Last updated: January 2026
1. Who we are and what we do
Reputable Sitters (“we”, “us”, “our”) is a directory service operated by Reputablesitters Ltd. We verify the credentials of experienced housesitters and display them in a directory where homeowners can find and contact them.
Contact: privacy@reputablesitters.com
2. We are a directory, not a platform
This is important. Please read carefully:
Reputable Sitters is a directory service. We help homeowners discover and contact experienced housesitters. Once that introduction is made, we step back.
What we do:
- Verify sitter credentials through GDPR data exports
- Display sitter profiles with verified information
- Facilitate initial contact between homeowners and sitters via email
- Display sitter-published rates and availability information
What we do not do:
- We are not a party to any arrangement between sitters and homeowners
- We do not manage or mediate ongoing communications
- We do not handle bookings, contracts, or payments between parties
- We do not employ, control, or direct sitters in any way
- We do not guarantee sitter availability, response, or suitability
- We do not provide dispute resolution services
- We do not guarantee any outcomes from connections made through our directory
We verify credentials at a point in time. What happens after that is between the sitter and the homeowner. Any housesitting arrangement is made directly between the two parties. Reputable Sitters is not a party to these arrangements and accepts no liability for their outcome.
3. Accepting these terms
By creating an account, browsing our directory, submitting an enquiry, or using our service in any way, you agree to these terms. If you don't agree, please don't use our service.
You must be at least 18 years old to use this service.
4. Terms for sitters
Joining
To be listed in our directory, you must apply and be approved. Approval requires verification of at least 20 reviews from platforms such as TrustedHousesitters, Nomador, or other pre-approved sitting exchange site, provided via GDPR data export.
We reserve the right to reject any application at our discretion.
GDPR data verification
Your GDPR data export must be authentic and unaltered. We verify every review against the source platform. If you are submitting GDPR exports from multiple platforms, we count the accumulated total of verifiable reviews.
Ownership verification: We may request you to add specific data to your platform profiles to prove that you are the legitimate owner of those accounts. Failure to comply with such requests will result in rejection of your application.
Active profile requirement: Your platform profile(s) must remain active and publicly accessible for the duration of the verification period (up to 30 days from submission). We cross-reference your GDPR data export against your live profile to confirm authenticity. If your profile is deleted, hidden, or your platform subscription lapses before verification is complete, we may be unable to verify your data and your application may be declined without refund of the profiling fee. Do not cancel your platform subscription until you have received confirmation that verification is complete.
Any tampering with, falsification of, or alteration to your GDPR data export will result in:
- Immediate rejection of your application
- Forfeiture of all fees paid (profiling fee and any membership fee)
- Permanent ban from the directory
If your authentic GDPR export does not demonstrate 20+ verifiable reviews on the source platform(s), your application will be rejected and the profiling fee will not be refunded. Only apply if you genuinely have the reviews to back it up.
Reputable Profiling fee
Before joining, applicants pay a non-refundable Reputable Profiling fee. This fee covers the cost of dedicated curation work: reviewing your GDPR data export, analysing your review history, and preparing personalised questions to help articulate your story. This takes approximately 4-5 hours per applicant.
The Reputable Profiling fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of your application. This includes rejection due to insufficient verifiable reviews or any issues with your GDPR data. Current fees are displayed on our website.
Membership fees
Approved applicants pay a membership fee to be listed in the directory. Founding members (first 75) pay a one-time lifetime fee. Standard members pay annually or for a 5-year term. Current fees are displayed on our website.
Refund policy: Membership fees are generally non-refundable. However, if you are a UK consumer, you have a statutory 14-day cooling-off period from the date of purchase during which you may cancel your membership for a full refund, provided your profile has not yet been made live in the directory.
What lifetime membership includes
Founding members with lifetime membership receive:
- Permanent listing in the directory with no renewal fees
- Verified badge and credentials display
- Profile editing at any time
- Direct contact from hosts via our contact system
- Annual statistics refresh (subject to submission of updated GDPR data export)
- The original Reputable Profiling conducted at time of joining
Lifetime membership does not include future optional services, which may be offered at additional cost. These may include, but are not limited to: full re-profiling, enhanced background checks, premium placement features, insurance products, or other services introduced after your membership begins.
Your core directory listing and membership benefits will never require additional payment. Optional services remain optional.
Your profile and rates
You are responsible for keeping your profile information accurate and up to date, including:
- Your rates and any factors that affect them
- Your location (home base and current travel status)
- Your availability
- Your services and pet preferences
Rates disclaimer: The rates you publish are displayed to homeowners as indicative information only. You set your own rates and negotiate directly with homeowners. We do not set, verify, or enforce any rate information — this is entirely between you and the homeowner.
External visibility (widget)
You may opt in to have your profile summary displayed on third-party websites through our embeddable widget. If you opt in:
- Your display name, photo thumbnail, review count, rate range, and general location may appear on partner sites
- Your full profile details and contact information remain on Reputable Sitters only
- You can disable widget visibility at any time in your dashboard
- Removal from cached displays may take up to 24 hours after you disable the setting
Widget visibility is off by default. You must explicitly enable it.
Your responsibilities
As a listed sitter, you agree to:
- Provide accurate information in your profile and application
- Keep your profile information, rates, and availability up to date
- Respond professionally to enquiries from homeowners
- Not use the directory for any purpose other than offering housesitting services
- Comply with our standards
Verification
We verify your credentials at the time of joining. Your profile displays when this verification occurred. We do not continuously monitor your activity on other platforms.
If you provide false or misleading information, your membership will be terminated immediately without refund.
5. Terms for homeowners
Homeowners can browse our directory and contact sitters without creating an account or paying any fee.
Making contact
When you submit an enquiry through our contact form:
- Your enquiry is sent directly to the sitter's email address
- The sitter replies directly to you — we do not manage the conversation
- We do not store your message content or personal details (see our privacy policy)
You are initiating a direct relationship with the sitter. We are not involved in your arrangement, negotiations, or any subsequent agreement.
No guarantee of response
We cannot and do not guarantee that:
- Sitters will respond to your enquiry
- Sitters will be available for your dates
- Sitters will accept your sit
- Any sitter is suitable for your specific needs
Sitters are independent individuals who manage their own availability and communications. We have no control over their responses or decisions.
Rate information
Rates displayed on sitter profiles are set by sitters and are indicative only. Actual rates may vary based on:
- Duration of the sit
- Location and travel distance
- Number and type of pets
- Special requirements
- Time of year
- Any other factors the sitter considers relevant
All rate negotiations and final pricing occur directly between you and the sitter. We do not verify, endorse, or guarantee any rate information.
Your due diligence
You are responsible for conducting your own due diligence before engaging a sitter. Our verification confirms their track record at a point in time — it is not a guarantee of future performance, character, or suitability for your specific situation.
We recommend you:
- Have a video call or meet in person before confirming
- Check references if you wish
- Discuss expectations, routines, and requirements in detail
- Put your agreement in writing
- Consider appropriate insurance
Enquiry limits
To maintain quality and prevent spam, there are limits on how many enquiries can be sent per day. If you reach these limits, you will need to wait before sending more enquiries. Repeated misuse of the contact system may result in temporary or permanent restrictions.
6. Acceptable use
You agree not to:
- Use our service for any illegal purpose
- Harass, abuse, or threaten any other user
- Provide false or misleading information
- Attempt to scrape, copy, or reproduce our directory content
- Interfere with the operation of our service
- Use the service to send spam or unsolicited communications
- Send bulk or automated enquiries
- Circumvent rate limits or other protective measures
7. Intellectual property
The design, branding, text, and structure of our website belong to us. You may not copy, reproduce, or distribute this content without permission.
Sitters retain ownership of their photos and bio content. By submitting content to your profile, you grant us a licence to display it on our website, in partner widgets (if you opt in), and in related marketing materials.
8. Suspension and removal
We reserve the right to suspend or remove any member at our discretion. Grounds for removal include, but are not limited to:
- Violation of these terms
- Verified complaints about conduct
- Criminal activity
- Providing fraudulent credentials
- Serious animal welfare concerns
For details on how we handle concerns, see our standards page.
Removal decisions are final. No refund of fees will be given for removal due to violation of these terms.
9. Limitation of liability
This section is important. By using our service, you acknowledge and agree:
- Our service is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind
- We do not guarantee the availability, accuracy, or suitability of our service
- We are not liable for any disputes between sitters and homeowners
- We are not liable for any loss, damage, or injury arising from housesitting arrangements made through connections on our directory
- We are not liable for sitters' failure to respond to enquiries
- We are not liable for the accuracy of rate information displayed
- Our maximum liability to you is limited to the fees you have paid us in the 12 months prior to any claim
Nothing in these terms excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.
10. Indemnity
You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your use of our service, your violation of these terms, your violation of any rights of another person, or any arrangement you make with another user of our service.
11. Changes to these terms
We may update these terms from time to time. If we make significant changes, we will notify members by email. Continued use of our service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.
12. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
13. Severability
If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.
14. Entire agreement
These terms, together with our privacy policy and standards, constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding your use of our service.
15. Contact
Questions about these terms? Contact us at privacy@reputablesitters.com