Terms & Conditions (Sitters & Clients)

This page:

Clearly defines responsibilities, expectations, and agreements for both clients & sitters.
Covers payments, cancellations, supervision standards, emergency handling, and sit completion policies.
Includes clauses about sitter professionalism, poaching, and dedicated pet care requirements.

By operating through Trusted Sit, clients and sitters agree to adhere to the appropriate Terms and Conditions below.

Terms and Conditions for Sitters – Trusted Sit

A deposit must be paid to secure a booking. No booking is confirmed until the deposit is received.
Late bookings (within 7 days of the sit) will incur a 20% late booking fee.

Sitters must provide dedicated, full-time supervision, remaining onsite for 21–24 hours per day except for essential short absences (maximum 3–4 hours) with prior communication to the client.
Where a sit is combined with pet care, any combined activities are permitted only if they do not negatively impact pet welfare. Sitters may vacate the house for up to 3–4 hours at a time, but pets must not be placed in danger, distress, or discomfort through neglect.
More than one prolonged absence from the property in a single day without the pets is only acceptable by prior agreement with the client.
Repeated absences will only be deemed acceptable in the case of an emergency or if specifically agreed with the client in advance.
Sitters must not combine pet sitting with other employment, activities, or services that compromise the ability to provide the agreed requested supervision.
Where the total active care exceeds 90–120 minutes per day, sitters may adjust walk durations or activities to remain within this limit, provided pet welfare is not compromised.
If additional care is required this can be agreed with the client and direct payment can be made to the sitters account.
Sitters may adapt the timetable for walks or feeding as long as it does not compromise pet welfare and meets medication requirements.

A shared WhatsApp group is the only permitted channel for client-sitter communication during the sit. Direct contact outside of this group is not allowed.
Sitters must provide numerous daily updates including photos, videos, and messages about pet wellbeing and property status.
Any emergencies or unexpected absences must be immediately reported to Trusted Sit and the client.

Sitters must behave professionally, respect client confidentiality, property, and household rules.
Poaching clients (directly or indirectly bypassing Trusted Sit) is strictly prohibited. Once a sitter-client relationship is created via Trusted Sit, all future sits must continue to be arranged through Trusted Sit.

Sitters must follow the client’s emergency instructions and promptly seek veterinary care if required.
In emergencies, a sitter may propose a substitute. If the client does not approve, the situation may be escalated to Trusted Sit for review and approval of a replacement or early release.

Payments are held by Trusted Sit and released only upon satisfactory completion of the sit to the required standard.
Additional costs such as fuel for taking pets to remote parks are chargeable to the client if pre-agreed.
Breaches of the terms may lead to withholding of payment, compensation to the client, removal from Trusted Sit, or legal action.
After successfully meeting the terms of engagement, an invoice can be issued by the sitter, containing all relevant information including the client reference number, client details, dates, travel etc.
Payment terms from Trusted sit to the sitter are generally within 30 days of receipt of an approved invoice.
Payments will only be made to a sitter’s business account, for which the sitter is solely responsible for their own self-employment, tax and deductions, right to work, and other independent operating activities and obligations.

The property must be left in the same condition it was found.
A final summary of pet updates and relevant notes must be provided at the end of the sit if requested

A deposit must be paid to secure a booking. No booking is confirmed until the deposit is received.
Late bookings (within 7 days of the sit) will incur a 20% late booking fee.

Clients must provide accurate pet care instructions, including feeding, medication, and behaviour details.
A safe, habitable environment must be provided for the sitter, including suitable sleeping arrangements and access to basic amenities.
Clients must return as scheduled for the agreed handover. Late returns may incur additional fees.

All payments must be processed via Trusted Sit. Direct payments to sitters are prohibited unless authorised.
Payments are held in a secure holding account until the sit is completed and approval to release is confirmed.

A shared WhatsApp group will be created for all communication. Direct contact outside this group is not permitted.
Clients must not bypass Trusted Sit to engage sitters directly for future sits. All subsequent bookings must go through Trusted Sit.

Trusted Sit may allocate a backup sitter in emergencies. If the client rejects the replacement, Trusted Sit will review and approve either a replacement or early release.

Clients remain responsible for appropriate property and pet insurance.
Trusted Sit is a broker for independent sitters, not an employer or provider.
Disputes will be handled via Sitters Association’s mediation service (at client/sitter’s cost). Decisions are binding.
Trusted Sit reserves the right to cancel bookings or impose penalties for breaches.