House Sitting Contract

What is a house sitting contract?

A house sitting contract is a written agreement between a homeowner and a house sitter that outlines the terms of caretaking services during the homeowner’s absence. A well-drafted sitting contract agreement defines:

• duration of services;
• description of a property;
• details of the parties involved;
• fees for rendering services;
• liability and insurance clauses.

This template could be useful for:

• homeowners who wish to travel for a long or short period of time and need someone to look after their property;
• house sitters who need a professional legal template to have their back covered in case of a dispute with a property’s owner; or
• property managers who need to coordinate security and maintenance of various properties under their administration.

The parties involved in a simple house sitting agreement are a service provider and a client. A service provider is an individual or a business that offers professional house sitting services. A client is a homeowner or a property manager who wants to order house sitting services in exchange for remuneration.

Key terms covered in the house sitting agreement

Neither federal nor state laws define the list of clauses a house sitting agreement should have. Same as for many other contracts, inclusion of certain elements is essential to ensure the document is fully complete. Below, we made a short list of all necessary conditions your customizable house sitter agreement for property protection must have.

• Description of the Property. Every house sitter agreement form shall include the full address, size, type, and basic description of a property. It is vital to make sure that a service provider is well aware of all peculiarities of a property, as well as possible hidden pitfalls (e.g., seasonal pipe leaking).
• Duration of the services. A well-drafted house sitting service contract should provide the duration of services—start and end date. Considering this document’s specifics, house sitting services could be provided for several days or weeks.
• Scope of services. Your house sitting form with pet care and maintenance duties must define the exact scope of services a client wants to order. The services may include various forms, from watering plants and feeding companion animals to addressing emergency situations and maintaining general security.
• Compensation. The text of any house sitting contract agreement must include the amount of a service provider’s compensation. Besides that, the payment deadlines are also necessary to track whether the client pays on time.
• Insurance clause. For a long-term house sitting agreement template, it is highly advisable to have an insurance clause to protect a service provider from liability against damage.
• Confidentiality rules. The text of a house sitting agreement template should provide the list of precautions a service provider must follow. For example, do not post photos of the property on social media, and do not invite third parties to the property, as well as return all keys upon termination of a contract.

Why do you need a house sitter contract?

Having a printable house sitting contract template is a must for a number of reasons:

• Protection against property damage. First, a legally solid template protects both parties against possible property damage. For example, if a service provider damages a property, he or she will be responsible for its repair.
• Property rules. Second, a written contract provides clear rules and restrictions regarding the usage of the property. For instance, a service provider may not be allowed to smoke on the property or invite guests.
• Clarity regarding the payment. Third, a written contract ensures clear payment terms and helps to resolve disputes along the road.

How to customize a house sitting contract at FasterDraft?

To get a fully customized legal document, follow the instructions given below:

1. Click the “Create Document” button.
2. Answer simple questions in the form.
3. Select a template’s format – house sitting agreement PDF or Word.
4. Make a payment.
5. Download, sign and use instantly a printable house sitting agreement form.