How much does house sitting cost in the UK?

Hiring a house sitter is a wise move if you don’t want to worry about your home while away on a trip. Not only do they offer peace of mind in terms of your household’s safety; they can also look after the welfare of your pets.

But if you’re hesitant to book a house sitter due to the expenses you may incur, let this house sitting cost guide help you decide by showing you the average prices of the service in the UK and the measures you can take to keep costs low.

What are the average house sitting prices in the UK?

Take a look at the table below to see the average cost for a house sitter across the country’s major cities:

*City figures show indicative overnight rates from current UK market benchmarks rather than Airtasker city-level data. The Airtasker figures used elsewhere in this guide represent total completed bookings, so they should not be interpreted as daily or nightly rates.

What factors affect house sitting rates?

Many factors come into play when calculating house sitting charges, which is why it’s important to learn about them if you want to keep costs within your budget.

House sitting arrangement

Accessing a home with keys during house sitting (Source: iStock)

How much does a house sitter cost when you take into account their length of stay? House sitting arrangements with short durations, such as overnight and weekend stays, usually lead to a lower total cost despite the higher per-night rates.

Meanwhile, longer stays have higher overall booking prices but generally lower per-night costs.

Required household tasks

If you want the person you’re hiring to perform other duties, such as shopping for groceries, watering your garden, or cleaning your home, be prepared to pay more than the average house sitter rate per day or per booking.

Pet care requirements

Pet care and feeding during a house sitting stay (Source: iStock)

Many pet owners rely on house sitters to perform in-home pet care while they’re away. So if you have animals that require attention while you’re on a trip, you’ll have to shell out more than the general going rate for a house sitter.

In line with this, having more critters in your home and giving your house sitter complicated pet-related responsibilities (such as special medication administration and elderly cat care) translate to being charged higher fees.

Property size and complexity

Aussie house sitters usually charge more for larger properties, since more floor area and a larger outdoor space entail more responsibilities. Similarly, dealing with complex features that may demand more effort and expertise, such as smart home tech, can lead to higher house sitting costs.

Sitter experience and qualifications

Indoor plant care while looking after a house (Source: iStock)

Experienced house sitters typically have more skills and knowledge in performing household chores, caring for pets, and handling other duties. It’s also likely that you’ll find more information about the quality of their work through their past customers’ ratings and reviews. And since you can have more peace of mind when booking them, they usually charge higher fees compared to novice sitters.

Booking timing and demand

Most house sitters have steeper rates when demand is high, such as during long weekends, summer, Christmas, and other peak travel seasons. Hence, if you’re booking outside these periods, you may find house sitting fees to be average or significantly cheaper.

What are some ways to lower house sitting fees?

Keep these cost-saving tips in mind if you want to keep your house sitting expenses within budget:

• You can get discounts and avoid paying per task by booking other services (e.g., professional organising, home decluttering) alongside house sitting.

• If possible, plan your trip during a non-peak period to avoid high rates driven by high demand.

• Look for a house sitter in advance so you have a wide pool of experts with diverse service rates to choose from.

• Ask different house sitters for price quotes so you can compare and avoid those who overcharge.

• Opt for home visits rather than overnight stays if you have low-maintenance pets and a well-secured house.

What should you look for in a professional house sitter?

House sitter relaxing beside windows facing a backyard (Source: iStock)

While you’re on the hunt for trusted house sitters, don’t forget to ask important questions, such as the ones below:

• Do they have substantial experience with the kind of property and pets you have?

• Can they perform pet first aid and CPR when necessary?

• How much will they charge based on your needs and preferences?

• Do they carry insurance?

• Do they know what to do in case of an emergency?

Additionally, you should check out their past clients’ ratings and reviews to get a clearer picture of the quality of their work as a house sitter.

Find a reliable house sitter on Airtasker

If you’re looking for a trustworthy house sitter before your trip, why not sign up on Airtasker to speed up and simplify the process?

By posting a task on the platform—indicating what you need, where your home is, how many pets you have, and how much your budget is—you’ll be able to easily connect with local house sitters.

Once their responses start coming in, you can request price estimates, negotiate fees, and assess their reviews and ratings to book the person most suitable for the job.