House Sitter Agreement
Agreement between a homeowner and a house sitter — dates, duties (mail, plants, trash, security checks), key and alarm-code handling, compensation, emergency contacts, and use restrictions.
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HOUSE SITTING AGREEMENT
This House Sitting Agreement is made between:
HOMEOWNER: Dana Whitfield
Phone (while away): +1 415 555 0173 Email: dana.whitfield@example.com
HOUSE SITTER: Sam Okafor
Phone: +1 415 555 0258
PROPERTY: 742 Linden Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
1. TERM
From June 10, 2026 through June 24, 2026, inclusive.
House Sitter will stay overnight at the property for the term ("live-in" arrangement) and treat it with the same care as their own home.
2. DUTIES
House Sitter agrees to perform the following while caring for the property:
1. Bring in mail, packages, and newspapers daily
2. Water indoor plants 2× per week; outdoor pots every other day
3. Put trash & recycling bins out Tuesday night; bring in Wednesday
4. Alternate interior lights and open/close blinds so the home looks lived-in
5. Walk the property daily and report anything unusual (leaks, break-ins, pests)
6. Keep thermostat at 68°F; do not adjust other settings
7. Water the lawn per the timer; do not change the schedule
3. KEYS & ACCESS
One key + garage remote provided on start date, returned in person on end date. Sitter shall not copy the key or share access with anyone.
Security: Alarm code and Wi-Fi password provided separately, in person. Disarm on entry, arm on exit and overnight.
4. COMPENSATION
Homeowner shall pay House Sitter a DAILY RATE of $45.00 per day for each day of the house-sitting period, due within 7 days of the end date unless agreed otherwise.
5. EXPENSES & UTILITIES
Homeowner covers all utilities. Sitter may use the kitchen and laundry. Sitter pays for their own groceries and any personal long-distance/streaming purchases.
6. USE OF THE HOME
No overnight guests, parties, or events. No subletting or listing the home (e.g., Airbnb). The home is for the sitter's personal use only while performing the duties above.
7. EMERGENCY & SERVICE CONTACTS
Local emergency contact: Pat Whitfield (neighbor at 740 Linden, has a spare key) — +1 415 555 0119
In an emergency, call 911 first, then notify the Homeowner.
Service / maintenance contacts:
- Plumber: Bay Area Plumbing (415) 555-0144
- Handyman: Leo R. (415) 555-0188
- Property mgmt / HOA: Linden HOA (415) 555-0102
8. CARE & LIABILITY
House Sitter will exercise reasonable care for the home and its contents.
House Sitter is responsible for damage caused by their negligence or by a
breach of this Agreement, but not for ordinary wear or events beyond their
control. This Agreement does not transfer tenancy or any ownership interest;
House Sitter is a licensee performing a service, not a tenant. The parties
should each confirm their own insurance coverage for this arrangement.
9. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
Recycling is co-mingled (blue bin). The downstairs bathroom faucet drips — turn the shutoff under the sink fully. Trash pickup is early, so bins out the night before. Mail key is the small silver one.
10. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of California.
SIGNATURES
Homeowner: _______________________________ Date: ______________
Dana Whitfield
House Sitter: ____________________________ Date: ______________
Sam Okafor
About this template
A house-sitting arrangement is built on trust, but a one-page written agreement is what keeps that trust intact when something goes wrong — a missed watering, a key that was copied, a guest who turned up. Unlike a pet-sitting agreement, the focus here is the **home itself**: mail and packages so the place does not look empty, plants and lawn, trash and recycling on the right day, alternating lights and blinds so the home looks lived-in, and a daily walk-through to catch leaks, pests, or signs of a break-in early. The clauses that matter most are **keys and access** (how the key and any garage remote are handed over and returned, an explicit no-copying rule, and — critically — keeping the **alarm code and Wi-Fi password out of any shared document**, exchanged in person instead), **compensation** (a daily rate, a flat fee, or an unpaid favor where a free stay is the consideration), and **use of the home** (no parties, no overnight guests, and absolutely no listing the home on a short-term rental site). Two legal points are worth understanding. First, a house sitter is normally a **licensee performing a service, not a tenant**, so landlord-tenant law usually does not apply — but a long stay with regular "rent" payments can blur that line in some states, so keep the term short and the arrangement clearly a service. Second, **insurance**: a standard homeowner or renter policy may treat a non-resident sitter differently than a guest, so both parties should confirm their coverage before relying on it. Round it out with a **local emergency contact** (ideally a neighbor with a spare key), **service contacts** (plumber, handyman, HOA), and a short **special-instructions** section for the quirks every house has. Sign two copies, and exchange keys and codes in person.
When to use it
- Leaving your home with a house sitter while traveling.
- Agreeing duties, dates, and pay with a friend or hired sitter.
- Setting clear key-handling and security expectations.
- A free house-sit swap where no money changes hands.
What to include
- Parties, property address, and the exact term (start/end dates).
- A specific duties list (mail, plants, trash, lights, security checks).
- Key/alarm handling — with codes exchanged in person, not written here.
- Compensation: daily rate, flat fee, or unpaid.
- Use restrictions, emergency + service contacts, and signatures.