House Sitting Agreement

While the homeowner is away everything continues as usual regarding the property. Bills need to be paid to keep services connected, plants need watering, gardens, lawns and trees need to be maintained, mail and phone messages may need to be forwarded. While the relationship between homeowner and house sitter is mutually beneficial and based on trust, the house sitter is, in effect, working for the homeowner. The house sitter agrees to occupy the homeowner's property for a given period of time. Generally the house sitter is required to be in the property most evenings and nights (although this may be negotiable), giving the property its usual occupied appearance to deter burglars, squatters and vandals.