Sit Cancellation Plan for Sitters

Last updated: 11th March 2024

I. The TrustedHousesitters’ Plan in case of short notice Pet Parent cancellations

We offer, on a goodwill basis and at our sole discretion, a plan to Sitters in respect of loss from having to source Alternative Accommodation due to a Pet Parent cancelling Unexpectedly, subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations shown below, as defined by the Maximum Limit or as amended in writing by Us.

Sitters must comply with all requirements and conditions in this Plan in order to be eligible to benefit from this Plan.

This Plan is offered at our sole discretion and only to Sitters who have an active premium membership and have agreed and confirmed a Sit on the TrustedHousesitters Platform, with a start date within their paid membership term.

This Plan is not an insurance policy and is not intended to replace the Sitters’ own insurance contracts. It is the responsibility of the Sitter to ensure that they have appropriate insurance in place to cover losses from having to source Alternative Accommodation due to a Pet Parent cancelling Unexpectedly. 

If loss is suffered by a Sitter as a result of having to source Alternative Accommodation due to a Pet Parent cancelling Unexpectedly, we may at our sole discretion pay the Sitter up to $1500 (or foreign currency equivalent), at a limit of $150 per night, for up to 30 nights per membership year. 

II. Definitions

“Alternative Accommodation” means paid accommodation in a premises such as a hotel, guest house or licensed rental accommodation.

“Cancellation” means a confirmed Sit arrangement is cancelled prior to the start date or the Sit is abandoned prior to the agreed end date.

''Maximum Limit'' means $1500 per Sit, or its equivalent in the currency where the home is located, at the exchange rate applicable shown on OANDA.com on the date of payment. Within this $1500 total limit, there is a per night limit of $150. 

''payment request form'' means the standard form, accessible by contacting TrustedHousesitters Membership Services directly, that a Sitter uses to request payment from Us pursuant to this Plan.

“Pet” means pets covered by this Plan. This Plan exclusively covers domestic dogs and cats only and does not extend coverage to dangerous or wild animals.

“Pet Parent” means pet parent members who create an approved listing of their home on Our platform. A Pet Parent must be the person who has legally acquired the pet, through purchase, adoption, or a legal transfer of ownership and can provide evidence to support this if required. The term Pet Parent is interchangeable with the term Owner.

“Plan” means this discretionary Sit Cancellation Plan for Sitters.

''Platform'' means the online platform accessed via Our website (www.trustedhousesitters.com) or Our mobile application.

''Sit'' means a stay by a Sitter(s) at a home for an agreed period of time organised, confirmed and accepted through Our platform.

''Sitter(s)'' means eligible adult individuals or families who have agreed to Our terms and conditions who have organised to stay in a home including individuals invited to be present at a home by the Sitter(s) during a Sit.

"Terms of Service” means our Terms of Service.  

“Unexpectedly” means a cancellation that occurs 14 days or less before the agreed Sit start date or during the Sit, but before the agreed end date.

''We/Us/Our'' means TrustedHousesitters.

III. Are there circumstances where we will never pay under this Plan?

This Plan is offered at our sole discretion but in any event we will never pay Sitters under this Plan where:

1. The Sitter initiates the Sit cancellation.
2. The Sit cancellation is mutually agreed between the Pet Parent and the Sitter.
3. The Sitter arranges Alternative Accommodation without incurring accommodation costs, such as accommodation provided by the Sitter's family or friends.
4. The Sitter has not incurred any financial loss as a result of the Sit cancellation.
5. The Sitter had a reasonable option not to travel, which would have prevented incurring cost (such as refundable travel bookings, plans that could be amended)
6. The Alternative Accommodation that the Sitter uses is further than 20 miles (32 kilometres) from the location of the original Sit.
7. The Sitter fails to provide receipts detailing dates, per night cost of accommodation and expenses they have paid.
8. For losses in excess of the Maximum Limit.
9. When the Sit is cancelled due to a breach of Our Terms of Service or code of conduct by the Sitter.
10. The Sitter has arranged a suitable alternative house Sit through Our platform
11. When the Sit is cancelled due to regulations set by the government of any country (such as travel restrictions, enforced quarantining, area lockdowns).
12. If Sitters, or anyone acting for Sitters makes, or attempts to commit fraud, such as a false or exaggerated claim, We will reject the payment request form and any subsequent payment request forms. We will notify the Sitter if We do this. Additionally:

(a) if We have made any payments in respect of fraudulent activities, Sitters must repay that sum to Us. 

(b) if there has been fraudulent activity to secure any benefits under this Plan this will result in no payment being made. 

(c) We may also notify the relevant authorities, so that they may consider criminal proceedings.

1. We shall not provide any benefit or be liable to provide any benefit under this Plan which:

(a) would breach economic, financial or trade sanctions imposed under the law of the country in which the Terms are issued or would otherwise provide benefit, or;

(b) would breach economic, financial or trade sanctions imposed by Canada, the European Union, United Kingdom or the United States of America;

(c) all other terms provisions and conditions of this Plan shall have full force and effect.

IV. How can a Sitter recover costs/losses from us?

This Plan is offered at our sole discretion but in order to be considered for payment under this Plan, the following conditions must be complied with. Failure to fully comply may mean we decline to offer you any payment under the Plan. In all cases, the onus will be upon Sitters to demonstrate that they have complied with the following conditions.

The most we will pay under this Plan is the higher of (i) [$150] per adult Sitter per night or (ii) [$150] per family per night, up to the total value of [$1500]. 

1. Sitter Contribution

The Sitters must contribute $150 towards any payment request made against this Plan.

2.Cancelled Sit Notification

Sitters must notify TrustedHousesitters within 24 hours of a Sit being cancelled and provide correspondence that confirms the cancellation.

3. Alternative House Sit

(a) Where time allows, Sitters must allow Us to recommend alternative house sits that may be of interest

(b) Where Pet Parents cancel a Sit at short notice or during the Sit, Sitters must allow Us to attempt to source an alternative house Sit where possible.

4. Sitters must provide receipts detailing dates, daily costs of accommodation and expenses they have paid. 

5. Sitters will need to:

(a) complete a payment request form, and 

(b) deliver a signed and sworn proof of loss.

6. Information requests

Sitters must provide TrustedHousesitters with all information it reasonably requests to help facilitate a claim.

7. Cooperation

Sitters must cooperate with TrustedHousesitters, including signing any documents, and timely responding to any reasonable requests for additional information or documentation that TrustedHousesitters or its designees may require or request to process the applicable payment request form.

V. Conditions

Acknowledgments and agreements by Sitters.

1.  Purpose of the Plan

Sitters acknowledge and agree that:

(a) This Plan is offered at our sole discretion and this Plan does not constitute an offer to insure, nor does it constitute insurance or an insurance contract, and does not take the place of insurance obtained or obtainable by you. Furthermore, this Plan is not an insurance service agreement as defined in a standard ISO renter’s or homeowner’s insurance policy.  To the extent Sitters desire protection beyond this discretionary Plan (such as the insurable losses covered by a travel insurance or other policy), Sitters may wish to purchase third-party insurance (Sitters should be aware that such insurance may not always cover losses caused by Pet Parent(s) cancellation and should carefully check the terms of any third-party cover they obtain).

(b) TrustedHousesitters reserves the right to independently investigate (or to have independently investigated) at Our sole discretion and expense, the facts and circumstances of a payment request set forth in any payment request form that Sitters file with TrustedHousesitters, notwithstanding delivery of all information and materials that are required. 

(c) For any Sit cancellation, the Sitter must first allow TrustedHousesitters to attempt to source an alternative registered housesit, before seeking recourse to this Plan. 

2. Pet Parents/Sitter(s) communications 

Sitters acknowledge and agree that when requesting us to exercise our discretion and offer payment under this Plan, they give TrustedHousesitters consent to review all communications between Pet Parents and Sitter(s), on and off the platform.

3. Offsetting 

Sitters acknowledge and agree that TrustedHousesitters reserves the right, at any time, to offset or deduct from the amounts payable or paid by TrustedHousesitters to Sitters under this Plan, any amounts that Sitters may have in their possession, or to subsequently collect, from any other person or entity who is obligated to pay Sitters for losses.

4. Changes to this Plan 

Sitters acknowledge and agree that to the extent permissible by applicable law in your jurisdiction, TrustedHousesitters may modify or terminate this Plan, at any time, at Our sole discretion.

If We terminate this Plan, We will provide Pet Parents and Sitter(s) with notice by email at least thirty (30) days before such termination and We may at our discretion continue to process all payment request forms that you filed prior to the effective date of termination, but your right to file any new payment request form after the effective date of termination will immediately end.

If We modify this Plan, We will post the modification on TrustedHousesitters' website. We may at our discretion continue to process all payment request forms that you filed prior to the effective date of the modification.

In addition to and without limiting Our rights set forth above in the immediately preceding paragraph, We may modify or terminate this Plan generally or in any jurisdiction, at any time, in its sole discretion, if:

(a) this Plan is construed to be an offer to insure or constitutes insurance, an insurance contract or an insurance service agreement by any governmental or regulatory authority in any jurisdiction; 

(b) We are required to obtain a license or permit of any kind to continue to provide this Plan in any jurisdiction; or 

(c) We determine that a court, arbitrator, regulatory or other authority holds that the provisions of this Plan violate applicable law or regulation.

If We modify or terminate this Plan in accordance with the foregoing, We may (at our sole discretion) process all payment request forms that are filed prior to or as of the effective date of such modification or termination unless such processing is prohibited by law, regulation, ordinance, order, or decree of any governmental or other authority.

5. Transferring Sitters’ interests

Sitters may not transfer their interest in this Plan to anyone else without Our written consent.

6. Subrogation 

TrustedHousesitters have the right to subrogate against any person or entity whatsoever who allegedly is responsible for causing the losses in question, even if that person or entity are Pet Parents and/or Sitter(s). Further, Sitters hereby agree that, with respect to any payments made under the Plan by, or on behalf of, TrustedHousesitters, Sitters will assist in and cooperate fully with TrustedHousesitters regarding any and all efforts at subrogation.

7. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

If Sitters choose to use TrustedHousesitters Sitters do so at their sole risk. This Plan is provided “as is”, and at our sole discretion, without warranty of any kind, either express or implied.

Sitters acknowledge and agree that, to the maximum extent permitted by law, the entire risk arising out of their access to and use of the TrustedHousesitters, and their arranging of any housesits via TrustedHousesitters remains with them. Neither TrustedHousesitters nor any other party involved in creating, producing, or delivering the Sit will be liable for any incidental, special, exemplary or consequential damages, including lost profits, loss of data or loss of goodwill, service interruption, computer damage or system failure, or for any damages for:

(a) personal or bodily injury or emotional distress arising out of or in connection with this Plan; 

(b) from the use of or inability to use TrustedHousesitters; 

(c) from any communications, interactions, or meetings with other users of the TrustedHousesitters Platform or other persons with whom you communicate or interact as a result of your use of the TrustedHousesitters Platform.

TrustedHousesitters will not be liable for any such damages described above, whether based on warranty, contract, tort (including negligence), product liability or any other legal theory, and whether TrustedHousesitters has been informed of the possibility of such damage, even if a limited remedy set forth herein is found to have failed of its essential purpose.

VI. Contacting TrustedHousesitters

If you have any questions about this plan, please email us.