TrustedHousesitters’ New Booking Fee & Policy Changes — What It Means for Sitters (December 2025)
TrustedHousesitters (THS) recently rolled out significant changes, including a booking fee of US $12 per sit for both pet owners and sitters on Standard or Basic plans. Premium members are exempt from this fee. While the company frames the update as a way to “support every sit” and sustain platform operations, the practical implications for full-time sitters and professional sitter businesses are substantial. These changes, combined with a forced consent rollout of new Terms of Service, signal a shift in the platform’s priorities that must be considered carefully by anyone relying on THS as part of their nomadic lifestyle or professional work.
Forced Consent and the Platform’s Approach
The December 2025 rollout required all members to accept updated Terms of Service before accessing any part of the platform. There was no option to review the terms first, contact support for clarification, or message hosts regarding existing arrangements. The only available option was to click “I accept.”
Reddit and Facebook users reacted quickly, highlighting concerns:
“After this outrageous email with the new booking fees, now it wants me to agree to new Terms but I can’t click the link to read. It will only allow me to agree.” — Reddit, December 8, 2025 (reddit.com)
“They literally do nothing. Provide nothing.” — Reddit, December 8, 2025 (reddit.com)
This design, commonly known as forced consent, removes meaningful choice and transparency. It does not allow members to make informed decisions or manage existing commitments, a serious concern for sitters with pre-arranged bookings.
Key Policy Changes and Risk Shifts
Alongside the new fee, several clauses in the updated Terms of Service shift risk and responsibility almost entirely onto sitters:
Upfront Veterinary Costs: Sitters must pay all veterinary expenses upfront, then request reimbursement from the pet owner. There is no escrow system, no cap, and no enforcement mechanism. This exposes sitters to unlimited financial liability if the owner does not reimburse.
Discretionary Insurance: The “Accident & 3rd Party Liability Plan” and “Home & Contents Plan” are not guaranteed. THS reserves the right to deny claims for any reason. This leaves sitters exposed to significant potential losses.
Liability Cap: THS caps its maximum liability at the membership fee. Actual financial exposure for sitters is uncapped.
Asymmetric Enforcement: Sitters leaving a sit early face a lifetime ban, while owners who cancel, return early, or fail to reimburse face no specified consequences.
Background Checks: Required for sitters but not for owners, further shifting risk to the sitter.
These terms fundamentally change the platform’s structure from a trust-based community to a fee-based, risk-transfer model, creating significant considerations for those who rely on THS for full-time travel or professional services.
Financial Impact on Full-Time Nomadic Sitters
For sitters like us who operate full-time, the booking fee has tangible financial implications. We average 2–5 sits per month, meaning the additional $12 per sit totals roughly $24–$60 per month. While this may not seem significant, it accumulates over the year, especially when combined with other unpredictable costs such as veterinary care or incidental expenses. For sitters managing 10–15 sits per month, this fee could exceed $120–$180 monthly, a meaningful reduction in funds that would otherwise go to living expenses, travel costs, or business operations.
One Reddit user articulated this concern clearly:
“A lot of money for those who use THS as full-time accommodation.” — Reddit, December 2025 (reddit.com)
For full-time nomadic sitters, these added costs are not minor. They impact budgets, planning, and sustainability, particularly for individuals or couples who rely on THS as a primary mechanism for accommodation while traveling or running a sitter-based business.
Our Response and Strategy
We approach this situation pragmatically. Our current plan is to:
Complete the remainder of our current annual membership (approximately 10 months remaining).
Cancel auto-renewal to avoid committing to future terms we do not agree with.
Switch to Premium for the remainder of the year, avoiding per-sit fees while honoring existing bookings.
We are committed to fulfilling all arrangements already in place, maintaining professional standards, and supporting hosts who rely on our services. Beyond this membership period, we intend to explore alternative platforms and solutions for professional house and pet sitting. We also advise other full-time sitters to consider doing the same. This approach allows us to maintain financial stability, professional integrity, and long-term operational flexibility.
Broader Implications for Sitters
These policy changes highlight several key challenges for sitters:
Rising costs: Booking fees are recurring and accumulate over time.
Increased financial exposure: Upfront vet bills, discretionary insurance, and uncapped liability increase risk.
Reduced flexibility: Forced consent limits spontaneity and transparency in managing sits.
Power imbalance: Discretionary insurance and asymmetric enforcement favor homeowners over sitters.
For professional sitters and full-time nomads, these factors require careful evaluation and strategic decision-making.
Final Observations
TrustedHousesitters was founded on the principle of trust and community between pet owners and sitters. The December 2025 updates — including booking fees, forced consent, and risk-shifting policies — indicate a shift toward a fee-focused, risk-transferring business model.
For full-time sitters, nomadic travelers, and professional pet sitters, it is necessary to assess whether the platform still meets operational, financial, and ethical needs. Our approach is direct: finish existing commitments, optimize what we can, and pivot to alternative solutions going forward.
This ensures we remain on top of our operations, maintain professional standards, and safeguard both our business and lifestyle. Sitters should read the new Terms carefully, calculate the true costs, and consider the long-term viability of continued use.
