How do I start a house sitting or home watch business in Canada?

What services does a home watch or house sitting business provide?

A home watch or house sitting business looks after homes while their owners are away. That can mean living in the home, visiting on a schedule to check for leaks, heat loss and break-ins, opening and closing cottages, or clearing snow and cutting grass. Decide which of these you provide before you talk to a single client.

Write your services down in plain words, with what each visit includes and what it does not. A home check that covers every floor, the basement, the thermostat and the water shut-off is a different service from a quick look through the front window, and owners need to know which one they are getting.

Also decide what you will not do. Plumbing, electrical and gas work is often regulated trade work, so your role is usually to spot the problem, shut off water if agreed, and call the owner or the tradesperson they named.

• ✓Live-in house sitting for longer trips
• ✓Scheduled home checks for vacant homes and snowbirds
• ✓Cottage closing, winter checks and spring opening
• ✓Short-term rental turnovers between guests
• ✓Snow clearing and lawn care for absent owners
• ✓Mail, parcels, plants and making the home look lived in

Do I need to register a business name for a house sitting business?

It depends on your province and on the name you use. Many independent house sitters start as sole proprietors, and registration rules for working under your own name or a separate business name differ between provinces, so check with your provincial business registry before you print cards or build a website.

Some municipalities also require a business licence for home-based or property services. Call your city or town office and ask, especially if you plan to store equipment or client keys at home or drive a marked vehicle.

Do house sitters and home watch providers have to charge GST/HST?

Not always. Section 240 of the Excise Tax Act requires people making taxable supplies in a commercial activity to register for GST/HST, but it excludes small suppliers, which section 148 defines by your taxable sales over the previous four calendar quarters. You may also register voluntarily. Confirm your situation with the Canada Revenue Agency or an accountant.

Track your sales from your first visit so you know when you are approaching the small supplier limit set out in section 148. If you register, you will generally charge GST/HST on taxable services and may be able to claim input tax credits on business costs. An accountant can tell you whether registering early makes sense for you.

What records should a home watch business keep?

Keep records of all money in and out, plus the paperwork behind them. Section 230 of the Income Tax Act requires every person carrying on business to keep records and books of account, and generally to retain them for six years from the end of the last tax year they relate to. Visit logs protect you in a different way.

Keep income, expenses, receipts and mileage for tax purposes. Separately, keep each client’s written agreement, key sign-out record and visit reports, because those show what you were asked to do and what you did if a claim or dispute comes up. Ask the CRA or an accountant how the retention rules apply to you.

What insurance does a house sitting or home watch business need?

Ask an insurance broker directly, because the answer depends on your services. Tell them you hold client keys and alarm codes, enter empty homes, drive between properties and may use tools or snow equipment. Ask whether a policy covers damage you cause, loss of keys and injuries to others, and get the answer in writing.

Owners have their own insurance conditions too. The Insurance Bureau of Canada tells homeowners that, while away in winter, they should have someone check the home every day or every few days depending on the conditions in their policy. That is why owners care that your visits happen on schedule and are documented.

Should a home watch provider get a criminal record check?

Yes, in practice. Owners give you keys and codes to an empty home, and many will ask for proof. The RCMP explains that a criminal record check shows whether a person has been charged with or convicted of a crime, and that fingerprints may be needed if a name-based check cannot confirm identity. Keep yours recent.

Get your check through your local police service or an accredited fingerprinting company, keep the dated copy, and renew it on a regular schedule. A check is one signal among several; owners should still interview you and phone your references, and you should welcome it.

Is Maple Care a good fit for a new home watch business?

It can be one source of clients. Your profile at /apply/ is free, you get email or text alerts for property care requests in your area, and you pay only when you choose to get a client’s contact details, with the price shown first. Maple Care does not set rates or handle payment; you and each client agree directly.

Our team reviews every account, and you can upload certifications such as a first aid certificate or criminal record check to earn badges. A badge is a screening signal, not a background check. In areas with few requests, local referrals and word of mouth may matter more.

Frequently asked questions