than hiring a local sitter without a check! I couldn’t have been happier with my house sitter. She and her boyfriend took excellent care of my dogs and my home.”  - Elle, sitter

Sitter ID verifications and background checks

We understand that connecting with somebody online - pet lover or not - to care for your furry family can be a touch nerve-wracking. That’s why we have a range of sitter ID verifications and background checks in place. This helps to give our pet parents peace of mind that they’re connecting with genuine individuals to care for their home and pets. 

We ask that all of our sitters complete a list of ID verifications, including an ID document check, and email and phone verification. We also ask our sitters to get external references from an employer, educator, landlord, or a pet owner who they have sat for previously.

And to make it easy for pet parents to check sitters have completed their ID verifications, each background check is verified with a badge on sitter profiles, making it simple to be sure sitters are who they say they are.

What does the background check confirm?

To give pet parents additional peace of mind, a background check is available for our US sitter members. This confirms that:

• Their National Criminal Records search is clear
• There are no county-level policy violations
• They aren’t on a sex offender registry
• Address history has been completed
• They aren’t on the Domestic and Global Terrorist Watchlists
• They’re FCRA-compliant

24/7 access to our vet advice line

At all times during the sit (24/7, in fact) both pet parents and sitters (with Standard or Premium memberships) have access to our free vet advice line. Available on our member dashboard, sitters and pet owners can launch a free phone, chat or video consultation with a veterinary nurse with any concerns about the pet in their care. 

Yup, they’re on hand for advice on anything pet-related, all the way from behavioral issues, to symptoms of illness and dental concerns.

For both our sitters and pet parents, this simple access to a veterinary professional really helps settle minds during house sits. 

Video calls and meet-ups

Pet owners also have the option to arrange a video call with their new sitter - or an in-person meet-up. Getting the chance to have a proper conversation and get to know one another really helps to settle the minds of our pet parents. 

And for anyone able to meet up in person before the sit begins, it’s a great chance for everyone to get to know each other, and for your furry friends to get acquainted with their new pet pal.

Plus for our sitters, meeting up - whether online or in person - helps to settle their minds, too. Connecting online to exchange loving pet care and a unique place to stay requires mutual trust from both sitters and pet owners, so meeting up is a great way to make everyone feel comfortable.

TrustedHousesitters Membership Services

For any questions or queries that our members can’t get answered via our Help Desk, our Membership Services team - made up of pet lovers, owners and sitters - are on hand to help.

How are sitters vetted?

As we’ve mentioned, we ask that all of our sitters complete a list of ID verifications, and get external references. A background check is also available for our US members. So, if you were wondering - is TrustedHousesitters safe - take a look below for more information on the sitter verification process in place.

• ID document check. Sitters are required to upload a photograph of an official ID document, such as a passport, driving license or National Identity card. These documents are then checked for validity, along with a database cross-check which ensures they’re not compromised, lost or stolen.
• Email address. Sitters are required to confirm their email address via an email from TrustedHousesitters once they’re registered.
• Phone number. Sitters will receive a code via SMS to verify the phone number they’ve provided to TrustedHousesitters.
• Background checks for US members. Sitters registered in the US can complete a free background check provided by Evident - a secure, accredited third-party provider. Once the background check is complete, pet parents can see sitters who’ve completed it on their profile - it’s that simple.
• External references. We ask that our sitters get external character references from an employer, landlord, or a pet owner whose pets they’ve sat for before. This reference can be viewed by pet owners on sitter profiles.

Do sitters really care about the pets?

Our sitters are here for the love of pets, not money. In fact, our sitters - like the pet parents here - pay a yearly membership fee to be part of the community. Yup, they’re hobby pet sitters who adore the company of animals, and are here for sitting experiences, near and far from their own home.

Many of our verified sitters have had pets of their own in the past, or long for the companionship of furry friends while traveling. For our sitters, it’s the pets who make their travel experiences genuinely unique and truly unforgettable.

And don’t take it from us - see what our sitters have to say about their pet-filled experiences at TrustedHousesitters below.

What do our sitters have to say?

We could go on about our pet-loving sitters all day, but we thought you might want to hear it from our sitters themselves - real sitters with real experiences on the platform and in the community. 

Take a look below to find out just how much our sitters adore the animals in their care, and the friends they’ve made with pet parents along the way.
“An animal makes anywhere feel like home and for us, when we are moving from place to place and country to country this feeling of home is so comforting and gives us such a warm feeling in our hearts.” - Eoin and Aisling, sitters.

“We have formed some great friendships with all of our pet owners that we will always cherish.” - Eoin and Aisling, sitters.

“It's heartwarming to see the bonds we have built extend beyond just the pet sitting arrangement. The friendships and connections we have made with the hosts truly enrich our pet sitting experience.” - Nina, sitter.

“I love all types of pets and find joy in caring for any kind of furry friend. Whether it's a dog, cat, bird, or even a reptile, I genuinely enjoy the company and the opportunity to provide them with love and care.” - Nina, sitter.

“I love animals but also love traveling, so it makes it complicated to have animals of my own. I love the TrustedHousesitters site because I get to combine both of my passions. Each animal has their own unique personality and it brings me so much joy to get to know their silly quirks.” - Nicole, sitter 

What do pet owners say about TrustedHousesitters?

Now that we’ve heard just how much the sitters here adore the furry friends in their care, why don’t we hear from the pet owners part of this community, too? Take a look below to explore external reviews from TrustPilot, and the wonderful pet sitting stories our owner members have shared with us.

• “This was the first time we had used THS and were slightly apprehensive about it, but it turned out very well. Our chosen sitter was conscientious and took great care of our home and dog whilst we were away.” - Helene, pet parent.
• “We love the fact that TrustedHousesitters has opened so many doors, and we have made friends for life.” - Liza and Tom, owners.
• “Just had our 6th sitter care for our home and pet… again the experience was tremendous ...leaving on holiday with peace of mind - and returning to a clean and tidy home and happy cat.” - Edwin, owner.
• “Whilst we were away they kept in regular contact, sending us lots of photos and videos of their adventures.” - Katie, pet parent.
  “This community, built on the love of animals, cannot be underestimated and I hope our story will help to inspire other pet owners the world over to open their hearts and homes to fellow animal lovers through TrustedHousesitters.” - Jen and Ian, owners.

How does connecting with a sitter work?

So, thinking about welcoming a loving, verified sitter of your own who adores the company of animals and might even become a friend for life? Great - take a look below for a simple breakdown of the steps you’ll need to take to find a sitter.

1. Choose your annual plan. Select the membership you’d like, and our community of verified sitters is yours to choose from - welcome as many sitters as you need, at no extra cost.
2. Post your listing and choose your sitter. Receive applications or reach out to a sitter, checking their profile for those trusty references, reviews and ID verifications.
3. Travel with peace of mind. Hand over to your trusted sitter and enjoy time away knowing your pets and home are being cared for.

For more information on how finding a sitter works, click below.

Useful resources

• Are pet sitters trustworthy?
• How to deal with pet separation anxiety
• How to prepare for a house sitter
• Trusted Tools: Sitter ID Verifications - a guide for owners