House Sitting Contract: Template and Key Clauses (2026)

A house sitting contract sets out who looks after a home while the owner is away, what they must do, and what happens if something goes wrong in the house. It suits paid house sitting, a free stay in exchange for care, and longer arrangements that also cover pets, a garden and the post. The usual disputes are about duties that were assumed but never agreed, bills and damage during the stay, and who is responsible after a break-in or a burst pipe. This guide gives you a usable clause-by-clause skeleton, explains what each part does, and flags the mistakes that cause trouble. This is general information, not legal advice. Property, consumer and liability rules differ by country, for example the United States, the United Kingdom and India, so have an important agreement checked by a professional in your area before you sign. ## When you need this contract Use a written contract for any house sitting that lasts more than a night or two, involves pets, or gives a sitter the run of a valuable home. It matters most when the sitter lives in, when pets or a garden need care, when bills and keys are involved, and when the owner is away for weeks. A clear contract prevents arguments when the duties, the bills and the house rules were only agreed in passing. ## The clause-by-clause skeleton 1. Parties and property. Name the owner and the sitter in full, with contact details and ID where sensible, and identify the property and the dates of the stay. Add an emergency contact and a neighbour or friend who can help. 2. Duties. The most important clause. List exactly what the sitter must do: feed and care for pets, water plants, take in post, put out bins, keep the home clean, and give the house a lived-in look for security. Be clear about what is not their job, such as major repairs. 3. Occupancy and house rules. State who may stay, whether guests or other pets are allowed, which rooms are off limits, smoking and party rules, and that the sitter does not gain any tenancy or right to stay beyond the dates. This last point matters in some jurisdictions. 4. Pets and plants. If pets are involved, record each pet's routine, food, medication, vet details and emergency authority. For a garden, set out watering and any specific plant care. 5. Bills and utilities. Say who pays for electricity, gas, water, internet and heating during the stay, and set sensible limits so bills do not run wild. For a paid sit, state whether utilities are included. 6. Payment or exchange. If the sit is paid, state the fee, when it is due and the method. If it is a free stay in exchange for care, say so clearly so there is no confusion about money later. 7. Keys, alarm and security. Set out how keys are handed over and returned, the alarm code and rules, locking up, and that the sitter must report any security problem at once. State that keys must not be copied or shared. 8. Damage and liability. State that the sitter must take reasonable care and report any damage promptly. Set out who pays for accidental damage and how the owner's home insurance and any sitter cover apply. Be honest that house sitting cannot prevent every risk such as a storm or a break-in. 9. Emergencies and repairs. Give the sitter a clear plan for emergencies: who to call for a burst pipe, power cut or illness of a pet, a spending limit for urgent repairs, and when to reach the owner. 10. Privacy and belongings. State that the sitter will respect the owner's privacy and belongings and will not go through private papers or use items that are off limits. 11. Cancellation. Say how either side can cancel before the stay, the notice needed, and what happens to any payment already made. 12. Governing law and disputes. Name the country or state whose law applies and how disputes will be handled. ## Common mistakes to avoid The biggest mistake is a vague duty list, so the owner returns to dead plants or an unfed cat because no one wrote down the routine. The second is silence on bills, which leaves the owner with a large utility bill after a long stay. Others include no clause making clear the sitter gains no right to stay on, no emergency and repair plan, no damage and insurance term, and no rule on keys and security. Fix these and most house sitting stays go smoothly. ## From a signed contract to a managed relationship Writing a strong contract is step one. The harder part is keeping track of the duties, pet routines, key handovers and dates across several sits and sitters. When these live in texts and a printed list on the fridge, the detail that matters while the owner is away is easy to lose. Adira is an AI legal operating system built on Claude that keeps the whole cycle, from drafting and reviewing an agreement for risk, to signing it, to tracking the key dates and stay terms, in one workspace tuned to how you work, with public per-seat pricing and a short free trial. You can see how it works at adiralaw.com. A single pane showing the status of every agreement is on its roadmap. For a single weekend sit, a short written list is enough; the workspace helps once you are arranging regular sits or managing sitters at scale.