budget travel
House Sitting Abroad: How Canadians Can Travel with Free Accommodation
Stay in homes around the world for free by taking care of pets and properties. House sitting is the ultimate budget travel hack for Canadians.
Published 2026-05-01 · 10 minute read
Imagine staying in a villa in Tuscany, a cottage in the English countryside, or a beachfront apartment in Bali — all for free. That's the reality of house sitting. Homeowners need someone trustworthy to watch their property and care for their pets while they travel. You provide that service in exchange for free accommodation. It's a win-win that's grown into a global community.
How House Sitting Works
- Create a profile on a house sitting platform (TrustedHousesitters, Nomador, HouseSitMatch)
- Browse available sits — they list dates, location, pets, and responsibilities
- Apply to sits that interest you with a personalized message
- The homeowner reviews applications and chooses a sitter
- You stay in their home for free, caring for pets and maintaining the property
- Both parties leave reviews after the sit
Best House Sitting Platforms
| Platform | Annual Fee (CAD) | Listings | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrustedHousesitters | $175 | 15,000+ | Most listings worldwide, best for beginners |
| Nomador | $120 | 5,000+ | Strong in Europe, mutual exchange option |
| HouseSitMatch | $100 | 3,000+ | UK and Europe focus |
| Aussie House Sitters | $60 | 5,000+ | Australia and New Zealand |
| MindMyHouse | $30 | 2,000+ | Budget option, smaller community |
| Kijiji/Craigslist | Free | Varies | Local Canadian sits |
- TrustedHousesitters — Largest platform — 15,000+ listings worldwide. Best place to start.
- Nomador — Strong in Europe — mutual exchange option for existing homeowners
- HouseSitMatch — UK and Europe focus — verified homeowners and sitters
- Aussie House Sitters — Australia and New Zealand — the go-to platform for the region
- MindMyHouse — Budget option at ~$30/year — smaller but growing community
What Homeowners Expect
Most house sits involve caring for pets — dogs, cats, horses, chickens, or even more exotic animals. Typical responsibilities include:
- Feeding and walking dogs (usually 2-3 walks per day)
- Feeding cats and cleaning litter boxes
- Watering plants and gardens
- Collecting mail
- Basic home maintenance (taking out trash, light cleaning)
- Keeping the home secure and lived-in
- Communicating with the homeowner via regular updates and photos
How to Get Your First Sit
Getting your first sit is the hardest part — homeowners prefer sitters with reviews. Here's how to break in:
- Start with local sits in Canada to build reviews
- Get character references from people who know you're responsible with animals and homes
- Write detailed, personalized applications (never copy-paste)
- Include photos of yourself with pets
- Offer a video call — it builds trust and shows you're genuine
- Be flexible with dates and destinations for your first few sits
- Apply quickly — popular sits get dozens of applications within hours
- Complete a police background check to include in your profile
Best Destinations for House Sitting
Some regions have a surplus of sits available, making them easier to find:
- United Kingdom: The most house sits per capita in the world. Dozens of new listings daily.
- France: Especially popular in rural areas and southern France
- Australia: Strong culture of house sitting, especially during school holidays
- Spain and Portugal: Growing fast with the digital nomad influx
- Costa Rica and Mexico: Popular with North American snowbird homeowners
- Italy: Rural properties with gardens and sometimes olive groves
House Sitting as a Digital Nomad
House sitting and remote work are a perfect match. You get a quiet home with WiFi, a proper desk setup, and a kitchen — none of which you'd have in a hostel. Many digital nomads string together sits for months at a time, hopping between countries with zero accommodation costs. The key is booking 1-2 months ahead and having backup accommodation (a cheap Airbnb or hostel) for gaps between sits.
The Financial Impact
Accommodation is typically the biggest travel expense. In Europe, a basic Airbnb or hotel runs CAD $80-200/night. Even at a modest CAD $100/night, a 30-day house sit saves you CAD $3,000. Do that for 6 months and you've saved CAD $18,000. For the cost of a single platform membership (CAD $175/year), the ROI is extraordinary.
House sitting has transformed how many Canadians travel and live abroad. It takes effort to build your reputation, but once you have a few strong reviews, the world opens up. Start local, build your profile, and soon you'll be staying in homes around the world for free.