House sitting near you

House Sitting FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Rover

Is house sitting on Rover a paid service, or is care exchanged for accommodation?

House sitting booked through Rover is a paid service. This differs from some house sitting communities where pet care may be exchanged for accommodation.

When you arrange and pay for a booking through Rover, it remains eligible for customer support, booking protection, and the Rover Guarantee in eligible claims. Each sitter sets their own rates, and you can review the price before confirming the booking.

How can I communicate my pet care and home care expectations?

Use the Rover app to discuss your expectations with the sitter before booking. After your Meet & Greet, send a message summarising the care plan, schedule, overnight arrangements, home access, update preferences, and any household tasks you both agreed on. Ask the sitter to confirm the summary and use the same message thread to document any changes before or during the booking.

During the booking, you can continue using the app to ask questions, receive photo or message updates, and clarify instructions when needed. Keeping communication in one place creates a written record that can help avoid misunderstandings and make it easier for both you and the sitter to refer back to the agreed expectations.

Will my sitters send photos and updates while they care for my pet?

If you would like updates while you’re away, you can discuss with your sitter how many or how frequent you’d like those updates to be. The Rover app allows sitters to send photos, videos, and messages about your pet, including how many pee or poo breaks occurred. You can message your sitter at any time through the app and our support team is available for dedicated customer support by email or chat if you have concerns.

The personalised, in-home nature of pet care through Rover can mean more individual attention for your pet.

How are sitters on Rover verified?

Every sitter must complete an identity verification process before listing their services on Rover. This process checks that the sitter’s identity matches their provided documents.

Identity verification doesn't assess a sitter’s experience or suitability for your pet. To see if a sitter is the right fit, you can review each sitter's profile for ratings, verified reviews, repeat pet owner information and care style. We also recommend arranging a Meet & Greet to discuss your pet’s needs and make sure the sitter is the right fit before booking.

For more details, visit our Trust & Safety page.

What is a Meet & Greet?

A Meet & Greet is a casual meeting to vet potential sitters and communicate care needs for peace of mind before a booking begins. Only sitters who've never booked with you before can schedule a Meet & Greet on Rover, but you're welcome to coordinate one in Rover messages with sitters you've previously booked. This can be helpful if you have a new pet or routine you want to go over with your sitter.

Meet & Greets can take place in person or virtually. If you're booking with a sitter for the first time, we recommend in-person Meet & Greets to get a clearer sense of how your sitter interacts with your pet or the new environment.

During the Meet & Greet, you'll have a chance to go through your pet's routine, medical needs and unique quirks. Take the time to ask your sitter questions about their skills and expertise, and make sure the fit feels right for everyone. A Meet & Greet is a great way to prepare your pet and sitter for longer or first-time bookings. Read our tips for your first Meet & Greet.

What happens in an emergency or if a sitter cancels?

Emergency support is available by phone or email in English, French, German, and Spanish from Mon-Sat 9am to 6pm. When an incident occurs, we recommend that sitters contact our Trust & Safety team immediately so that they can connect your sitter with a qualified vet or offer other resources to help.

If a sitter needs to cancel at the last minute, Rover’s booking protection means Rover Support will work with you to find a suitable replacement as quickly as possible.

What is the Rover Guarantee and what does it cover?

The Rover Guarantee is Rover’s commitment to your peace of mind every time you book. It includes dedicated customer support, sitter access to advice from qualified veterinary professionals for diagnostic issues, and a reimbursement programme for eligible veterinary care in the rare event something goes wrong.

All bookings are backed by the Rover Guarantee, which provides up to £25,000 in eligible veterinary care reimbursement.