Responsible House Sitters
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RHS community standard

SitSmart – posting with clarity, trust, and safety

RHS Community standard

SitSmart is the RHS community standard for posting sits and sitter availability on The Hub. It’s a simple format that protects everyone ā€” sitters, homeowners, and pets ā€” by making every post clear, honest, and verifiable from the start.

Why SitSmart exists

House sitting scams are real. Vague posts attract confusion, wasted time, and in some cases, people with dishonest intentions. SitSmart was created by RHS to raise the standard of every post in The Hub ā€” so that members on both sides of a sit can engage with confidence. When everyone follows the same format, trust builds naturally.

What SitSmart applies to

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For Sitters

Looking for a sit

Sitters must clearly state where they are willing to sit, their available dates, a photo, and their rate ā€” whether that’s a daily fee or a free sit arrangement.

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For Home Owners

Looking for a sitter

Homeowners must include a location within 10km of their property, the sit dates, and photos of the home and pets

The SitSmart requirements

Location
Location means something different depending on which side of the sit you’re on.

Sitters

State clearly which areas, suburbs, cities, or regions you are willing to sit in. Being specific helps homeowners find you quickly and avoids wasted enquiries.

Homeowners

Post a location within 10km of your property. This gives sitters enough detail to assess travel options ā€” including public transport for those without a car ā€” before reaching out.

Dates

Include the specific start and end dates of the sit or your availability window. This helps both parties quickly assess whether there is a practical match before any conversation begins.
Example: “Available 12 May ā€“ 30 June”

Photos

A real photo of yourself (sitters) or the home and pets (homeowners) is required. Photos build immediate trust and are one of the most effective ways to filter out dishonest posts. Stock images or heavily filtered photos are not SitSmart compliant.

RateĀ sitters only

Sitters must state their rate clearly ā€” whether that’s a daily fee or a free sit arrangement. RHS welcomes both equally. What matters is that it’s transparent from the start so homeowners can make an informed decision without any awkward conversations later.

What a SitSmart post looks like

Example ā€” homeowner post

Example ā€” sitter post

Red flags to watch for

  • No photo included, or a stock image used instead of a real personal photo
  • Homeowner post with no specific location or a location more than 10km from the property
  • Sitter post with no indication of which areas they are willing to cover
  • Sitter post with no rate or arrangement stated
  • Requests to move communication off the platform immediately
  • Asks for gift cards or financial information of any kind
  • Profile with no history, no photo, and a very recent join date

Ready to post in The Hub?

Follow the SitSmart format and help keep our community safe, clear, and trustworthy for everyone.

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