A sitter is expected to step in to the owner's shoes when completing a sit, which means to maintain an owner's home and pet care routines as they would themselves. This can be shared in the owner's listing description to give sitters an idea as to what is expected of them.

As part of our ethos at TrustedHousesitters, we believe that sitting is a mutual exchange between owners and sitters and is not considered a form of employment. Sitters are only expected to help maintain an owner's home and care for their pets in their absence in exchange for free accommodation.

Sitters are not expected to complete any tasks that are considered 'work'. This includes (and is not limited to) helping an owner maintain any business they might have or completing extenuating tasks like home renovation work, where it would be better for an owner to bring in paid employment to complete those tasks in their absence.