In this blog, I’m going to do all the research for you and outline the top countries looking for house sitters right now. Using a couple of the best house sitting websites available I’ve pulled together the data to show potential sitters just how far and wide house sitting can take you.
Hannah and I discovered house sitting over 5 years ago and we haven’t looked back since. It now forms a major part of our lives as full-time digital nomads who travel permanently. As well as enhancing our overall travel experience it means we also meet some fantastic new people and pets. Financially, it certainly helps to have accommodation covered for us.
The demand for house and pet sitters is greater than you might think. Getting started is easier than you might imagine.
Let’s get into it!
What is House Sitting?
First off, let me be clear on what house sitting is.
House sitting is a mutually beneficial exchange between two parties – the host/homeowner and the sitter. The websites I will be discussing do not involve any form of payment for exchanges. The financial gain comes in the form of free accommodation for the sitter and peace of mind for homeowners safe in the knowledge that their home and often pets are being well looked after.
I use the term house sitting to refer to both house and pet sitting, as increasingly the two go hand-in-hand. I see sits that come without pets but if you want to get into house sitting full-time, it’s safe to presume that some form of pet care will be involved.
The Best Websites for Finding House Sitting Jobs
Before I get into the figures let me give you some info on my two data resources. These are also our primary sources for house sitting and although numerous other sites exist, these two are our favorites.
Trusted Housesitters
The biggest website in the industry is Trustedhousesitters.com. They have a fantastic, easy-to-use web and app-based platform, tons of experience, tens of thousands of users, and great customer service.
Being the best also means they are the most expensive. However, the basic membership begins at $129/year and includes unlimited sits. It’s a bargain when you compare it to average hotel prices. Also, new users can get started with a free membership to familiarize themselves with the site.
You’ll need to be a paying member to complete an exchange but sign up using our unique code BEACHES25 at checkout and get 25% off the annual membership price. Click here to get started.
Mind My House
Although Trusted Housesitters is a fantastic site it’s important to remember that many hosts only list on one website. This means your ideal sit could be posted on another platform.
Now, nobody wants to be shelling out for house sitting memberships left and right. So, MindMyHouse.com is a great secondary option as subscription costs just $29/year.
There are no additional fees and you’ll receive the benefit of an easy-to-use site, thousands of active users, and bags of experience that come from Mind My House being one of the longest-serving house sitting websites around.
The Top 3 Countries Looking for House Sitters Right Now
I’ve crunched the numbers and here are the top countries around the world looking for house sitters as we speak.
The USA (3500 – 4000 Active Listings)
We love traveling to the USA. Being from the UK we grew up with so much American influence. It was always a dream of ours to spend an extended time traveling around the States.
House sitting made that dream a reality. In the last few years, Hannah and I have spent 3 extended periods hopping around parts of the USA that your average vacation just won’t take you.
We took care of a house full of pets and animals on a small ranch in Tucson, Arizona. 4 horses, 3 cats, and 2 dogs kept us busy, but it was a dream sit in a beautiful home. It came with a luxurious pool, plenty of cacti, and stunning mountainous surroundings. We got to be cowboys for a little while.
Our other sits have included a mansion in Boulder, Colorado, three locations in Nashville Tennessee (one was walkable to Broadway!), and a leafy suburban home in Durham, North Carolina to name just a few. The USA is one of the most popular countries looking for house sitters.
Top 3 US Regions Looking for House Sitters
California – 600+ hosts currently looking for a house sitter.
California holds a special place in our hearts. 2 months of trekking around South Cali was one of the first big trips we ever took that set us on the road to travel freedom.
Currently, there’s everything from 3 chickens in need of a daily feeder in San Francisco to a dog that just loves walks on the beach in San Diego. California is a top destination for finding house sits.
Colorado – 500+ hosts currently looking for a house sitter
We spent a month just outside of Boulder, CO looking after one super chilled dog called August. The house was probably the biggest and nicest we’ve ever taken care of.
There’s great hiking, unbelievable scenery, and hundreds of house sitting opportunities just waiting for the right sitter to come along. Denver is the main hub, but Colorado has a wide expanse of natural and cultural beauty ready to be explored.
Texas – 250+ hosts currently looking for a house sitter.
Yes, Texas is a huge state, so why not use house sitting to explore everywhere from El Paso to Houston? We’ve enjoyed 2 extended periods in Texas so far and can’t wait to go back again.
We have our eyes on Austin for early 2025, there’s over 100 active sits in that city alone!
The UK (2500 – 3000 Active Listings)
Hannah and I are both from the UK and before leaving in 2022 lived an hour north of London. The UK is a wonderful place, it’s full of history, culture, music, stunning landscapes, passionate football fans, and good beer.
Being significantly smaller than the US but with such a huge number of active listings, the UK is a top choice for house sitting possibilities. We began our house sitting career pretty close to home in the UK. We wanted to rack up a few reviews before applying further afield so we applied for nearby listings.
The sheer number of available sits means we have been able to use house sitting placements for short trips back home too. It saves a fortune on accommodation costs and means we don’t have to burden anybody with putting us up for a few nights.
Top 3 UK Cities Looking for House Sitters
London – 500+ hosts currently looking for a house sitter.
England’s capital city is one of the greatest cities in the world. Millions of visitors flock from around the world each year for its regal history, magnificent architecture, wonderful social scene, and numerous top-level football clubs.
It’s one of the most expensive cities in England though so be sure to use house sitting to save a fortune on your accommodation costs!
Bath – 400+ hosts currently looking for a house sitter.
We spent a month house sitting in Bath during the summer of 2023. It’s a fantastic and historic city that is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are lots of excellent cultural attractions like Bath Abbey and The Roman Baths.
To add to this, two universities and lots of annual tourists mean Bath has a terrific social scene full of cocktail bars, pubs, clubs, and restaurants.
Cardiff – 250+ hosts currently looking for a house sitter.
Cardiff is the capital and largest city in Wales. It offers a blend of historic charm and modern convenience which makes it an ideal destination for house sitting placements.
If you fancy looking after a lazy cat by the Cardiff Bay or a couple of friendly pups that enjoy exploring the beautiful Welsh countryside then Cardiff has hosts looking for you!
Australia (500 – 750 Active Listings)
The expense and distance involved in traveling ‘down under’ puts many people off traveling to Australia. That’s certainly been the case for us, but thanks to house sitting, we’ll finally be making our first trip to Oz in the summer of 2024.
Australia and New Zealand are both emerging markets for house sitting and I’ve noticed listings becoming more and more common.
This means there are some terrific opportunities currently up for grabs. It’s a huge country but house sitting in Australia presents an amazing opportunity to get an extended experience of it by living like a local with free accommodation.
Top 3 Australian Regions Looking for House Sitters
New South Wales – 100+ hosts currently looking for a house sitter.
Including amazing cities like Sydney and Newcastle, there are plenty of house sitting opportunities in NSW.
From city stays in some very rural countryside retreats, and one-night city cat carers to month-long beach dog walkers, there is currently something for everyone in NSW.
Victoria – 100+ – hosts currently looking for a house sitter.
Victoria, in the southeast of Australia and most notably home to the wonderful city of Melbourne is another fantastic house sitting possibility.
Imagine securing free accommodation close to Yarra Valley, the world-class wine region with its stunning scenic landscapes. Or taking a daily drive along the Great Ocean Road, one of Australia’s most scenic routes.
Hundreds of eager hosts are looking for responsible house sitters across Victoria right now.
Western Australia – 100+ hosts currently looking for a house sitter.
Australia’s largest state covers a huge expanse of the country, The capital of the region, Perth, is a hub for house sitting activity but listings are available across the entire state.
A 10-day stay with one cat on a golf course resort looks pretty appealing as does a month looking after two lovable dogs on a farmhouse in the Perth countryside over Christmas 2024.
These are just a few of the excellent possibilities currently available and waiting for applicants in Western Australia.
Other Notable Contenders
France, Spain, Germany, and Italy Combined – 200+ hosts currently looking for a house sitter.
I’ve joined four of my favorite countries looking for house sitters together for this one as collectively they have a huge number of active users and listings.
Hopping around Europe is easy to do and generally pretty cheap. Numerous budget airlines connect most major European cities. If you’re planning a big European adventure, then house sitting is a great way to save on accommodation in some of the world’s greatest cities.
Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, and Rome all currently have active listings, and with the great European transport links that connect cities to cities and countries to countries you could tick off some major must-see locations in one amazing trip.
Canada – 250+ hosts currently looking for a house sitter.
Canada has been on our out ‘to-visit’ list for a long time. We will be using house sitting for our accommodation when it’s time to start planning our big trip there.
It’s another huge country with tons of possibilities. Whether you like the cold and want that true Canadian winter experience or seek the often-balmier warmth of somewhere in British Columbia, I’ve seen some truly incredible house sits crop up across Canada.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, data that shows thousands of people, from a whole range of countries are looking for house sitters right now. Don’t believe me? Feel free to download the Trusted Housesitters app or visit MindMyHouse.com and check it out for yourself.
Of course, this data is fluid and the exact numbers and listings can change. But I stand by these figures and in my years of experience house sitting, what I have outlined here reflects a consistent and true average for the countries discussed. There is no cost for perusing the listings and I guarantee it will whet your appetite once you see some of the amazing possibilities house sitting presents.
Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or concerns about house and pet sitting. We’d love to share our knowledge and experience to anybody who needs it. Also, be sure to check out my other articles such as A Review of 5 Amazing House Sitting Experiences.
*Owners consent given to show property and pets