Safety / Trust
Trust is built before the keys change hands.
A house sit involves a home, beloved animals and real responsibility. Simply House Sit helps people find and get to know each other, but a profile or application is only a starting point—not a guarantee of suitability.
What this beta checks—and what it does not
In place today
- Email verification helps confirm that a member controls the address they used to register.
- Members can share profiles, listing details and applications before agreeing to anything.
- Private conversations let homeowners and sitters discuss expectations before a visit.
- Account access can be suspended and listings can be removed when a serious concern is reported.
Not provided in this beta
- No identity-document or address verification.
- No criminal-record or background checks.
- No reference checks, reviews or completed-sit history.
- No insurance, payment protection, guarantees or emergency response service.
Be honest about your comfort level. Do not agree to a sit until you have made your own checks and feel comfortable with the person, home and arrangements.
Before you agree to a sit
Talk properly
Have a video or phone conversation. Ask about experience, routines, boundaries, timing and what would happen if plans change.
Check the details
Ask for references where appropriate, compare the person’s answers with their profile and make sure the dates, location and responsibilities are clear.
Make a handover plan
Write down pet routines, vet details, emergency contacts, home instructions, arrival and departure times, and who may access the property.
Keep sensitive information private
Do not share passwords, alarm codes, financial details or exact access instructions in public profiles or early messages. Share essential access information only when you are ready.
For homeowners
- Choose someone whose experience matches your pets and home, not just someone who is available.
- Speak to references yourself and agree what “good care” means in practical terms.
- Remove valuables and personal documents, and decide exactly which rooms and facilities are included.
- Leave a written care plan and a local emergency contact who can help if you are unreachable.
- Never feel pressured to accept an application or hand over keys.
For sitters
- Ask about the home, pets, medical needs, transport, neighbourhood and the full daily routine.
- Be honest about your experience, availability and any limits on the care you can provide.
- Confirm who owns or manages the property and who will be your point of contact.
- Do not send money, identity documents or sensitive personal information to another member through an unsolicited request.
- Leave immediately and contact us if you feel unsafe or the arrangement is materially different from what was agreed.
Pause if you see a red flag
Take a step back if someone asks you to move unusually quickly, refuses a reasonable call, gives inconsistent information, requests money or sensitive details, pressures you to ignore your concerns, or asks you to hide the arrangement from someone who should know.
You can decline an application or end a conversation without giving a detailed explanation. Your safety and the safety of your home and animals come first.
If something goes wrong
- If there is immediate danger, leave if you can do so safely and contact the appropriate local emergency service. Simply House Sit is not an emergency service.
- For a non-emergency concern, pause the arrangement and contact the other person through a safe channel.
- Report a serious concern, suspected fraud, harassment, unsafe behaviour or misleading listing to christianredhat@gmail.com. Include the listing or application involved, but do not send passwords or unnecessary sensitive information.
- We may restrict or suspend access while a concern is reviewed and may remove listings or accounts that breach the rules. We cannot guarantee a particular outcome or resolve private disputes on a member’s behalf.
Take the time to make a confident choice
The best house sits begin with clear expectations, honest conversation and a plan for the unexpected. If you are not comfortable, wait, ask more questions or choose someone else.