Hashtag
Men's Weekly

What every home owner should know before engaging a house and pet sitter



Homeowners be warned do your homework before taking on a house sitter or you risk footing the bill for damage, losses and injuries.

  

Aussie home owners invite house sitters to enjoy all the comforts of home in exchange for making sure everything on the home front runs smoothly in their absence – it’s a win-win in anyone’s language.

However, recent research has uncovered that majority of house and pet sitters aren’t covered by your home insurance if something were to go terribly wrong.

What every home owner should know before engaging a house and pet sitter;
  • If you engage a “house or pet sitter” and they “steal anything” or “clean out” your home while you’re gone or damage anything it’s not covered by your insurance and you can’t call it a criminal act, because you invited them into your home!
  • If your house sitter injures themselves in or around your home, you’re liable for their injury and most likely your insurance won’t cover the claim
  • To be covered by public liability insurance you have to be a registered business, which nearly every house and pet sitter would not be as no money is exchanged and they are not operating as a business

Natasha Morgan, Founder of My Home Watch, says:

“If a house or pet sitter, family member, friend or neighbour you choose doesn’t live up to their billing, it can ruin the entire holiday experience for everyone. We hear stories about this daily from our customers.

Accidental loss and damage are covered as standard but all insurers will have exclusions for deliberate damage and theft caused by people lawfully on the property, including house sitters and their guests, so be aware who you are getting to house sit.


If a house sitter was going to be staying at a property for two weeks or more, an insurer may treat them as a tenant and amend a policy as a result.

My Home Watch was born out of necessity! When it was time for our first family holiday, I reluctantly called my mum to ask if she’d look after the house while we were away. I felt so guilty. She lived 40 minutes away, then it hit me I’m not the only one in Australia who has to make that call to ask mum to look after the house. We all do it, because whether you’re away for business or on holidays, everyone needs that reassurance that their home is safe and secure.
And that’s how My Home Watch was born. I created an affordable solution for every property and pet owner, so you can sit back and relax, knowing what matters to you the most, is in trusted hands."

News Reports

Traffic Control Companies in Sydney: Ensuring Public and Worker Safety in Construction Zones

The safe operations of construction sites call for the participation of Sydney traffic control firms since it plays a role as essential as any other in the operation. The roles they undertake in s...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

First Nations Australians urge community to yarn about the abuse of older Australians

With 1 in 6 people aged 65 years and older across Australia experiencing some form of abuse, high-profile First Nations Elders Yalmay Yunupiŋu, 2024 Senior Australian of the Year, and Charlie King O...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Child Custody: Factors Courts Consider

Child custody disputes can be emotionally challenging and legally complex, often requiring courts to make difficult decisions in the best interests of the child. When determining child custody arran...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Crude Oil - How Oil Refining Works

Welcome to a journey through the fascinating world of oil refining. In this article, we will explore the intricate process of transforming crude oil into the various valuable products that fuel our ...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Health & Wellness

Understanding Root Canal Treatment: What You Need to Know

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Image by pvproductions on Freepik When it comes to dental health, many people hear the term root canal treatment and immediately feel a bit uneasy. This procedure often gets a bad reputation, but und...

Telehealth Could be the Catalyst for Better Heart Health in Australia

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Image by stockking on Freepik Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in Australia despite decades of advancements in medicine and health education campaigns. More than 400 Australians ...

Disability Care in Melbourne: What Families Need to Know in 2025

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

If you’re supporting a loved one with a disability in Melbourne, you’ll know how important it is to find the right care—and how overwhelming it can be to navigate the system. With the National Disab...