Accountability in the Sharing Economy: Booking House Sitters
The sharing economy has revolutionised how we book services, from rideshares to vacation homes—and even pet care! With a simple tap or click, you can find someone to take care of your furry friends while you’re away. But what happens if things don’t go as planned? Who is held accountable? Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of accountability and legal protections of parties involved.
Imagine booking a house sitter who promises to stay overnight, but doesn’t. If you are unable to find a replacement Sitter – you will end up cancelling your holiday plans to return home early to care for your pet. Not only are you out of pocket for the booking, but you may also have lost money on flights, hotels, and other bookings. In such cases, you’re entitled to a refund for unused service nights and may also seek compensation for associated losses.
The Role of Sharing Economy Platforms
Marketplace platforms are more than just fancy websites; they are the backbone of the sharing economy. These platforms offer a range of support and differ greatly in the quality offered:
- Customer Service & Technical Support: There to help if something goes wrong.
- Insurance & Training: Empowering Service Providers to meet high standards.
- Digital Verification & Reputation Publishing: Sitters are allocated badges and Platforms host reviews left by Clients.
- Pet Management Guidance & secure Booking Software: Easy-to-use tools for both pet owners and sitters.
It’s essential to note that pet care service providers on these platforms are usually independent contractors, not employees of the platform.
Legal Protections for Pet Owners
If you’re a Property Owner, several laws protect your rights:
Pet Sitters and House Sitters must comply with ACCC regulations, State laws, and animal welfare laws, such as those investigated by the RSPCA. These laws cover everything from cancellations, duty of care, to advertising and reviews. Transparency is key—be upfront about your services and pricing to avoid surprises.
You have the right to expect that services provided by Sitters comply with consumer laws. If something goes wrong, you’re not left in the lurch.
What are Property Owner’s responsibilities to House Sitters?
- To provide a clean, habitable property, free of mould, with fresh made up bed and sheets.
- To provide a safe property where all locks and windows are in working order
- To disclose whether pets has medical conditions or behavioural issues.
- To stock up on pet food prior to leaving, to last the entire stay, plus 2 extra days in case of delays.
- Its a good idea to be transparent with house sitters about any monitoring and cameras, explain the purpose of them, get the Sitters consent and to limit their use.
- To not have your friends or family members stay at the property while the Sitter is there.
- To discuss at the Meet the Greet whether the Sitter is allowed visitors or overnight guests.
- To discuss the minimum number of hours per day / night you are looking for a Sitter to be at the property. Summarise your conversation on the platform and ask the Sitter whether they are in agreement prior to paying for the booking.
What Happens If a Sitter Fails to Deliver?
A booking on a third party platform helps to provide written proof of offer and acceptance and forms a contract between a sitter and an owner. Not fulfilling a booking isn’t just disappointing—it’s a breach of contract. If a breach causes financial loss, you can seek compensation directly from the House Sitter through your state’s Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The amount you can seek through that avenue can go up to $25,000, depending on the severity of the issue.
Proof of Breach
These days, there are a range of smart locks and home security cameras that will provide logs of the date and time the Sitter enters and exits the property. It is advisable to have a reliable security system that records activity logs in place before booking.
Animal Cruelty
If a sitter neglects your pet, you can file a report with the relevant authorities. Again, evidence is crucial in these cases.
Mediation may be cost-effective
Legal battles in court can be draining, both emotionally and financially, depending on whether you choose to self-represent, or engage a lawyer. Mediation may be a cost-effective alternative.
Mediation is a negotiation facilitated by a third-party neutral professional Mediator in a neutral location. It is a structured, interactive process where an impartial third party, the mediator, assists disputing parties in resolving conflict using specialised communication and negotiation techniques.
Final Thoughts
When booking a house sitter, always choose a reputable sharing economy platform that performs thorough background checks, holds reviews of prior customers, police checks, and identity verification. Platforms provide ongoing accountability and these checks can provide peace of mind, giving certainty whose hands your pets and home are in. In addition, they usually have a Pet Accident insurance liability policy to prevent you suffering the financial burden of large emergency Vet bills if a pet accident occurs.
Bottom Line: Accountability is crucial in the sharing economy. By keeping transactions on the platform and understanding your rights and responsibilities, you are more likely to achieve a smoother experience.
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PetCloud is a national sharing economy platform with a strong focus on animal welfare, police checked Sitters, offers Animal Care training, and provides pet accident insurance cover, and a fast, free jobs board. Make an impact on animal welfare by booking your Pet’s next Sitter or Dog Walker through PetCloud.
