What you need to know - Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you’re looking for someone you can trust to care for your pets and home, or you’re thinking about becoming a Guardian yourself, you’ll probably have a few questions.

We’ve brought together answers to some of the things people most often want to know about how The Guardians Tribe works, membership, verification, insurance, finding the right match and the support available along the way.

Choose the section that’s relevant to you to get started.

For Homeowners

Understanding How It Works

How does pet and house sitting work?

Pet and house sitting allows your pets to remain in their own familiar surroundings while you are away.

Instead of moving them into kennels, catteries or another unfamiliar environment, a Guardian stays in your home and follows the routines and care arrangements you have agreed together.

You create a listing explaining your pets, their needs, your home, your dates and the type of Guardian you are looking for. Guardians can then apply, allowing you to review their profiles, experience and trust information before deciding who you would like to speak with.

You remain in control of who you choose and whether a stay goes ahead.

Why would someone care for my pets and home without being paid?

For many Guardians, pet and house sitting is about far more than accommodation.

Some use it as a way to travel more slowly, spend time with animals, experience new communities or enjoy a different way of living. Others simply love caring for animals and value the relationships they build with pets and Homeowners along the way.

The exchange works because both sides receive something valuable.

You receive dedicated care for your pets in their own home, while the Guardian receives accommodation and the opportunity to experience your part of the world.

It is a genuine mutual exchange rather than a traditional paid pet-care service.

What does Homeowner membership cost and what is included?

Homeowner Membership costs £25 per year – less than 50p a week.

Membership allows you to create your Homeowner profile and pet and house-sitting listings, connect directly with Guardians, review Guardian profiles and trust information, arrange Guardianship stays and access member resources and support.

If you would also like to become a Guardian yourself, Dual Membership is £35 per year.

There are no additional booking fees when you arrange a stay through The Guardians Tribe.

Choosing & Trusting a Guardian

How do I find the right Guardian for my pets and home?

Your listing is the starting point.

The more information you provide about your pets, their personalities, routines, behaviours, medical requirements and your expectations for the stay, the easier it becomes to find someone genuinely suited to them.

When Guardians apply, you can review their profile, experience, reviews, training, qualifications and available trust information.

You can then communicate directly, ask questions and arrange a video call before making a decision.

Choosing somebody to care for your pets and stay in your home is personal. We provide information and safeguards to help you make that decision, but you remain in control of who you invite.

You remain in control of who you choose and whether a stay goes ahead.

How are Guardians verified?

Guardians must complete identity verification before becoming fully approved on The Guardians Tribe.

Profiles are also manually reviewed, and we carry out ongoing checks as part of maintaining the standards of the community.

Guardian profiles contain additional trust information so you can look beyond basic identity verification and understand more about the person you are considering.

No verification system can replace getting to know somebody yourself, which is why we also encourage direct conversations and video calls before confirming a Guardianship stay.

What experience, training, references and reviews can I see before choosing a Guardian?

Guardian profiles are designed to give you a much clearer picture of the person applying to care for your pets.

Depending on the individual Guardian, you may be able to see their pet-care and sitting experience, the types of animals they have cared for, relevant breed experience, training and qualifications, reviews from previous stays and additional trust indicators.

Profiles can also provide information about the types of pets, behaviours, medical needs and care situations a Guardian is comfortable managing.

This helps you look for somebody whose experience genuinely matches your pets rather than simply choosing whoever happens to be available.

Protection & Support

Are Guardians insured and what protection does that provide?

Guardians are required to hold appropriate pet sitting or liability insurance for the countries in which they intend to provide care.

Insurance details are checked, and relevant coverage information can be displayed on their profile.

Insurance provides an additional layer of protection if an insured event occurs, but every policy has its own terms, limits, exclusions and excesses. It should therefore be viewed as one part of a wider trust and risk-management process rather than a guarantee against every possible problem.

Homeowners should also check their own home insurance, tenancy agreement or other relevant arrangements to make sure they have appropriate permission and protection when somebody stays in their home.

What happens if my Guardian cancels or something goes wrong while I’m away?

Even with careful planning, unexpected situations can occasionally happen.

If a Guardian cancels, contact The Guardians Tribe as soon as possible. We will support you in determining the next steps and, where appropriate, help you make the opportunity visible to suitable Guardians within the community again.

If a problem occurs during a stay, the Guardian and Homeowner should communicate with one another immediately wherever possible. Emergency arrangements, veterinary details, contact information and clear instructions should always be agreed before you leave.

Our team is available to support members, but The Guardians Tribe does not replace appropriate emergency planning, veterinary care, insurance or the responsibility of members to make sensible arrangements before a stay begins.

What support does The Guardians Tribe provide before, during and after a sit?

We want members to feel supported throughout the whole Guardianship process, not simply while searching for somebody.

Before a stay, we provide platform tools, guidance and resources to help you create a detailed listing, assess potential Guardians and prepare properly.

During a stay, members can communicate directly and contact our team if support is needed.

Afterwards, reviews and feedback help build each member’s history within the community and strengthen trust for future stays.

Because The Guardians Tribe is independently and family run, we believe support should feel human rather than disappearing behind an anonymous platform when somebody needs help.

For Guardians

Getting Started

What is a Guardian and how does pet and house sitting work?

A Guardian is a trusted member of The Guardians Tribe who stays in a Homeowner’s home while they are away, caring for their pets and keeping their home lived in and secure.

The Guardians Tribe operates as a mutual-exchange community. Guardians provide pet and home care in exchange for accommodation and the opportunity to experience different places, rather than charging the Homeowner for the sit.

Homeowners create listings explaining their pets, home, dates and care requirements. Guardians can explore suitable opportunities, apply directly and get to know the Homeowner before either side agrees to the stay.

Do I need previous pet or house sitting experience to become a Guardian?

No. You do not need to have completed formal pet or house sits before joining.

Experience can come from many places, including caring for your own pets, helping family or friends, volunteering with animals or working within an animal-related profession.

What matters is being honest about your experience and only applying for stays you are confident you can manage. Your Guardian profile allows you to show Homeowners your experience, the types of animals you are comfortable caring for and any relevant training or qualifications.

We also provide training and educational resources to help Guardians continue developing their skills.

What training and support is available to Guardians?

We believe good pet care involves far more than simply being willing to stay in somebody’s home.

Guardians have access to educational resources designed to help them prepare for stays and understand the responsibilities involved. We also provide access to training opportunities covering areas such as pet care and pet first aid.

Relevant training and qualifications can be displayed on Guardian profiles, helping Homeowners understand the experience and additional knowledge each Guardian brings.

Our team is also available to support members before, during and after a Guardianship stay.

Membership, Checks & Requirements

What does Guardian membership cost and what is included?

Guardian Membership costs £25 per year — less than 50p a week.

Membership gives you access to Guardian opportunities on the platform, your own Guardian profile, direct communication with Homeowners, applications for suitable pet and house sits, reviews and trust indicators, member resources and support from The Guardians Tribe team.

For people who want to use the platform as both a Guardian and a Homeowner, Dual Membership is £35 per year.

There are no additional booking fees when a Guardianship stay is agreed between members.

What checks and verification do I need to complete?

Identity verification is an important part of The Guardians Tribe.

Guardians are required to complete identity verification, and profiles are manually reviewed before being fully approved. We also carry out ongoing checks to help maintain the standards of the community.

Profiles include trust information designed to help Homeowners make informed decisions rather than relying on a username and a few photographs.

Verification helps establish who somebody is, but it does not replace communication between members. We strongly encourage Homeowners and Guardians to speak openly, arrange video calls and make sure both sides are comfortable before confirming a stay.

Do I need insurance or a background check to become a Guardian?

Guardians are required to hold appropriate pet sitting or liability insurance for the countries in which they intend to provide care. Insurance details are checked and relevant coverage information can be shown on the Guardian’s profile.

Because insurance policies and requirements vary between countries, Guardians are responsible for making sure their policy is appropriate for the activities they undertake.

A DBS or equivalent background check is not currently a universal requirement for every Guardian. Where a Guardian has completed an appropriate background check, this can form part of the trust information available to Homeowners.

Finding & Arranging Stays

How do I find and apply for pet and house sits?

Once your Guardian profile and required verification are complete, you can explore available opportunities and look for stays that suit your experience, availability and preferences.

Listings provide information about the pets, their routines and care needs, the home, location and dates.

If an opportunity feels suitable, you can apply through the platform and communicate directly with the Homeowner. We strongly recommend getting to know one another properly, asking questions and arranging a video call before making a final decision.

A Guardianship stay should always feel right for both sides.

Are pet and house sits paid, and who covers travel and other expenses?

The Guardians Tribe is a mutual-exchange pet and house sitting community, not a paid-sitting marketplace.

Guardians provide pet and home care without charging the Homeowner for the stay and, in return, receive accommodation while experiencing a different location and lifestyle.

Guardians would normally be responsible for their own travel to and from a stay.

Any other costs or specific arrangements should be discussed before a stay is confirmed. Homeowners should provide everything reasonably required for the normal care of their pets, and both sides should be clear beforehand about matters such as pet-related expenses, household arrangements and any unusual costs.

There are no booking fees charged when members agree a stay.

How are Homeowners verified and what information can I see before accepting a sit?

Trust works both ways.

Homeowners are also required to complete the platform’s verification processes, and listings are reviewed before they are made available within the community.

Guardian members can see information about the pets they would be responsible for, their routines and behaviours, the home, stay dates and the Homeowner’s requirements.

Our platform has been designed to encourage Homeowners to provide detailed information rather than leaving important care arrangements until after a Guardian has applied.

You can communicate directly with the Homeowner and ask further questions before accepting anything. You are never expected to agree to a stay without first having enough information to make an informed decision.

What makes The Guardians Tribe different from other pet and house sitting platforms?

The Guardians Tribe was created around a simple principle: trust should be built, not assumed.

We are an independent, family-run pet and house sitting community built by people who understand both sides of the relationship: what it means to leave your pets and home in somebody else’s care, and the responsibility involved in becoming a Guardian for someone else.

That’s why we put more behind the connection. Identity verification, manually reviewed profiles and listings, Guardian insurance requirements, training and qualifications, reviews and trust indicators all help members make more informed decisions. We also encourage detailed pet and stay information, direct communication and getting to know one another properly before a stay is agreed.

Membership is deliberately affordable, with no additional booking fees or commission when Homeowners and Guardians arrange a stay.

Most importantly, we’re not trying simply to build the biggest database of people looking for sits or care. We’re building a community where responsible pet care, mutual trust and genuine human support come before numbers.

Need to know more?

If you haven’t found the answer you’re looking for, we’re here to help.