The UK at a glance
- Typical sits
- London flats with a cat, country cottages with a dog, farmhouses with several animals
- Busiest times
- School holidays, and winter, when many hosts go somewhere sunny
- Visas
- EU, US, Canada, Australia and many more: no visa for six months, but an online ETA
- Car
- Not needed in the cities; usually needed in the countryside and the Highlands
Homes in the UK looking for a sitter
Edinburgh, UK
Be ready for the next home in the UK
Make a free profile now, so you can apply the day one opens.
Recent homes in the UK
- Botwnnog, Gwynedd1 dog · 1 pet · Sep
- Cricklade, Wiltshire1 dog · 1 cat · Aug
Where you’ll find sits
House sitting is well known in the UK, and sits come up all over the country. Here are the kinds you'll see most.
London and other cities
Live like a local, with a cat for company.
Why you’ll love it
- Big museums and galleries, most of them free
- Green parks, street markets and a local pub
- Day trips by train from London: Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton
What a sit is usually like
- Pets
- Mostly cats
- Home
- A flat outside the centre
- Getting around
- Public transport and walking, no car
- Length
- A long weekend to a few weeks
Best for: First sits, short trips, travellers without a car
The Cotswolds and the countryside
Stone villages, green fields and long walks with a dog.
Why you’ll love it
- Footpaths across the fields, right from the door
- Country pubs, many of them dog-friendly
- Honey-coloured stone villages and pretty gardens
What a sit is usually like
- Pets
- Dogs, often cats, sometimes chickens or horses
- Home
- A cottage or farmhouse with a garden
- Getting around
- A car is usually needed
- Length
- Often one to three weeks
Best for: Dog lovers, walkers, sitters used to several animals
Cornwall, Devon and Wales
Sea air, cliff paths and quiet coves.
Why you’ll love it
- Cliff paths that follow the sea for miles
- Fishing harbours, fish and chips, scones with cream
- Castles and mountains in Wales
What a sit is usually like
- Pets
- Mostly dogs
- Home
- A cottage or house near the sea
- Getting around
- Usually a car; few buses outside the towns
- Length
- One to a few weeks
Best for: Sea lovers, walkers, quiet stays outside summer
Scotland
Big, wild landscapes and two great cities.
Why you’ll love it
- Mountains, lochs and quiet roads in the Highlands
- Edinburgh's castle and old town, Glasgow's music
- Light until 10 pm or later in June
What a sit is usually like
- Pets
- Dogs and cats, sometimes farm animals
- Home
- City flats, farmhouses, remote cottages
- Getting around
- Trains between cities; a car in the Highlands
- Length
- Shorter in cities, longer in remote places
Best for: Experienced sitters happy with long drives and wild weather
When to go
What the UK is like through the year. Sits come up in every season, and each listing has its own dates.
Winter
Dec – Feb
Short, dark days: in December the sun sets around 4 pm. Mild and wet more often than snowy, except in the Scottish hills. The cities are lively at Christmas, with lights and markets.
Spring
Mar – May
Lambs in the fields, bluebells in the woods, gardens in flower: the countryside at its freshest. Days get longer fast, but the weather changes by the hour.
Summer
Jun – Aug
Long, light evenings, often around 20 °C, though heatwaves can pass 30 °C. The school holidays bring many sits. The coast is crowded in August, and in the Highlands tiny midges bite on still evenings.
Autumn
Sep – Nov
September is often mild, and the coast goes quiet once schools are back. Woods turn gold in October. November is wet and windy, with fireworks for days around Bonfire Night, 5 November.
What to know before you go
Driving on the left
The UK drives on the left, and country lanes can be narrow, with room for one car. If your host lends you their car, check that their insurance covers you before you drive.
Rain
Rain can come in any season, and dogs still need their walks. Pack a waterproof jacket and shoes that can take mud, and keep an old towel by the door.
Dogs and farm animals
Paths often cross fields with sheep or cows. Keep the dog on a lead there, and leave gates as you found them. If cows chase you, let go of the lead: you'll both get away more easily.
Shops on Sundays
In England and Wales, big shops open only six hours on Sundays. On a country sit, the nearest supermarket may be a drive away, so plan ahead.
Plugs
UK plugs have three rectangular pins, so bring an adapter. Most sockets have their own switch: if your phone won't charge, check that it's on.
Bin day
Rubbish and recycling are collected on set days, often a different bin each week. Ask your host which bin goes out when, and put it out the night before.
Visas
From the EU, the US, Canada, Australia and many other countries, you don't need a visa for a visit of up to six months, but you do need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). Irish citizens need neither. Most others need a visitor visa.
The ETA is a short online form with a fee, done before you travel. Apply on GOV.UK or the official app: other sites charge more. The UK is not in the Schengen area, so days here don't count towards your 90 days there.
UK rules don't mention house sitting, and visitors may not work. Border officers decide on the day, and some count pet care for a free stay as work. Be ready to explain what you'll do, that no money changes hands, and where you're staying.
Rules change. Check the official rules for your passport before you book: the UK's visa checker and the ETA.
How it works
If you want to travel
- 1
Make a free profile. Bring your reviews from other platforms.
- 2
Apply for a home you like. Send the host a short message.
- 3
Agree the dates and go. Look after the pets and stay for free.
If you have pets
- 1
List your home. Your location, your pets and a few photos.
- 2
Sitters apply. Read their profiles and reviews, chat, and pick the one you like.
- 3
Travel. Your pets stay home and keep their routine.
House sitting in the UK: FAQ
Is it free?
Yes, for both sides. Listing your home, browsing, applying, messaging and matching never cost anything. A few extras are paid — a verified badge, more visibility — but you never need them to find a sit or a sitter.
How do I become a house sitter in the UK with no experience?
Start with a short sit, such as a cat in a London flat. Fill in your whole profile, with real photos and an honest bio. If you've stayed with people through other sites, like Airbnb or Couchsurfing, add those profiles as references. Many UK sits include a dog, so say how much walking you're happy to do, in any weather. Write each application for that home rather than copying the same text.
Do I need a visa to house sit in the UK?
From the EU, the US, Canada, Australia and many other countries, you don't need a visa for a visit of up to six months, but you do need an ETA, a short online form, before you travel. Irish citizens need neither. Most others need a visitor visa. Visitors may not work, and some border officers count pet care for a free stay as work: see Visas, above.
Do I need a car for a house sit in the UK?
In the cities, no. In the countryside, the Highlands and much of the coast, usually yes. Each listing says so, and whether the host lends theirs.
I'm on another platform. Can I bring my reviews?
Yes. Add the link to your profile there. Once we've checked it, we show your review count with a link to read the reviews there — and from MindMyHouse, the reviews themselves.
I have a home in the UK. How do I find a sitter?
List it free with the dates you're away, and sitters apply. You can also browse sitter profiles and invite someone yourself. Read their profile, references and reviews, chat in-app, and choose — nobody is assigned to you.
