For property owners · Property care
How do I find a house sitter in Canada?
Decide first whether you need someone living in your home or someone dropping by on a schedule. Then look through people you know and independent professionals, interview each candidate, phone references and ask for a criminal record check. Before you leave, read your home insurance wording and give the sitter a written plan.
In 60 seconds
- A house sitter can either stay in your home while you are away or visit on a set schedule, and the right choice depends on the length of the trip and the season.
- Many home insurance policies set conditions for time away, especially in the heating season, so read your policy wording before you book anyone.
- Every house sitter deserves the same checks, including an interview, phoned references and a recent criminal record check.
- A written plan covering keys, alarms, water shut-off, heat settings and emergency contacts makes the arrangement safer for both sides.
- Rates, schedule and payment are agreed directly between you and the sitter, ideally in a short written agreement.
What does a house sitter actually do?
A house sitter looks after your home while you are away so it does not sit empty. Depending on what you agree, that can mean living in the home, or visiting daily or a few times a week to check for leaks, heat and break-ins, bring in mail and parcels, water plants and keep the place looking lived in.
Some sitters also care for pets, clear snow or cut the lawn, but those are separate tasks that should be named in your agreement. Be precise: a sitter who is told to “keep an eye on things” will check different things than one given a written checklist.
- Walk through every floor, including the basement, looking for water, frost or damage
- Confirm the heat is running and the thermostat is where you left it
- Bring in mail, flyers and parcels so the home does not look empty
- Water plants, rotate lights and open or close blinds as agreed
- Report anything unusual to you by text or email the same day
Should my house sitter live in or visit?
A live-in sitter suits longer trips, homes with pets that need company, or winter absences when a problem needs to be caught quickly. Scheduled visits suit shorter trips and people who would rather not have someone sleeping in their home. Either way, write down how often the home is checked, since your insurance may care about that.
Live-in arrangements raise practical questions: which rooms the sitter may use, whether guests are allowed, and who pays for groceries or utilities. Visiting arrangements raise a different question, which is what happens if a storm or illness makes a scheduled visit impossible. Agree on a backup person for both.
Does my home insurance require someone to check my house while I am away?
Often it sets conditions, so read your policy’s wording about vacancy, unoccupancy and time away before you leave. The Insurance Bureau of Canada advises leaving the heat on in the heating season and having someone you trust check the home while you are away, and warns that failing to do so can affect your coverage.
The exact rule, such as how often someone must visit or how many days away count as vacancy, differs between insurers and policies. Do not rely on what a friend’s policy says. Call your insurer or broker, ask what they require for your trip, and keep a simple log of each visit in case you ever need to make a claim.
Where can I find a trustworthy house sitter?
Most people start with someone they already know, such as a neighbour, a relative or a friend’s recommendation. When that is not possible, independent care professionals who do property care, house sitting or pet sitting are another option. Wherever the name comes from, run the same checks rather than trusting a referral alone.
A neighbour is close by and knows the street, but may not be free every day. An independent professional may be more available and used to following checklists, but you will need to check them yourself and agree terms in writing. Neither choice is automatically safer; the checks are what make the difference.
How do I check a house sitter before giving them my keys?
Interview the person, ideally at your home, and phone at least two references from people whose homes they have looked after. Ask for a recent criminal record check, which is processed through local police or the RCMP, and note its date. Then agree the tasks, visit schedule and emergency plan in writing before handing over any keys.
- Past house-sitting or property care experience, with names you can phone
- A recent criminal record check, seen in person and dated
- Whether they carry their own liability insurance, since independent professionals arrange their own
- How they will report each visit, for example a text with photos
- A backup person if they are sick or cannot get to your home
What should I leave for my house sitter?
Leave a written sheet with everything the sitter needs to act without reaching you. Include how to reach you and a local backup contact, the alarm code, where the main water shut-off and electrical panel are, the heat settings you expect, and the names of a plumber, electrician and your insurer’s claims line.
Keep keys off any tag that shows your address. Walk the sitter through the water shut-off and the furnace in person, because a sheet is hard to follow during a burst pipe. Agree in advance what they may spend on urgent repairs and how you will pay them back.
How does Maple Care help homeowners find a house sitter?
On Maple Care you post a free property care request that shows only your city, not your name or address. Independent care professionals who want your contact details pay to get them, up to a limit you set of at least five. You can also pay to contact a professional first, then interview and check them yourself.
Our team reviews every account after sign-up, and professionals can earn badges for certifications we check. Badges are a screening signal, not a background check. Maple Care does not supervise anyone’s work, set rates or handle payment; you and the professional agree those directly. Ask our team for our care agreement template if you want a written starting point.
Free to post. Your contact details stay private.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should I look for a house sitter?
Start a few weeks before a planned trip if you can. That leaves time for interviews, reference calls and a criminal record check, which can take longer than people expect. Around holidays and the start of winter, local sitters and neighbours are often already committed, so earlier is better.
Is it better to use a neighbour or an independent professional?
It depends on the trip. A neighbour is close by and knows the street, which helps with short absences. An independent professional may be more available for long or regular trips and is used to following a written checklist. Check either one the same way and put the arrangement in writing.
What if the house sitter damages something?
Agree in writing, before the trip, how damage and breakages will be handled and who pays. Ask whether the sitter carries their own liability insurance, and ask your insurer how your policy treats someone staying in or visiting your home. Take dated photos of each room before you leave.
Can a house sitter look after my pets too?
Many can, but pet care is a separate task with its own needs, such as feeding times, medication and walks. Name it in the agreement, leave your veterinarian’s details and a written routine, and make sure the sitter is comfortable with your animals before the trip.
Should the sitter send me updates?
Yes. Agree on a simple routine, such as a short text with a photo of the thermostat and any concerns after each visit. That log reassures you, shows the checks happened, and may help if you ever need to show your insurer that the home was being looked after.
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