House sitting

[Masketti]

How would I go about finding a house sitter please? I've looked at the online agencies but they seem to be more geared towards pet sitting during holidays. I'm involved with a house that's likely to remain empty over the winter and I'd like to find someone reliable to live in it and keep it warm over the winter. Ideally it would be cost neutral and the person would just cover the regular bills (council tax, oil, electricity, water etc). It's an amazing house but it needs living in to keep an eye on it. Would probably be for around 5-7 months. Thanks for any advice.

Bump

Try a website called Trusted Housesitters. You have to pay to join but it is all free after that. It’s mainly for pet sitters, but houses can be ‘looked after’ too.

My friend’s 20 something daughter and her boyfriend live rent free in a house that has building work ongoing. They are house sitting for the owner who intends to sell when the work is completed. Great arrangement both ways as house has more security and young couple in low paid jobs are in a couple of clean, warm rooms in a house they’d never normally be able to afford. They found each other through word of mouth in a city. You could try postcards in newsagents windows. Old fashioned method that still works.

Can't you rent it out?

Most house sitters don’t pay any bills...

Try house swap websites too. Don't need to match the swap time. They may have a second house somewhere you could have another time? Or just happy to swap without you using their house??

This is why it's a niche situation. No pets. Long term (ish) house sitting but not a full rental. The bills need covering but no rent. So it will suit someone who is having building work/an extension doing for example.