London urban sits
Compact flat sits with cats in zones 2-4. Public transport gets you anywhere. Tube + walking access. Sits range from a long weekend to several weeks. Particularly active during school holidays and summer.
United Kingdom
House sitting in the UK
London cat sits, Cotswolds farmhouses, Scottish Highland cottages, Welsh coastal homes — the UK has one of Europe's most active housesitting cultures. List your home or travel for free in exchange for pet care.
The UK is one of the largest housesitting markets in Europe. British pet owners travel frequently (particularly during school holidays), and the housesitting culture is well-established — homeowners trust the model, and sitters know how it works. The result is a healthy two-sided market that runs year-round.
Geographic variety helps: London for short urban sits, the English countryside for longer rural stays with multiple animals, Scotland for remote highland experiences, Wales for coastal calm. Year-round availability — winter sits are common (Brits escaping the dark) and summer sits are common (Brits going somewhere sunny).
Where the sits are
Cotswolds & English countryside
Farmhouses, cottages, and country homes with multiple pets. Gardens, sometimes chickens or horses, often a dog plus cats. Longer commitments — 1-3 weeks typical.
Scotland & Highlands
Remote cottage sits in the Highlands, urban sits in Edinburgh and Glasgow, rural farms in the Borders. The remote ones suit experienced sitters comfortable with long drives, basic infrastructure, and serious weather.
Pet diversity
UK sits often involve dogs as the primary responsibility. Walks, garden access, sometimes training reinforcement. Read carefully: some homeowners want extensive walking, others have older dogs needing minimal exercise.
How house sitting in the UK works
- 01
Sign up free
Email or Google. No subscription, no annual fee.
- 02
Set the UK as a preferred destination
Your sitter profile shows where you're open to sitting, so UK homeowners browsing the sitter directory can find you.
- 03
Browse the map
Privacy-first 1km circles. Filter by country, dates, and pets.
- 04
Apply and match — free
Apply with a short intro and chat in-app. The exact address is shared only after a homeowner accepts you.
Common questions
Do I need a UK driving licence?
Depends on the sit. London and most urban sits don't need a car. Rural England, Wales, and Scotland sits often do. EU and US driving licences are typically valid for short visits — check the UK government website for current rules. Many homeowners include a car for the sit.
Do I need a visa to house sit in the UK?
EU citizens need to follow visitor rules — typically 6 months as a tourist. US, Canadian, Australian, and most other visa-free countries can stay up to 6 months. An unpaid house-sitting exchange isn't paid work, so no work visa is needed — but confirm with current UK government guidance for your passport.
Do house sitters get paid in the UK?
There are two markets. Professional paid house sitters exist in the UK, usually for long local arrangements. Exchange-based housesitting — what HouseSit does — is unpaid in both directions: free accommodation in return for free pet and home care. For travellers, the exchange model is the one that makes sense, and it's the only model on this platform — no fees either way.
Year-round availability?
Yes — UK sits run year-round. Winter sits are common (Brits escape to Spain or Asia). Summer sits are common (school holidays). Spring and autumn are gentler shoulder seasons with steady inventory.
How are pets typically handled in the UK?
Dog walks 1-3 times daily are common. Cats often have outdoor access via cat flaps. UK sits skew slightly higher-effort than European Mediterranean sits because of weather + dog culture.
The UK is where housesitting began
The UK runs year-round and has serious housesit density. List your home, or browse what's open in your dates.